Map Kernow: Map the Miner

Originally posted on Sunday, April 9, 2017.

If you've ever visited Kapunda, you would remember passing the giant Cornish miner Statue at the southern end of town. Known as The Big Miner to some, and as Map Kernow, or Map the Miner to others. The monument was constructed in 1988 and officially opened on June 5th, 1988. The monument was designed and built by Ben Van Zetten after being suggested by local John Davidson that a memorial be erected to commemorate the influence the Cornish Miners had on the town.

The Rotary Club of Kapunda organised a funding campaign and successfully raised the money needed. Over the year’s other local volunteer community groups and the local council have helped to assist in beautifying the grounds around the Statue making it a focal point for tourists entering Kapunda.

The plaque on the miner reads;

"This statue is a monument to the profound, role and contribution of the Cornish miner in the Kapunda and in due course in other mines in South Australia. The Kapunda mine, established in 1844, was the first successful metal mine in Australia and contributed greatly to the economic development of South Australia. Up to its closure in 1878 ore to the value of more than £1 million was produced and up to 340 men and boys, mainly from Cornwall were employed."

In June 2006, Aaron Ashton was arrested after setting a fire as a “prank” at the base of the statue. Ashton claimed in court proceedings that he did not think the statue would be made from flammable materials and that he did not intend to destroy the statue.
 He pleaded ‘Not Guilty’ to the damage caused, estimated to be around $95,000, but was found guilty by Judge Muecke in 2007, and sentenced to several years in gaol for his crime. 

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2017

 

Bibliography

 

Fewster S, 2008, Teen vandal's idiocy destroyed tourist icon Map the Miner, The Advertiser, viewed 24 March 2017, http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/teen-vandals-statue-of-idiocy/news-story/115c070b8bc98d9dd38515c8b116e168

Monument Australia. 2010. Map the Miner | Monument Australia. Monument Australia, viewed 1 March 2013, http://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/technology/industry/display/50956-map-the-miner.

 Gawler before, and its First Building.

 

Documentary evidence reveals that Gawler came under the foot of the white man in 1837 when a survey party to the Barossa hills found a wanderer in the scrub. Being ill, they put him on the bullock dray. Reaching the ford over the South Para River, they found him dead, and so they buried him in a hollow tree, decently covering the body with bark and sticks.  They called the ford Dead Man's Pass, and the place to this day retains the name.

Gawler’s first building was the Old Spot Inn, built by Mr. Schiebner. By the end of 1839 the traffic from the River Murray and the North was so great that Mr. King had to give up entertaining, so he induced Mr. Schiebner to build and provided the money for the building. Soon after that time, there was a small dairy station up the South Para River, belonging to Captain Walker, and Messrs Grant and Butler (grandfather of the State's ex-Premier) had a sheep station at Yattalunga.

 

'Gawler before, and its First Building.', Bunyip, (3 February 1939), p. 9., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article96704537

The Kapunda Royal Visit: 1866

Originally posted on ' The History of Kapunda' on Monday, March 20, 2017

In 1886, Kapunda was graced with a Royal visit from the then Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Alfred,
Queen Victoria's second son. While visiting South Australia on a royal tour, Prince Alfred made a visit to Kapunda on November 6th, travelling to  Kapunda via train direct from Adelaide Station.
Once the Prince arrived at Kapunda Train Station, which had been adorned with pine branches and fronds (as had much of the town, simple decorations for simpler times), The Prince was whisked into an awaiting carriage. The ornamental carriage made its way towards the centre of town, surrounded by soldiers, and a large crowd of cheering and adoring Royal fans, keen to get a glimpse of the Prince.

Throughout the town, large Union Jack flags waved next to large banners with the words "Welcome to our Sailor Prince” written across them. Around the town were flags and signs of family crests and the flag of St George. Prince Alfred was taken via carriage to Mr Crase's newly refurbished North Kapunda Hotel. After a tour of the hotel from top to bottom, the Prince retired briefly to a sitting room upstairs that had been carefully prepared for his arrival.

A banquet held in his honour commenced in the rear ballroom (now demolished) of the hotel. Amongst the many dishes served was one dish usually reserved for the dining room of the Queen, and only served within the walls of the Palace. The Prince was very curious about this and asked for the cook to be brought to him for questioning.
The Prince questioned the cook on his preparation of the meal, asking how he knew the recipe. The cook informed the Prince, that he had been the Queen's personal chef prior to arriving in Australia, and now cooked and served in The North Kapunda Hotel. Upon hearing of the Royal Tour, he had become excited, and prepared the specialty Royal meal in the Prince's honour, to make him feel a little more like he was at home.

