Pages

Tuesday 5 March 2024

The Ghost of Cream Puff Corner

The Ghost of Cream Puff Corner

 


Cream Puff Corner is located at Upper Yorke Rd, Wokurna, near Port Broughton. The location got its name from two returned servicemen, Cedric Witty and David Richards, who began a carrying business at this location in 1946. According to a sign at the location,

‘When local folk asked the boys how they managed “batching”, the answer was always the same. “Real good, living like lords, we knock up a batch of cream puffs every Sunday morning.”
From then on, they were always asked “How’s the cream puffs going?”
“Real good,” they’d answer, “but we only manage them on Sundays.” When asked the whereabouts of their bachelor cottage, they’d laconically answer, “Cream Puff Corner of course!”

It has long been reported that the location is haunted by an unidentified man in a checked shirt. Have you seen him? Do you know who he might be?

Please let us know!

Wednesday 7 February 2024

Schoolmasters of the Gawler Primary School 1878 - 1978

Schoolmasters of the 

Gawler Primary School 

1878 - 1978



1878-1881- L. S. Burton

l88l -1887-1. A. Plummer

1887-1891- John Harry

1891-1895- R. T. Burnard

1895-1897 - John Donnell

1897-1905 -Alfred Holloway

1905- 1913-Oliver D. Jones

1913 -George S. Berriman

1913-1927-Evan Thomas (Edward D. Nicholas-Acting Head Teacher for a period in 1919, during the illness of Mr Thomas)

(Ernest H. Priest-Acting Head Teacher for part of 1926-1927, during Mr. Thomas' long illness, before his retirement)

1927-1929-Roy Bromley

1929-1930-William J. Fisher

I1930-1932- Alfred J. Keats

1932-1942- William J. Barbary

1942-1945- Martin J. Hansberry

1945- 1948- Roland S. Michelmore

1948- 1950-E. Ray Sexion

1950- 1951 -John T. Blizard

1951 -l 954-Ronald C. Bierwirth

1954-1956-Walter R. Hayward

1956- I 960- Héctor McKenzie

1960 – 1962 -J. C. Nadebaum

1962-1964-Michael l. Jones

1964-1969-Eric Riley

1969-1972-Ronald Krieg

1973 -F. l. Barnett

1974-1976- J. Hurn

1977- -Don. Paterson

Tuesday 6 February 2024

The 1888 Tragedy at Semaphore.

 The 1888 Tragedy at Semaphore.

 


In 1888, the newspapers of the day were scathing of 20-year-old Susan Schmidt, who on February 8th, had ridden on the footboard of a train carriage travelling to Semaphore. As the train crossed the points, it shook, dislodging Susan and throwing her under the train where she was crushed to death.[1]

It came to light that Susan and a friend, Emma Fitts, had left Susan's parents’ house in the evening, and walked to Port Adelaide. They saw a friend off at Alberton station, then walked back to Exeter station, when the Semaphore bound train arrived. Rather than walk, they hopped onto the steps of the train from the opposite side of the platform. William Uden, travelling in the train, told the girls they had better get off the train, but they ignored him. As the train entered Semaphore station and crossed the points, it made a slight jump, dislodging Susan, who was flung under the train.

Porter, Charles White, who was on his way to the points, saw the train give a little jump and heard someone yell out from under the train. He was first to see Susan on the rails and went immediately for a doctor. When the train stopped at Semaphore, the guard William Swann, saw the danger lights lit up at the points by White and could see Susan lying around 100 yards from the train.

