Lightning Strikes – Islington.

In December 1895, sisters, Mrs King and Mrs Daly were walking along the North Road near the Reepham Hotel at Islington when lightning struck. The two ladies were thrown to the ground unconscious. When both ladies were roused, neither could use their legs. Mrs King was taken into the Reepham Hotel where it was revealed she had been severely burned across her body, her hair had been singed, and her boots blown from her feet.[1]
Mrs Daly was far more fortunate, escaping with a severe shock only. A horse that was standing not far from where the two women were struck, was killed instantly.[2]

The ladies were attended by well-known Adelaide Doctor C.G. Lermitte. Dr Charles Gower Lermitte was born in Canada in approximately 1862. He was educated in medicine at Richmond England.[3]
 On 28 May 1889, Charles married Augusta Katherine Winifred Scott at Walkerville, South Australia.[4]

In 1890 the couple moved to Deloraine in Tasmania where Charles worked as a Doctor.[5] In 1900, Dr Lermitte was working from Olive House, Gilberton, South Australia.[6]  In October 1920 it was reported in the Adelaide Observer that Doctor Lermitte had committed suicide at his home in Kent Town. He was found dead in his bed by his wife. It was concluded he had taken prussic acid, what we know today as hydrogen cyanide.
During an inquest into the doctor’s death, it was shown that he had been in a suicidal state for some time prior. A letter was produced at the inquest in Dr Lermittes hand, which stated he had previously taken 43 grains of sulphate of morphia, enough to kill 3 or four men, but he had barely felt affected.
 The coroner was surprised at the ruling of temporary insanity and questioned the jury. Several of the Coroner's own friends were intimately acquainted with the doctor and did now think he would take his own life. [7]

Charles Gower Lermitte, M.R.C.S. Eng. & L.S.A. Lond. was 40 years old at the time of his death. He owned medical practices at Gilberton, Kent Town and Norwood.[8] Dr Lermitte was buried at Nailsworth Cemetery.[9]

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2025

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[1] 'The Sunbeam Society.', Evening Journal, (7 December 1895), p. 4.

[2] 'STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.', The Advertiser, (7 December 1895), p. 5.

[3] Charles Gower Larmitte, District 14, Richmond, Surrey, Class: RG11; Piece: 844; Folio 844, GSU roll: 1341200. England Census, (1881), p. 29.

[4] Lermitte – Scott, Australia Marriage Index, 1788-1949, Vol. 159, (1889), p. 1130.

[5] Medical Directory, Tasmania PO Directory, (Wise), (1890-91), Australia, City Directories, (1891), p. 390.

[6] Lindsay, Practitioners Resident Abroad, The Medical Directory (1900), p. 1799.

[7] 'THE LATE DR. LERMITTE.', Adelaide Observer, (25 October 1902), p. 31. 

[8] 'DR. C. LERMITTE.', The Express and Telegraph, (17 October 1902), p. 1

[9] Dr Charles Gower Lermitte, Find a Grave, (1902), https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/227319684/charles_gower-lermitte

Lightning Strikes – The Tragic Death of A.H. Chapman.

 Lightning Strikes 

– The Tragic Death of A.H. Chapman.

 On October 7, 1907, 21-year-old Alfred Harold Chapman of Weaver’s Lagoon, was working on the farm of Mr James Latty near Yorketown.[1] Chapman was droving stock from a paddock heading back towards the farmhouse when a storm passed overhead. Lightning erupted, with one bolt striking Chapman as he rode his horse.
 A report into the lightning strike stated that the lightning entered Chapman through his head, splitting his hat in two, and blowing its remains over 12 feet away. The lightning traveled down the side of his head, burning his face, ear and neck, before burning through patches of skin on his chest and legs. Most of his shirt and other clothing were found over 12 yards away (approx. 10.5 metres) from his corpse. Chapman was holding a dead rabbit in his hand, which had been caught by the dog which accompanied him – the dog remained unharmed.[2]
The saddle on which Chapman was riding had a hole burned through it. There were lightning marks on the horse’s shoulder, and down its forelegs towards its hooves. Despite the thunderstorm, no rain fell on the dead man on horse.[3]

' body was transported back to Adelaide. He was buried at Clarendon Cemetery, near his family home. He had been at the Yorketown farm only a few weeks. [4]

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2025

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[1] 'TELEGRAMS.', The Narracoorte Herald, (8 October 1907), p. 2.