After a number of hearty speeches by town dignitaries, the Prince, and Mr Crase, three cheers of “Hoorruh” were given. Prince Alfred made his way back to the Kapunda Railway Station, where he boarded the Royal Train and made his way back to Adelaide continuing his tour of the country.

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2017

That Kapunda Crown

Originally posted on the 'History of Kapunda' blog on Friday, August 17, 2012

While conducting research for an investigation for another of our passions, Eidolon Paranormal; Karen and I stumbled across this piece of Kapunda's forgotten history.  We printed the story and placed it on the notice board in the front bar of the Clare Castle Hotel, hoping someone would come forward with some information. Unfortunately, not even the longtime regular's had seen the image before!
We had another mystery to be solved in Kapunda!

Below is what we posted on the notice board in the Hotel:


"Kapunda Revelation"

"After many layers of paper in the quaint Clare Castle Hotel at the Adelaide end of Kapunda had been removed, this design, measuring three feet, was found painted on the wall above the mantelpiece in the front room: it is in gold, green and black."


Later, we were researching for another Kapunda location and stumbled across the answer to the mystery of the Kapunda crown. The mystery of The Kapunda Crown was solved by this article, written in The Advertiser in 1954.

That Kapunda Crown

With commendable promptitude, Mrs E. O'Neill, president of Glenelg Sunshine Club has explained from 'Carmel,' 3 College street, Glenelg. the origin of the Crown at the Clare Castle Hotel. Kapunda

'The picture in your column took my mind back to my childhood watching my father, the late Edward (Ned) Murphy drawing that crown. He was the licensee.

'I do not remember why, as I was only six. Father had a peculiar trait to paint and draw things like this. 'He was a very intelligent man; when he died 21 years ago. at 86. he had retained his remarkable mentality.

Did Other Drawings

First, he was the licensee of the North Kapunda hotel for three years, during which time he was a councillor. Sir Sidney Kidman and Mr Charlie Coles were personal friends of his. When Queen Victoria died my parents draped the front of the Clare Castle in black. Father drew and painted a life-size picture of Queen Victoria for the centre. About this time, 1901. he drew the crown. I remember his doing the heart and saying to us children. 'The Throne and the Queen are the heart of the Empire. Many other hotels bear some drawing or inscription done by dad at Robe, on the window of a temperance hotel is something he did with a diamond ring.

I, unfortunately, burnt the only photo of the Clare Castle after father's death. I enclose one of the North Kapunda, taken about 1898. My father is the young man in shirt sleeves. Mother is standing by myself, a little tot looking through the balcony bars. One of the maids holds my baby brother, later an original Anzac.

Kept City Hotels

Mrs O'Neill says her father (Edward Murphy) and mother had many guests at their Adelaide hotels. Most famous was Madame Sarah Bernhardt at the Metropolitan in Grote Street. Mr C. C. Kingston, who lived farther west on the West terrace corner, wanted her father to buy half of Kingston Park, Marino, for £10. My grandparents were among the first Port Adelaide hotelkeepers. Migrants stayed there until they got work or land,' she adds.

Researched and written by Allen and Karen Tiller © 2012

 Glenelg Riots - part three -  Guy Fawkes Day 

Remember, remember, the 5th of November,

Gunpowder, treason and plot.

I see no reason

Why gunpowder treason

Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, 'twas his intent

To blow up the King and the Parliament

Three score barrels of powder below

Poor old England to overthrow

By God's providence he was catch'd

With a dark lantern and burning match

Holler boys, holler boys, let the bells ring

Holler boys, holler boys

God save the King!

 

 

Way back on January 24^th, 2023, I published the first part of this series ‘The Glenelg Riot.’ I decided it would be more fitting to publish this post on the 5^th of November - Guy Fawkes Day.

 

 Guy Fawkes Day (also known as Cracker Night, Bonfire Night, and Fireworks night) was an annual celebration in Great Britain and in some Commonwealth countries such as Australia. The day memorialised the attempted assassination of King James 1, a protestant King, by Catholic conspirators.
 On November 5^th, 1605, Guy Fawkes was arrested while guarding explosives that had been placed under the House of Lords. He was part of a plot to blow up Parliament led by Robert Catesby. The other conspirators were captured and executed on 31 January 1606, but not before Edward Montagu, a Member of Parliament proposed that the King had been saved by Divine Intervention, and therefore the day should be celebrated as a day of thanksgiving.

 The 5^th of November became a day for the burning of effigies of Guy Fawkes. In its early incarnations, the day celebrated the Protestant King by defiling Catholic Church symbols, such as the pope, by burning effigies. The holiday remained in Australia until circa 1982 when the Government banned all sales of fireworks.