There was little compassion in South Australia’s media of the day. The South Australian Register wrote, ‘Susan Schmidt was run over and killed by the Semaphore train on February 8, owing to her recklessness in unlawfully riding on the footboard of the carriage.’[2]

The Evening Journal stated, ‘A Sad Death from Recklessness – It must be a painful reflection for the parents of the poor girl, Susan Schmidt, who was run over and killed by the Semaphore train…’[3]

The Port Augusta Dispatch wrote, ‘Susan Schmidt tried to ride on the step of a Semaphore railway carriage last Wednesday. Verdict – nobody but herself to blame.’[4]

Susan's body was transported to the Port Hospital where Dr Toil examined her, before placing her dead body in the morgue.[5] Susan's lower body had been ‘completely crushed.’[6]

An inquest into the death occurred at the Port Admiral Hotel on February 9, 1888, overseen by Coroner T. Ward. J.P.  Susan’s father Bennett Schmidt gave evidence at the inquest, stating,

She was 20 years of age last September. Last saw her alive about half-past 7 on Wednesday evening in company, with., two friends. They left his place and went in the direction of the Semaphore-road. Was awakened about a quarter past 10 by Mr. Warn, who told him of the accident. Directly saw it was his daughter that had been run over. She asked him to lift her up, and repeated the question in the train. She never told him how the accident occurred. Never knew deceased to be reckless.[7]

 

The jury returned a verdict that ‘the deceased met her death by being run over by the Semaphore train, the accident is caused by her attempting to ride on the step of the carriage and added a rider that no blame was attached to anybody. [8]

 

Researched and written by Allen Tiller  © 2024

[1] 'Latest News.', Evening Journal, (9 February 1888), p. 2. (SECOND EDITION).
[2] 'ABSTRACT OF NEWS.', South Australian Register, (13 February 1888), p. 7.
[3] 'S.A. SWIMMING CLUB.', Evening Journal, (10 February 1888), p. 3. (SECOND EDITION).
[4] 'Grape Shot.', The Port Augusta Dispatch, Newcastle and Flinders Chronicle, (14 February 1888), p. 2.
[5] 'Latest News.', Evening Journal, (9 February 1888), p. 2. (SECOND EDITION).
[6] Ibid.
[7] 'CORONERS' INQUESTS.', South Australian Register, (10 February 1888), p. 7.
[8] Ibid.

Wednesday 17 January 2024

Haunted Adelaide Plains South Australia

 

Haunted Adelaide Plains
South Australia




On dark and stormy nights, a phantom walks Port Wakefield Road, hitchhiking to Adelaide. He wears a long, Australian Air Force jacket, with a RAAF uniform underneath. He hitches a ride, and then vanishes from the car…who is this ghost that has been reported since the 1940s? Is he the only ghost walking Port Wakefield Road, and what other spectres are seen in the area?In Haunted Adelaide Plains: South Australia, award-winning historian and paranormal investigator, Allen Tiller investigates this ghost story, and others from the region; including the ghost of a soldier in Mallala, phantoms in Alma, Balaklava, Dublin, Pinery, and Two Wells… and, an unusual sighting of Princess Diana in Mallala at the time of her death.

Allen Tiller focuses his research on true ghost stories drawn from historical sources, interviews, witness statements and his own paranormal investigations. Allen Tiller is a former volunteer at the Mallala Museum and the Adelaide Plains Historical Committee. His family are pioneers in the region and can be linked to two hauntings on the Adelaide Plains, which Allen discusses in this book.
Haunted Adelaide Plains: South Australia, investigates the paranormal through fact-checked historical information that adds authenticity to some stories and debunks others; valuing evidence-based stories over psychic hearsay and giving an unbiased, factual account of local hauntings on the Adelaide Plains.

Buy it here:

Saturday 16 December 2023

Gawler Club

 

 Gawler Club

First published on the ‘Gawler: Colonial Athens’ blog on 05/03/2023.

The Gawler Club in 2023, is celebrating 150 years since the club's foundation.

The Gawler Club was founded in 1873. Originally the clubs’ rooms were situated in the basement under the Institute Reading Room. In 1880, the Corporation of the Town of Gawler leased a basement room in the Town Hall to the Gawler Club, where it has remained ever since, except for a brief period during which the Gawler Civic Centre was constructed. During this time the Gawler Club was located at the Elderly Centre on 14th Street, Gawler South.[1]

 

Both my uncles, Lance and Robin, as well as my grandfather Edward were members of the Gawler Club, with their names gracing the championships boards in the club room.


researched and written by Allen Tiller. © 2023



[1] 'MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS.', South Australian Register, (27 May 1880), p. 6. 


