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 14^th 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

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

 

 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

 

 Elizabeth Muriel Millhouse (nee Cheek) A.M.U.A.

First published on the ‘Gawler: Colonial Athens’ blog on 26/10/2021

Elizabeth married Algernon Edward Millhouse (1887 - 1948) on 14 May 1912, in the Registry Office, Adelaide.

Elizabeth Muriel Millhouse is remembered by her stage name 'Muriel Cheek'. She trained at the Elder Conservatorium of Music at the University of Adelaide. Muriel was a Soprano singer who sang frequently in churches and in oratorio.

She was one of Australia's finest lieder singers. In 1921 Muriel Cheek took the part of Yum Yum in the grand presentation of the Gilbert & Sullivan opera 'The Mikado' at Gawler.

She was a valued member of Tod Street Methodist Choir which was conducted by her father for many years.

In Melbourne, she taught at the Albert Street Conservatorium but joined the teaching staff of the University Conservatorium, a position she held at the time of her death.

Muriel was the daughter of Gawler Town Inspector, Phillip Cheek.

The Muriel Cheek Memorial Scholarship is offered at Melbourne University.

Researched by Allen Tiller for the Gawler History Team.

 

 Vale Brian Thom

First published on the ‘Gawler: Colonial Athens’ blog on 24/10/2021.

RIP - Brian Thom, Gawler History Team founder, Deputy Mayor, and Councillor.

 
Brian was passionate about Gawler's history and made a damn good cappuccino!
I will miss hearing 'How are you my boy?' every time I walk into a history team meeting, or into his home, where he was always welcoming and ready to offer a wine, port, or coffee. He never once forgot to ask how Karen was doing, or how my studies were going...

Brian was very generous with his time, advice and his knowledge. We spent many an hour discussing Gawler's history and how it can be preserved and promoted.

 
He came into my life just after my dad passed away, and in some way, I guess he fulfilled that fatherly figure we all sometimes need.

His are big shoes to fill. He had spoken to me many times about me taking his place in the future as Gawler History Team chairperson. He obviously saw something in me, I don't see in myself.
His stubbornness, his pestering people, and his passion are what drove the team for more than ten years, and without him there, even in the background as a mentor, it's going to be a much more subdued Gawler History Team for quite some time.

Vale Brian Thom, you will be missed greatly, by many.

 
Our Condolences to Bev and the rest of the Thom family.

www.gawlerhistory.com

The Bunyip Boys

 

The Bunyip Boys 1.

First published on the ‘Gawler: Colonial Athens’ blog on 2/10/2021

 The Bunyip Boys was drawn by American cartoonist Gene Byrnes (March 18, 1889 – July 26, 1974). In the US, and in some Australian reprints the comic was known as 'Reg'lar Fellas'.  It has also been published under the name ' The Children's Corner'.

It is only called ' The Bunyip Boys' in The Bunyip newspaper, published in Gawler, South Australia.

   

Alex Creyghton - Gawler Town Crier

First published on the ‘Gawler: Colonial Athens’ blog on 16/02/2021

 Alex Creyghton was employed by the Gawler South Council (previously District of Munno Para West Council), which covered the south side of the South Para River.
 Creyghton was a painter who worked from Union Street but also worked as a lamplighter, billposter (signage) and town crier.
He was a town crier in Gawler South from as early as 1888 up until he died in 1905.[1] He worked as Gawler’s principal Lamplighter from 1866 until 1897.

 

 Creyghton was employed in Gawler to light and extinguish the gas lamps around the town. He rode a bicycle with a ladder on his shoulder. Gawler Council refused to light the gas lamps for 6 nights before, and six nights after a full moon. It also demanded all lamps to be extinguished from 10:30 p.m. to save money.

From 1866 until 1897 Gawler’s lamplighter was Mr Creyghton. Creyghton was replaced in 1897 after a lamp exploded, and he could not explain to the council how it occurred.

 

The Bunyip published a short epitaph regarding Creyghton on 13 January 1905,

DEATH of Mr. Alex Creyghton

On Tuesday last Mr. Alex Creyghton, Gawler's well-known billposter and town crier, expired at his residence, Gawler South. The deceased arrived from Somerset in the Forfifeshire in I876 and settled at Gawler, where he followed the avocation of painter and signwriter until about eighteen years ago, when he entered into the bill-posting business. He attained the ripe age of 72 years.[2]

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2021

Picture: Alex Creyghton 1888 Advertising Bunyip 12 October p. 3.
[1] 'Advertising', Bunyip. (19 October 1888), p. 3.
[2] 'EDITOR'S NOTES.', Bunyip, (13 January 1905), p. 2.

  

Old Bill Taylor – Gawler Town Crier

 First shared on ‘Gawler: Colonial Athens’ blog, 9/2/2021

St George's Anglican Cemetery
Photo: Gawler History Team

William Taylor was born in Buckinghamshire England in May 1818. He married Mary Hillsdon (1817-1879) in 1839.