[2] 'Yorketown', Yorke's Peninsula Advertiser, (11 October 1907), p. 3.

[3] 'KILLED BY LIGHTNING.', The Register, (8 October 1907), p. 9.

[4] 'Yorketown', Yorke's Peninsula Advertiser, (11 October 1907), p. 3.

Lightning Strikes – The Tragic Death of Harold Gilding.

 Lightning Strikes

 – The Tragic Death of Harold Gilding.

On October 18, 1898, 15-year-old Harold Gilding of West Mardon was in his parents’ garden when a thunderstorm rolled through. Harold was speaking to his mother, who stood just a few yards away when a flash of lightning appeared, which struck Harold to the ground.
 The bolt tore Harold's clothing from his body and burnt him from head to foot. It was reported that the lightning entered through his forehead, passed around inside his head, burned all his hair off, and then exited through his foot, singeing his boots.[1] His boots were blown off his body and found some distance away.[2]  Despite being knocked down due to the blast, his mother received no injuries, other than the shock of her son being burned alive in front of her. Harold’s nine-year-old brother, Benjamin, who was also outside picking peas at the time of the lightning strike received scratches on his face from the soil and stones which the lightning raised into the air and catapulted in his direction.
 Dr Borthwick was called to assess and expressed his opinion that the electricity had passed through the boy killing him instantaneously. No inquest was held. [3]

 

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2025

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[1] 'STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. A Lad Killed.', The Express and Telegraph, (18 October 1898), p. 2.

[2] 'TELEGRAMS.', Port Pirie Recorder and North Western Mail, (19 October 1898), p. 3.

[3] 'STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.', Adelaide Observer, (22 October 1898), p. 28. 

Gawler Underground - Union Mill

Union Mill

1 Julian Terrace, Gawler

  The Union Mill was established in 1855 by Harrison Brothers, opening on the site of their unsuccessful tannery. It was the second flour mill in Gawler. In 1863, it was purchased by Walter Duffield. In 1880, The Adelaide Milling Company bought the Union Mill. In 1933, Jeff Brothers leased the mill from the Adelaide Milling Company.

  In 1864, the middle floor of the mill gave way. The western wall fell, and many of the windows were blown out by the weight of mountains of wheat. The destruction poured into what is now Julian Terrace. In the 1870s, a train siding, coming from the tram line in Murray Street, was built into the Union Mill yard. The rail line had its own turntable to spin trucks around and take them back the way they had come after loading and unloading. The mill also had its own weigh station.
Fire destroyed much of the building in 1914. Rebuilt, but smaller. The mill ceased operations in 1968. In 1975, fire destroyed parts of the southern section of the building.

Centrelink and the CES were situated here in the late 1980s and early 1990s. There was a medieval-themed restaurant that operated on the second floor in the 1990s. Where Asian Central is located today, there was an open-air dining area, which was enclosed in the early 1990s.

Today, the Salvation Army, Pole for Fitness, Asian Central and Action Psychology occupy the retail spaces of the former Union Mill.

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researched and written by Allen Tiller

Gawler Underground - Rudall and Rudall

Rudall & Rudall 

25 Murray Street - Gawler

25 Murray Street was built for the South Australian Banking Company (later known as the Bank of South Australia) by builder Henry Brown. It was designed by architect Thomas English, who would later become Mayor of Adelaide and a Member of the Legislative Council. It opened on the 4th of April 1859.[1]
The South Australian Banking Company operated from the premises between 1859 and 1892. The second owner of the building was the Union Bank of South Australia, between 1892 and 1928. It was then occupied by Rudall and Rudall circa 1928.