Wednesday 13 December 2023

Land Sale, Gawler Monday, February 12, 1849.

 

 Land Sale, Gawler Monday, February 12, 1849.

First published on the ‘Gawler: Colonial Athens’ blog on 29/10/2021.



On Monday, February 12, 1849.

SAMSON, WICKSTEED, & CO.,

(Successors to Mr John Bentham Neales,)

ARE instructed to sell by public auction, at the Mart, the following valuable freehold properties at Gawler Town and Glenelg—

1—The fee simple of that half-acre, No. 56. whereon is erected the valuable steam flour mill, at Gawler Town, at present in the occupation of Mr Walter Duffield, and, producing a rental of two hundred pounds per annum; six years of his lease being unexpired.

2— That half-acre, No. 75, immediately opposite, whereon is built a substantial stone house, let to the same gentleman for £15 per annum for the same term. So desirable an opportunity as the above for the investment of trust-moneys seldom occurs.

The following valuable half-acre allotments : —

No. 33 — Corner of Dundas and Tod-streets.

No- 58_Comer of Jacobs, Finniss, and Cameron streets.

No- 118-Stubbs-street.

No. 136— Frontages to Cowan and Sutton-streets.

No 142 — Ditto to Thomas-terrace and Sutton street.

No. 141 — Ditto ditto ditto (three frontages).

No. 162— Ditto to Howard and Wright-streets.

No. 155 — Jerringham-street.

No. 163— Wright-street.

No. 164— Three frontages to Victoria-place and Terrace, and Wright-street.

No. 166— Ditto ditto to Howard-street and ditto.

The following suburban lots in the Gawler Special Survey: —

No 21—75 acres on the North Para.

No. 22— 63 ditto ditto ditto

On the latter there is a spring of fresh water.

-------

Also, the following half-acre allotments in the marine town of Glenelg, viz. : —

Nos. 8, 13, 14, and 15.

A. Plan of these Properties can be seen at the Mart.

Source: 1849 'Advertising', South Australian Register, (17 January 1849), p. 2., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50247614

Tuesday 12 December 2023

Kandy House - Parabanks - Paranormal Investigation

Kandy House - Parabanks 

- Paranormal Investigation

 Parabanks at Salisbury was developed in 1962 when Arndale Developments negotiated with the Salisbury District Council to acquire 30 acres of land near the Salisbury CBD. Historical houses including that of Salisbury founder, John Harvey were bulldozed for 'progress’. Also lost in the razing of buildings was the original Hepzibah church and presbytery.

I have been contacted many times about unexplainable incidents in the Parabanks. One of the more common stories is that of a ghost of a child seen on the western side of the shopping complex, so I was intrigued when South Australian Ghost Investigations invited Karen and I to investigate with them at Kandy House.

 

I was aware of the alleged haunting, as a friend, Alex had put me on to it. I had watched the alleged paranormal activity videos on the Kandy House Facebook with interest. We investigated at Halloween. We spoke directly to the owner and staff about what they believed had been happening at the shop. We had a visiting psychic, Bea, who felt a presence, which would later prove an interesting connection to a local crime.

 We used a variety of meters and received no interaction. While in the back storeroom, which was reported as highly active, I personally witnessed a very strange light. I tried through various means to recreate the light and could not – I am still intrigued by the light, as it made no sense how it could be where I witnessed it!

We concluded our investigation. We were told a few days later that the alleged paranormal activity had subsided after our initial visit, but we will be remaining in contact with the owner to evaluate if further investigation is needed.

In the meantime, check out Kandy House online – they have an awesome range of hard-to-get lollies!


South Australia Ghost Investigations: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1539033312782383

Kandy House: https://www.facebook.com/KandyHouseADL/

https://kandyhouse.com.au/