In 1910 Glenelg celebrated Guy Fawkes night with a riot![1] Crowds had gathered at Mosely Square and Jetty Road to celebrate the evening. All was going well, until around 10pm that evening, an apparent signal went up and firecrackers from every direction were thrown at police.
At around 11pm a large stone was thrown from a lane adjoining Jetty Lane at Constable Harrold. The stone missed him but hit Mounted Constable Clark inflicting a deep wound into his skull which later had to be stitched.[2]A plain-clothed officer arrested the rock thrower, assisted by Constable Keene, who was promptly despatched by a bottle thrown at his head, knocking him out.[3]
The police retreated to the station, but the crowd followed. After a short time, the police came outside and confronted the crowd with their batons drawn. The crowd soon dispersed, and the riot ended.[4]

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2023

[1] 'CRACKERS AND CONSTABLES.', Evening Journal, (7 November 1910), p. 4.

[2] 'SOUTH AUSTRALIA.', The North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times (8 November 1910), p. 3.

[3] 'RIOT AT GLENELG.', The Sydney Morning Herald, (7 November 1910), p. 9

[4] 'RIOT AT GLENELG.', The West Australian, (7 November 1910), p. 8

 

Barossa Elephant Walk

First published on 'Gawler: Colonial Athens' blog on 25/01/2021

1933, world travelling Wirth Brothers Circus had just finished shows in Adelaide and Gawler, and on July 7th scheduled shows for Angaston in the Barossa Valley. 

During the Gawler show of the circus, spectators commented on how the elephants didn’t seem to wander far from the circus troop, and how, if they did, they could cause significant damage to a small town. These statements may have foretold future events! 

The following week, while Wirth’s Circus was in Angaston, one of the elephants decided he would go for a walk through the town. The lone elephant found himself in the garden of Mr Hentschke. It knocked over Mr Hentschke’s fences, then pulled up some of his roses. The elephant, not content with his destruction, then pulled a much-prized plum tree from the ground.
The elephant stomped its way through Hentschke’s prized garden, and once it had finished its rampage, took one of Hentschke’s wicker chairs from the front veranda and obliterated it, throwing it, in tiny pieces, across the front yard.
After its outing, the elephant returned to the circus. 

One has to wonder if the same elephant was the cause of destruction in nearby Tanunda, where several grapevines were pulled from the ground. This elephant was shooed away by workers and returned to its circus!

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2019

References:

1933 'ELEPHANT WANDERS OFF', Leader (Angaston, SA: 1918 - 1954), 20 July, p. 2. 

1933 'Wirth Bros. Ltd. Circus', Leader (Angaston, SA: 1918 - 1954), 13 July, p. 1. 

1933 '1-ELEPHANT POWER.', Bunyip (Gawler, SA: 1863 - 1954), 28 July, p. 4. 

 

Munno Para West District Council Office – 9 Adelaide Road - Hidden Secrets.

<Transcript>

If you live in Gawler you’ve probably driven past the little building on the corner of Adelaide Road and Twelfth Street a thousand times but never given it a second thought.
Currently, the building is Creative Outdoors Display Centre, previously it has been used as a second-hand store and a tax agent, but none of these were its original purpose.

Bound in the south by the Little Para River, and in the North by the Gawler River, The District Council of Munno Para West Was formed in 1854, a year after the District Council of Munno Para East was formed. 
The council included the towns of Virginia, Smithfield, Penfield, Angle Vale, St Kilda and Gawler Blocks. Gawler Blocks were later to be known as Gawler South and removed from the District Council of Munno Para West in 1899.


The District Councils of Munno Para East & West were united to become the City of Munno Para in 1933, with some sections going to the Town of Gawler, and others going to the District Council of Salisbury, the rest were merged with the Munno Para East Council.

The building that stands today was originally built to be a chapel in 1855, however, it was bought in 1861 to become the District Council of Munno Para West’s head office, whilst the District Council of Munno Para’s East office was in Murray Street Gawler – you may recognise it as the building currently next door to Elders.

<End Transcript>

Since publishing this video, I have been informed that this small building was the home of a family of ten during the 1950/60s. It has also been used as a computer store (information supplied by Robby Cummins), a sex toy store, and a second-hand store.
In March 2019, Creative Outdoors ended their lease at the location. It now sits empty awaiting its next use.

In 2021 - the location is now a Real Estate Agent: Raine and Horne

Researched and written by Allen Tiller ©2019

 Gawler: The Colonial Athens

First shared on ‘Gawler: Colonial Athens’ Blog Monday, 18 January 2021.

