Chicago – South Australia

Did you know that South Australia once had a suburb named Chicago?

 Chicago was an industrial area 5 miles from Adelaide, which had a school and its own football club.[1] The Yatala South District Council decided that the name needed to be changed due to confusion with Chicago South Australia mail being mistaken for Chicago, Illinois, USA mail.
 The Chicago Post Office, South Australia, stated it did not matter that the name was changed, as it was to avoid confusion.[2] However, there was conjecture in local newspapers that the real reason the name change was first suggested was that the ‘name reminded them too much of gangsters, daylight hold-ups, and "Scarface" Al Capone.’[3]

Names suggested for the renaming included Booth and Makinville (in honour of Mr. Norman Makin Speaker of the House of Representatives), Killarney, Northview or Suburbia.[4] Mawson was suggested but rejected due to the name being used in Western Australia.[5]  Braeville and Mapleton were also suggested but were vetoed by the Nomenclature Committee, owing to similar place names in Australia.[6]
While new name suggestions were considered some members of the public believed the area should be absorbed into nearby suburbs, such as Islington, Kilburn, SunnyBrae, and Islington Park. and Braeville. Ultimately, the Yatala District Council of the day, overseen by chairperson, R.A. Thompson, would have the final say on the name.[7]

A name was chosen by the council and debated in Parliament. Kilburn was chosen as it complied with official requirements, ‘inasmuch, as it is a wholesome word; and does not clash with any existing place names in the Commonwealth.’ [8]   The News reported on the name transition the following,

Kilburn is the designation of a private subdivision adjoining Chicago. Hitherto the name has not been recognised officially in the Lands Titles Office. There is a suburb of London called Kilburn, and the name also occurs in Yorkshire and Derby Shire. In an earlier form: it is mentioned in Domesday Book, and its roots have reference to church and stream. Chicago is a Red-Indian word for "wild onion."[9]

The Mail, not long after the announcement of the name change from Chicago reported,

'Kill— Burn'

'What's in a name?' asked Shakespeare. Residents of Chicago will find that there is more in one than meets the eye. For the new name for Chicago, near Port Adelaide, is Kilburn. And Kilburn, according to the residents, sounds much more aristocratic than Chicago, which is reminiscent of battle, murder, and sudden death.
Kilburn, they say, suggests the emerald isle, with ruined castles dreaming by moonlit lakes and moss-covered walls and leprechauns.

But the Fates have conspired against Kilburn for latest cables from Chicago, America, state that gangsters after killing off their victims are suspected of burning the bodies.

Thus— Kill-burn.

It seems that Adelaide's Chicago cannot escape association with us shady namesake.[10]

 

Also changed at the same time, announced by Governor Sir Alexander Hore-Ruthven, was the suburb name Mellor Park, which was changed to Lockleys.[11]

 

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2025

Photos:

Gregory's  Street Directory of Adelaide and Suburbs, State Library of South Australia, Map 36 (1936), https://digital.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/nodes/view/2108#idx12271

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[1] 'Chicago Club', News, (25 February 1925), p. 5.

[2] 'Renaming Chicago', News, (15 February 1930), p. 3.

[3] 'Name of Suburb Changed', The Standard, (23 March 1960), p. 7.

[4] 'Renaming Chicago', News, (15 February 1930), p. 3.

[5] 'Chicago Renamed', News, (26 April 1930), p. 3.

[6] 'Renaming Chicago', News, (7 April 1930), p. 4.

[7] 'Renaming Chicago', News, (15 February 1930), p. 3.

[8] 'Exit Chicago!', News, (3 May 1930), p. 3.

[9] Ibid.

[10] "Kill-Burn"', The Mail, (24 May 1930), p. 3.

[11] 'Kilburn Vice Chicago', The Advertiser, (13 August 1930), p. 10. 

Paranormal Research: National Library of Australia’s TROVE (Part 3)

Referencing on Trove

Prior posts on this topic: 

Paranormal Research: The Manning Index of South Australia 

Paranormal Research: National Library of Australia’s TROVE (Part 1) – Basic Search

Paranormal Research: National Library of Australia’s TROVE (Part 2) - Advanced Search 

It is essential that researchers and writer in the paranormal field reference their work. Not only does this stop criticism from potential sceptics, as you can show where ideas and events are sourced from, it also stops plagiarism. Plagiarism is already rife in the field, and the more we stop it, the less infighting we will have.

Another valid point, that I am very vocal about on social media, is referencing our writing, showing our legitimate sources lends credence and respect to the field. It shows those in the scientific and research fields that we are serious about finding the truth about whatever it is we are researching. That we are more than just pseudoscience. 

So whether you are planning on writing a book or blog about ghosts, it is essential that you reference the materials you use in your research. It proves what you are talking about was reported widely. It proves you are not making the story up yourself, but it also proves you are not stealing the original work, word for word, or even worse, changing the story to fit your own narrative, as so many tour groups in this field are guilty of doing. 

Referencing is a standard convention within the academic and professional research communities, which is designed to inform the reader of the sources of information used in a piece of written work. 

There are several referencing systems in common use, with certain systems being preferred in different academic disciplines., my preferred styles are Chicago and Australian Harvard. I tend to lean more toward Chicago style now, and use extensive footnoting. (which we will get to in another blog post) 

There are two parts to every referencing system (or footnoting): 

1. The “in-text reference”; a reference to a source of information placed within the body of the work. 

In text Referencing Example: “Doyle write about looking for a Skeleton on Rundle Street. (The Register, 1921).” 

2. The “reference list”; a list of all sources referred to in the work, located at the end of the work. (A slight variation is the Bibliography). 

Luckily for us, Trove makes things a simple for referencing. 

If we search a newspaper story on Trove. You will find on the left-hand side are several symbols. The first is an information symbol, this is where Trove cites the work for you. Most of the time the 3rd citation down is Harvard. 

So, you can copy and paste, or write it down as is, and add it in your Reference List/Bibliography or in-text referencing: 

(Harvard Example)

‘1921 'GHOSTS AND SKELETONS', The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), 25 February, p. 3. , viewed 05 May 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article55150338

Because of the layout of Blogger, I cannot add the content of this talk in its entirety in one blog post. This transcript was originally presented as an interactive video presentation at the City Library in Adelaide and does not transcribe well to this format. 

© 2017 - Allen Tiller - originally presented by Allen Tiller as part of the 'Haunted Buildings in Adelaide' - Paranormal historian in residence project at the Adelaide City Libraries in conjunction with the City of Adelaide.