Lightning Strikes – The Death of Mr Carey

 It was a Friday afternoon January 25 1901, Thomas Carey, a farmer near Templers, was returning home after visiting Gawler. He was riding in a wagon with six horses. His brother, Jeremiah Carey, an employee of Mr Flett, had also been in Gawler that day, and rode with his brother as far as Flett’s farm near Roseworthy.
 Thomas waited with his horses and wagon while his brother went into his lodgings and found an overcoat that he gave to Jeremiah. Mr Flett invited Thomas to park his wagon at the farmhouse and stable his horses as a fierce storm had settled in. Thomas declined the invitation.  Jeremiah then changed his clothes and went with Mr Flett to check on an overflowing drain. The men walked for a little while but noticed Thomas's wagon was sitting idle alongside the road. They walked over to it and found all six horses and Thomas dead.[1]

Authorities were alerted, with Mounted Constable Grosser the first on the scene. He found Thomas Carey sitting in an upright position, his body leaning back on the hay frame. His feet were resting on the shafts. Thomas’ left leg was scorched above the ankle, as was the left side of his neck and face. His moustache and hair on the left of his body was badly singed.  Thomas’ body had many small burn marks, especially across his torso. His hat had been blown off his head and was lying 200 yards away.
 The horses were lying dead where they had stood, with no apparent electrical or fire damage. The wagon was also unscathed.
Mr A.G. Both, J.P. stated that an inquest was not required and approved for the burial of the man and his horses. The horses were buried in a 10-foot-deep, former waterhole on the property of James Dingle.[2]

Thomas Carey was buried at the Willaston Cemetery. The Bunyip newspaper reported that the funeral procession was one of the longest ever seen in the district at the time, with over 100 vehicles following the hearse. [3]

 

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2025

---

[1] 'STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.', Border Watch, (30 January 1901), p. 1.

[2] 'Killed by Lightning.', Bunyip, (1 February 1901), p. 2.

[3] 'Killed by Lightning.', Bunyip, (1 February 1901), p. 2.

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.

Go underground via this link

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.

Go underground via the link below

researched and written by Allen Tiller




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

Gawler Underground - Imprint Flowers

Imprint Flowers

1 Tod Street Gawler

 

The building located at 1 Tod Street, now Imprint Flowers, started as Taylor and Ponder Carpenters and Builders in 1855.[1] Ponder left the company, and a new partnership started with Alexander Forgie. Taylor and Forgie were carpenters and builders, and sometime in the 1870s, extended their business to include undertaking. In 1902, Alexander Forgie died, dissolving the partnership of Taylor and Forgie, however, Alexander’s sons, Alexander junior and James Forgie, took over the business.

  In 1908, The Bunyip newspaper reported that a fire gutted the ground-floor offices of Taylor and Forgie, but it did not penetrate through to the boarding house above.[2]

  There is a belief that this site was used as a morgue – and there may be a little truth in that - occasionally bodies were stored here, but the reality was, in the Victorian era, when people died their bodies were prepared for funerals in their own homes. This was generally due to there being no refrigeration storage, so people were buried within a few days of death. This changed once embalming became the norm, and this is more likely the period, in the early 1900s, that bodies were stored here temporarily.

Taylor and Forgie moved to Cowan Street, Gawler, in 1968. Since then, the shop has been a coffee house, a secondhand store, a baby shop, Bake and Brew, Fairy Secrets, and a flower shop.

Go Underground and visit the basements via this link

Researched and written by Allen Tiller

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[1] 1942 'TAYLOR & FORGIE', Bunyip, 24 July, p. 2.

[2] 1908 'A FIRE.', Bunyip, 1 May, p. 2.

Gawler Underground - Table Top Warfare

Piles Building

146-154 Murray Street, Gawler.

Built in 1877 for owner John Pile by Mr J. J. Peek of Gawler South.[1] The shop on the end that was most recently B Music was built by Taylor and Forgie Carpenters around 1880.[2] This retail shop has been F. Lines and Sons Butchers, W. Miller Butcher, and Arthur T. Hewett Butchers.
The Commercial Bank of South Australia, Stewert Music Emporium, and H.B. Crosby have all occupied the premises; as have many other businesses, including R.J. Lavis Draper and Grocer, Gawler Curtains and Blinds, The Salvation Army, Stratco, Malcolm Buckby M.P., Reminisce Photography and a family-run deli.

International movie connection: Frank Thring Sr. worked at H.B. Crosby, making boots. Thring married Gawler born Grace Wight while they were both actors in the Gawler Theatrical Club. Frank and Grace's daughter, Viola, known as Lola, dated future Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt before dumping him and marrying his father! Thring later founded EffTee Pictures - a massively successful movie house. Frank Thring's son with his second wife Olive, went on to star as Pontius Pilate in Ben-Hur, and starred in the movies The Howling 3, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome and a host of TV commercials.