Their children Ann, Sarah and John were born in England, and Hannah and the children following were born in South Australia. Their children were:
Ann Taylor (1840–1840), Sarah Taylor (1842–1921), John Taylor (1844–?), Hannah Taylor (1847–1849), Elizabeth Taylor (1849–1866), Lucy Taylor (1850–1924), Thomas Henry Taylor (1851–1911), Lydia Mary Taylor (1854–1917), William Richard Taylor (1857–1933), James Taylor (1859–1864).

 

William Taylor was known around Gawler as ‘Old Bill’. He was a local Town Crier.

 

A 1925 The News article reported the following on Gawler Town Crier ‘Old Bill’ Taylor,

In its early days Gawler possessed a town crier, who combined poetry with oratory. For the poetry he made an extra charge. When announcing a sale at a building where its solitary room was used for religious services, and the collars as a store for wines, the crier was frequently heard to recite the foIlowing lines, much to the amusement of the public:

"There's a spirit above and a spirit below,

A spirit of weal and a spirit of woe,

The spirit above is the Spirit Divine,

The spirit below is the spirit of wine."[1]

The verse above is a quotation from Anna L Wards Dictionary of Quotations written by “MS”. It was written about 1825 about the vaults below Portman Chapel, Baker Street, London.[2]

Old Bill Taylor commentated on the 1869 election vote between Samuel Bradley and David Thompson. As printed in the Bunyip at the time (and later reprinted in 1932):

Gawler In Other Days

Only 28 ratepayers voted on Wednesday last in the contested Ward (South)

No one seemed to take the least activity hunting up voters for the involuntary candidates, and nothing tended to show that any election was going on with the exception of the town crier, Mr. William Taylor who perambulated the Ward read the following notice, which he has left with us for publication, that his name may be emblazoned on the herald of fame as one of local laureates:

To all the electors of South Ward.
Haste to the pool and quick record
Your votes for Dave or Sam;
If Dave is elected, you will place
The saddle on. him who won the race;
But if for Sam you vote.
You'll send in one who soon will prove
That public interests him move,
He'll never turn his coat.
You that have not voted in this Ward,
I hope you'll come in time;
I think you will not judge me hard.
For it will enhance the rhyme,
You know that for the contest
There's two, that's Dave and Sam.-,
Now all take your opinions
And vote for the best man,
Because there is no botheration
In being one of the Corporation.

The result showed— Samuel Bradley, 20; David Thompson, 8. Dec. 4, 1869.[3]

 

In 1871 Mr John Knowles proposed that Town Crier, William Taylor run for Council.[4]

 

Old Bill Taylor died on 4 February 1876 while walking from the Gawler Railway Station towards Murray Street.

SUNSTROKE: Mr. W. Taylor, our bill sticker and town-crier, received a sunstroke today about noon while in the occupation of his duty. He was travelling between the Railway Station and Gawler, and was observed to fall down. Dr. Popham was in immediate attendance and did everything possible for his recovery. He died about 3 o'clock, to-day, just as we Were going to press. [5]

 

William Taylor is buried at St George’s Cemetery, Cheek Avenue, Gawler East.

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2021

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[1] 'GAWLER COUNCIL', News, (25 November 1925), p. 6.
[2] 'CORRESPONDENCE.', The Register, (29 October 1910), p. 4.
[3] 'GAWLER IN OTHER DAYS.', Bunyip, (20 May 1932), p. 10.
[4] 'MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.', Bunyip, (25 November 1871), p. 3.
[5] 'BAROSSA MINING NEWS.', Bunyip, (4 February 1876), p. 2.

 

Gawler Town Crier’s

First published on the 'Gawler: Colonial Athens' blog on 26/01/2021

The Town Crier’s job was to make public announcements in the streets. Traditionally they dressed very elaborately to distinguish themselves as someone of importance separate from the public. The Town Crier would ring a large bell and shout the words “Oyez, Oyez, Oyez!” before making their announcement. ‘Oyez’ is late Middle English for ‘Hear ye’ and means ‘silence and attention’.[1]

(Some of) Gawler’s Town Criers

Old Bill Taylor. (William Taylor)[1]

Thomas ‘Tommy’ Kendall.[2]

Mr E. Luxton.[3]

Alex Creyghton [4]

Rowley (ex-police officer Crier for the courts).[5] 

Over the coming weeks, research about these Town Crier’s will be revealed.

A photo of the Gawler Town Criers bell can be found Gawler Cultural Heritage Centre’s eHive - Click here:


Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2021


Advertisement:  'DROPS OF INK.', Bunyip, (3 March 1876), p. 3.

[1] Oyez, Merriam-Webster, Incorporated, (2021), https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oyez.

[2] 'Out among the People', The Advertiser, (15 October 1937), p. 31.

[3] 'SAYINGS AND DOINGS COLONIAL ATHENS.', Bunyip (21 February 1879), p. 4.

[4] 'Local and General Topics.', Bunyip, (22 August 1913), p. 2.

[5] 'LOCAL AND GENERAL.', Bunyip, (14 January 1921), p. 2.

 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.

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[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

 

 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.