91 Murray Street - Gawler Institute, after 1870 and before 1878 Source: Gawler History Team Inc.

91 Murray Street - Gawler Institute, after 1870 and before 1878
Source: Gawler History Team Inc.

“If ever there was a go-ahead little spot on the globe's surface, Gawler may lay claim to that distinction.” – Traveller c.1870.[1]

Allen Tiller
Photo Daniel James Down
Gawler in Photographs

Hi, my name is Allen Tiller, I am the author of this blog.
 I was born in Gawler at the Hutchinson Hospital. I was educated at the Evanston Primary School and Gawler High School. I moved away from Gawler in the 1990s and intermittently lived in Gawler over the decades before moving back to the town in 2016.
 You might know me from the television show Haunting: Australia. I have had an extensive career in the media over the past decade. Before that, I worked in Warehousing and Distribution here in South Australia, and in Queensland. After Haunting: Australia filmed in 2013 I suffered a serious injury and could no longer work in warehousing, so I went to TAFE and retrained as a Librarian. At the same time, I studied for a Diploma in Family History at the University of Tasmania. Currently, I am halfway through studying for a degree majoring in history, also with UTAS.
 I am also a published poet and a published historical author. I have written tours of local councils and am an Executive Member of the Gawler History Team. As well as a parent and grandparent!

 

I often write on my blog The Haunts of Adelaide about crimes, paranormal and odd history around South Australia. I also have a blog dedicated only to paranormal themes, The Eidolon Paranormal Blog and one dedicated to Kapunda. I decided this year I might take some of the copious local history and knowledge of Gawler I have stored and put it out on the interwebs for others to read.

So, I started this blog!

Why the name “Gawler: Colonial Athens”?

 During the 1860s, Gawler had established an Institute, a foundation of knowledge. Within it is a library. The Institute had supported the arts and education. The township also attracted many university-educated Germans who settled at nearby Buchfelde.
  No one knows exactly who phrased the term, but E.H Coombe stated:

  “It is the custom of many writers and speakers to refer to Gawler as “the Modern Athens”, presuming this was the title bestowed conferred upon it in the early days by admirers of its literary activities/ The title then bestowed upon it as a genuine compliment was ‘The Colonial Athens’.
Edinburgh has the distinction of being ‘The Modern Athens’. Gawler secured it’s flattering cognomen of ‘the colonial Athens’ because of its spirited action of its Institute in connection with the competitions for a Song of Australia and a History of South Australia. In referring to this matter the late Mr. E.L. Grundy remarked; ‘no one of the many sensible minds in Gawler would think of assuming the title of ‘The Colonial Athens’, yet they are willing to hold it and adopt the friendly compliment as being calculated to impart to the young around as a wholesome consciousness that they are in a position in the world’s eye where mental and moral superiority are looked for…”[2]

 

So, there you have it, Gawler was dubbed the ‘Colonial Athens’. Later, Adelaide got in on the act and dubbed itself “The Athens of the South”. As Oscar Wilde said, ‘Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.’

This blog will probably be posted irregularly, as my time permits. There will be cross-posts from my other blogs and Gawler-based projects, and links (many links!) to the Gawler History Team Inc. website gawlerhistory.com.

Hope you enjoy Gawler’s History.

Allen Tiller 19/01/2021.

UPDATE: Since writing this blog in 2021, I have earned a B.A. in History with First Class Honours at the University of Tasmania. I have also deleted the former Gawler: Colonial Athens' blog and reposted the material here. A.T. - 2023.

---

[1] "THE COLONIAL ATHENS."', The Register, (30 July 1910), p. 4.

[2] Gawler, Derek Whitelock, (1989), p.79.

Photographs:
 Gawler History Team: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gawler_history/7083658135/
 Gawler In Photographs, Daniel James Down, 2020: https://www.facebook.com/Gawlerinphotographs

 

 

 Gawler's Hotels

Foundation years of Gawler's Hotels

Golden Fleece 30-10-1839 (Also known as The Old Spot Hotel)

Old Bushman 24-9-1840

Prince Albert 1847 (as the New Bushman Inn)

Gawler Arms 1848

Willaston Hotel 1849

Kingsford (also known as the Globe Hotel ) 1851

Railway Hotel 1854 (also known as 'The Terminus' & 'Overway Hotel) - currently closed.

South End 1855 (also known as The Southern)

Gawler Belt Inn 1857

Engine and Driver 1858 (21st Street - now a private residence)

Wheatsheaf 1859-1873 (now Tikka Talian Restaurant.)