In the early 1980s, artist Audrey Emery opened the Brownstone Jazz Cellar, a coffee shop in this basement. The Brownstone Jazz Cellar only lasted a couple of years; it was incredibly successful, but with success came rent increases that priced it out of the cellar. It closed circa 1983.

Go Underground and visit the basements via this link

TABLE TOP WARFARE

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[1] 'Editor's Notes.', Bunyip, (9 February 1912), p. 2.

[2] 1878 'COLONIAL MANUFACTURES.', Bunyip (Gawler, SA : 1863 - 1954), 12 July, p. 2.

 Is Architectural history a lie? 

– The Tartarian Mudflood Conspiracy.

 

A basement window looking out to Murray Street - Gawler.

 Recently on the Haunts of Adelaide Facebook page, we have had a few conspiracy theories that certain older buildings in Adelaide were built by a highly advanced global empire that visited Australia (and other locations around the globe) pre-European settlement. The conspiracy is that the Tartarian global empire was intentionally erased, and that history was rewritten to make buildings seem younger and more modern.[1] Subscribers to the theory believe that a vast, technologically advanced empire arose in north-central Asia, and spread peacefully across the globe. They believe that approximately one hundred years ago a great cataclysm occurred that toppled the empire which led to many of its buildings being destroyed, and its history erased from records.[2]

European Cartographers often used the toponym ‘Tartary’ to describe Central Asia. The area was bound by the Caspian Sea, the Ural Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. There were a multitude of different cultures living within this area. Tartary was not defined, nor did it represent one race of people. In modern terms, this area spans from the east of the Ural Mountains and the Caspian Sea and includes Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China and Siberia.[3]

The Tartarian ‘theory’ was originated and perpetuated by pseudo-historians who combined a Russian fervour for their allegedly lost empire (Tartaria being the supposed real name of Russia according to some conspiracy believers) with an alternative historical chronology. Basically, the timeline we all know is actually much shorter in reality. This theory has then been picked up by influencers and shared as a fact being hidden by someone in authority – usually a shadow Government, the Rothschilds, the Illuminati or the Secret Owl Society. [4]

Buildings such as the Capitol in Washington, the Pyramids in Egypt, The Great Wall of China, and Bastian Star forts, such as seen in Portugal, Netherlands, and Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka was a Portuguese and Dutch colony, so no mystery how the design was utilized there). Here in Adelaide, buildings being assigned to the Tartarian include the Adelaide Town Hall, the General Post Office and the Edmund Wright Building. This is despite detailed records of design and photographic evidence of construction.

 One of the things that Tartarian conspiracy theory believers love to argue as a feature of Tartarian architecture is buildings with basement windows. If you look around Adelaide, Port Adelaide, Gawler, or Kapunda, you’ll see this common feature that allows light to get into basement rooms with pre-electric light (it is widely believed that Port Adelaide has lower basements because the city was ‘built up’ to stop tidal floods, however, there is no evidence of this. One would think if this were the case the original ground-level doors would be visible in what are now basements, and sub-basements, that were originally basements, would be present in all buildings).

Another feature of the conspiracy is that much of our history has been intentionally razed or destroyed by disasters and war. An example is the fire in the Norte-Dame de Paris, the 12th-century Roman Catholic cathedral in France was seen as a deliberate attempt to destroy more Tartarian architecture by conspiracy believers.[5]  Some believers in the theory cite Napoleon’s invasion of Russia as the beginning of the rewriting of Tartarian history and add that further World Wars destroyed much of what was left of the empire in the 20^th century. However, they do not cite how Napoleon’s army overcame the vastly superior weaponry of the Tartarian – as one must assume, a world power with such great architectural stills, would also have an advanced military and weaponry.[6]
  There is little reasoning offered on why such a coverup and rewriting of history has occurred. Much of the rhetoric involves believers riffing on old maps, weaving together narratives based on conjecture picking out small inconsistencies, and a flagrant disregard for documented history.
 There also seems to be little or no understanding of economic differences between now and two hundred years ago. Today, glass, steel and concrete are reasonably cheap to build with; stone, terracotta and marble are not. It was also much cheaper to hire skilled workers and labourers two hundred years ago than it is today.

© Allen Tiller 2025

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[1] Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, What Is the Lost Empire Of Tartaria?, Discover, (2023), https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/what-is-the-lost-empire-of-tartaria.

[2] Zach Mortice, ‘Inside the ‘Tartarian Empire,’ the QAnon of Architecture’, Bloomberg, (2021), https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-04-27/inside-architecture-s-wildest-conspiracy-theory.

[3] Mark C. Elliot, "The Limits of Tartary: Manchuria in Imperial and National Geographies". The Journal of Asian Studies. Vol. 59, (2000), pp. 603–646.

[4] Josie Adams, Inside the wild architecture conspiracy theory gaining traction online, The Spin Off, (2022), https://thespinoff.co.nz/internet/14-01-2022/inside-the-wild-architecture-conspiracy-theory-gaining-traction-online.