Rudall and Rudall was founded by John Rudall (1820 – 1897) in 1854.[2] John Rudall was Gawler’s first Town Clerk a position he held until 1881 when he was appointed the resident Gawler Magistrate. Samuel Bruce Rudall (1859 – 1945), John’s son, took over the position of Town Clerk in 1881, a position he held until 1914. He was also a State MP between 1905 and 1915. Samuel’s son, Reginald John Rudall (1885-1955), was a Rhodes Scholar in 1908. He was a state MP from 1933 until 1955, including a seven-year term as Minister for Education, and nine years as Attorney General under the Playford Government. Reginald and his wife suffered greatly during World War two when both their sons, Jon and Peter, were killed in action.

In 1955, the Rudall connection to the law practice ended when Reginald died. Lawrence McAusland Bills (1913 – 1975) then took over the law firm. He served Rudall and Rudall from 1937 until his death in 1974. His son, Anthony ‘Tony’ McAusland Bills (1941-2010), then took over Rudall and Rudall. Peter Ryan and Nick Pullman are today the partners of the firm and are supported by seven associate lawyers and seven legal assistants, making it the largest legal firm in the Gawler region.

Go underground via the link below.

Researched and written by Allen Tiller

[1] 'The Bank of South Australia', Bunyip (), (15 April 1892), p. 2.
[2] Rudall and Rudall Lawyers, History, (2024), https://www.rudalls.com.au/about/history/.

Gawler Underground - The Prince Albert Hotel

Prince Albert Hotel

109 Murray Street, Gawler

  The Prince Albert Hotel on Murray Street opened as the New Bushman Hotel on 31 March 1847 – the sign above the door states it was opened in 1859 by J. McEwan, but this is most likely the date it opened under the Prince Albert name. It retained this name until 30 March 1851, when it was renamed Young’s Hotel. The name reverted to the New Bushman Hotel in July 1852, then Smiths Hotel from 1855 until March 1859, when it was renamed The Prince Albert Inn. As of April 1869, the hotel has had the name The Prince Albert Hotel.[1] In the late 1990s, it became Fibber Magee’s until 2011.[2] The hotel name was then reverted to The Prince Albert Hotel. The hotel’s current legal trading name is the P/A Hotel.[3]

  A local legend states a tunnel used to run underneath Murray Street from the Gawler Arms Hotel into the Prince Albert Hotel, with another tunnel running up to the Hutchinson Hospital (built in 1913) on East Terrace. There is no evidence in the basement to prove either of these alleged tunnels true.

Go Underground via this link:

Researched and written by Allen Tiller

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[1] Ibid.

[2] The South Australian Government Gazette, No. 53, (28 July 2011), pp. 3142.

[3] The South Australian Government Gazette, No. 123, (3 August 2000), p. 414.

Gawler Underground - Good Samaritan Convent

St Joseph’s Good Samaritan Convent

6 Porter Street

St Joseph’s Good Samaritan Convent was built in 1910, opening on October 3rd. The first nuns moved in on 11 November 1910. It served as a school for Sisters of the Good Samaritan and could house twelve female boarders. The chapel, rectory, music room, dormitories, lavatories, bathrooms, community room, sacristy and staircase hall were on the upper level. The north wing contained a reception room, refectory, scullery, kitchen, laundry, cellar, and another outer office.[1] Past students speak of the honour of polishing the cedar staircase and chapel, or ringing the Angelus Bell, all of which still stand intact today.

Music was a large part of instruction in the Convent, with many important musicians being classically trained here, including internationally renowned musician Brenton Langbein OAM, who went on to study at the University of Adelaide. He would later play with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and become a star of the classical music scene in Europe, and a theatre in the Barossa is named after him.

In 1973, the convent and the smaller convent next door were sold to Hristos (Kristos) and Mavis Zisimou. The Zisimou’s, for a while, ran the property as a boarding house. According to her son, Mavis helped people turn their lives around with tough love, an iron fist, and a loving heart. The convent was sold to Dr Naomi Rutton in 2022, who has plans to turn it into a health retreat.

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researched and written by Allen Tiller




[1] 'The New Samaritan Convent, Gawler.', Southern Cross, (7 October 1910), p. 8.