Criterion 1864

Exchange 1868

 BEANS.—

A curiosity in beans well worthy of attention may be seen at Host James' Old Spot Hotel. The sample in question is a foot in length, and was grown by Mr. A James, at Gawler South. These beans are very prolific, and have an advantage over many others in their utility. They can be used as a French bean, or else shelled and boiled separately from the skin, which is edible. They thus form two dishes, a fact which will be appreciated by many of our housewives.

‘Beans', Bunyip, (17 October 1879), p. 2., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article97222241.

This article was published on my Gawler: Colonial Athens blog in 2023. Allen Tiller

 Kaurna People

First shared on ‘Gawler: Colonial Athens’ blog Monday, 18 January 2021,

 

'I would like to begin by acknowledging the Kaurna people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we the Town of Gawler stands today and pay my respects to their Elders past and present. I extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples here today.'[1]

Kaurna People

Before European settlement, the area we now identify as Gawler was the home to the Kaurna people. The North Para, South Para and Gawler Rivers are all sacred sites to the Kaurna mob, as is the junction of the three rivers found at Parridla Taikondi Parank in what is now Lawrence Ave, Gawler South.

The name Parridila Taikondi; Parri is a Kaurna word for river and parridla means rivers. Taikondi is the Kaurna word for coming together.[2]

Kaurna Country Map - Click here.

Town of Gawler - Local Aboriginal Culture - Click here.

 

 

 

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2021

[1] Welcome to Country or Acknowledgement of Country, Commonwealth of Australia, https://www.indigenous.gov.au/contact-us/welcome_acknowledgement-country.

[2] Significant Local Areas, Town of Gawler, (2020), https://www.gawler.sa.gov.au/about-gawler/aboriginal-torres-strait-islanders/significant-local-areas.

[3] Map of Indigenous Australia, AIATSIS, (2023)m  https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/map-indigenous-australia.

Kapunda Biographies: John Hill

(Orignally posted on 'The History of Kapunda' Tuesday, August 7, 2012.)

Kapunda, A town of mystery, a town of history, and a town with a past like no other. Today I am starting a new edition to the blog, highlighting some of the people who lived, worked, played, loved and built the town. Some of the ladies and gentlemen I will profile over coming months have long left. Others are living in the town today, you may have passed them in the street and not known what achievements they had accomplished, right here in Kapunda. With this blog, I aim to change that!

To get started, I am going to profile a gentleman who passed away long ago. A man who crossed the sea to play an important role in South Australian history. A man who would eventually call Kapunda home, and be buried in the Clare Road Cemetery.

Mr John Hill served as boatswain (The Foreman of the “unlicensed” crew) in His Majesty, King William's ship, The Buffalo. [1]

John Hill was born on the 3rd of June 1808 in Cheshurst, Hertfordshire, England. Mr Hill was a skilled thatcher before serving his King in the English Navy.

John Hill's most notable mark in South Australian history, other than coming to our fine shores aboard the Buffalo, was under the soon to be Governor of South Australia, Captain John Hindmarsh.

As the proclamation, declaring South Australia a British colony was read aloud to the gathered sailors and dignitaries, John Hill raised the British Flag, thus marking his place in South Australian history for all time. He was aged 29 at the time.

Mr Hill was soon engaged in the colony to undertake his regular occupation, thatching rooves for the newly colonised State. The only skilled roof thatcher available, he was very busy and was summoned to thatch the roof of the Governor's house.




Mr Hill died at the age of 77, on the 2nd of April 1885, and was interred in The Clare Road Cemetery.


Mr Hill's wife and family were very proud of the fact that their husband and father hoisted the flag on proclamation day and marked the significance upon his tombstone.

His grave also features a very distinct and different marking. It features as the centrepiece the “British Standard” with Gum tree carved into Headstone.

Mr Hills obituary appears in the South Australian Register on page 2, April 11th 1885 and reads,

Deaths of Pioneers.— Our Kapunda correspondent mentions that bluff, hearty old John Hill the boatswain of the Buffalo, who hoisted the flag at Glenelg when the colony was proclaimed, died on Thursday evening, after an illness of four months. He was 77 years of age, and during his life enjoyed the very best of health until recently, when he was attacked by bronchitis. During his illness, he suffered a great deal. He leaves a widow, who is somewhat older than himself.

Researched and Written by Allen Tiller
for Kapunda Community Link



[1] The “Buffalo” was originally named The Hindostand in 1813 when it was built it was sold in that same year to the United Kingdom Navy and renamed “The Buffalo” where it began to ship mast timbers across the globe. It eventually was used to ship English female prisoners to Sydney (187) then travelled to South Africa. The ship was recommissioned in 1835 where it was fitted to house emigrants for transport to Australian Colonies.