[5] Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, What Is the Lost Empire Of Tartaria?, Discover, (2023), https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/what-is-the-lost-empire-of-tartaria.

[6] Zach Mortice, ‘Inside the ‘Tartarian Empire,’ the QAnon of Architecture’, Bloomberg, (2021), https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-04-27/inside-architecture-s-wildest-conspiracy-theory.

Allen Tiller - South Australia's History Festival 2025

 

I have a few things going on this year for South Australia's History Festival.

I have worked with Gawler Youth to develop a geocache that investigates Gawler's history and it's ghosts. The Youth chose the name "History behind the mystery". It opens on May 12th at the Gawler Youth Space at the Gawler Civic Centre.

I have been working with Daniel Down of Gawler Photographs to bring you Gawler Underground:

Come visit our FREE exhibition titled "GAWLER UNDERGROUND". Check out two years’ work exploring some of Gawler's most hidden basements.
  Not only will you be able to see detailed photographs of these historic basements, but you'll be able to get a real feel for what's below Gawler’s streets by connecting to our YouTube channel through QR codes supplied at the event, giving you a firsthand look inside these basements.
  Artists will also present their own interpretations of the basement/building/moods.
  Outside the cafe space in the Gawler Civic Centre:
Mon - Sat
May 13th - May 31st
Find out more here: 
https://www.facebook.com/events/1221942235989540

I will be presenting Playford Ghosts on Saturday, 17th May at the Playford History Festival
book here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/playford-history-festival-stage-line-up-tickets-1278638796059

And I will be presenting Ghosts of Salisbury - Wed May 21st - at Salisbury Library
book here: https://festival.history.sa.gov.au/events/ghosts-of-salisbury-with-allen-tiller/

#gawler #history #ghosts #allentiller

 Gawler's Unfulfilled Commercial Precinct

  In 1954, the Gawler Council was planning for future population growth. They estimated that Gawler would soon reach twenty thousand people and that the town centre would have to be redesigned to accommodate the extra traffic.
A survey was conducted and showed that at the time Gawler’s main shopping area consisted of 84 Shops, Willaston had 6 shops, Gawler South, had 7 shops, and ‘other areas' (e.g. Evanston) had 5 shops.

The plan to increase shopping in the town included expanding the shopping precinct west towards Reid Street and closing Jacob and Tod Streets to vehicles between Murray Street and Dundas Street, forming a pedestrian precinct for shopping.[1]

Today we Have the Woolworths Complex and Drakes west of Main Street, and an Aldi opening in 2025. However, no streets have been closed, and the 'shopping precinct' is still unattached, e.g. - no mall or shopping centres like Munno Para or Elizabeth. 

---

[1] 'PLANNED FOR GAWLER OF 20,000 PEOPLE', Bunyip, (5 November 1954), p. 1. 

REMAINS OF A DIPROTODON FOUND.

 In 1924, The Mail (newspaper) reported that Professor Walter Howchin unearthed the bones of a Diprotodon at Gawler. It also reported that other bones had been found in the bed of the River Torrens, and at Lake Callabonna in the States far north.[1]

 In 1936, describing Gawler’s river system, the Bunyip newspaper referred to a Kaurna people allegory of the Moole Yerke Perre, a large ‘weird antediluvian monster (that) was responsible for the permanent marks made by its nose and shins,’ in the riverbeds and banks. The Bunyip reporter then links this creature to the 1891 discovery of Diprotodon fossils in Gawler.[2]

The Bunyip reported on the original 1891 find of bones,

Scientific Discovery at Gawler South.

REMAINS OF A DIPROTODON FOUND.

A discovery of more than ordinary interest was made at Gawler South a few days ago by some workmen who were excavating a tank on the property of Mr. Thomas Molan.  When they had sunk about 8 ft. they came upon a deposit of bones. At first, they took very little notice, and as they were very crumbly shovelled them out with the clay.
 After a time the size of some of the bones attracted their curiosity, and one of the members of the Gawler Geological Class having been communicated with it was thought to be the remains of the extinct Australian marsupial, the diprotodon.
  Mr. W. Howchin, F.G.S., the lecturer of the Gawler Geological and Mineralogical Class was informed, and came up on Wednesday afternoon. He at once confirmed the opinion. Bones continued to show themselves right across the tank and to a depth of 11 ft. At the latter depth a portion of the head was unearthed, and as it was desired to get it out as perfectly as possible it was decided to obtain the services of Mr. A. Zielz, of the Adelaide Museum.
  That gentleman came up yesterday morning, and completed the exhumation, although he had to be content to get the head out in pieces. The diprotodon is said to have lived in the post-Pliocene age — before the age of man and was about the size of an elephant. Its head was about 3 ft. in length. Very few remains of the species have been discovered, and the best skeleton is said to be in possession of the Adelaide Museum it having been obtained from the Burra district recently. No complete skeleton, however, has yet been found. It is impossible to tell yet how complete the present skeleton is as the bones are so broken, but Mr. Zietz does not think it will be as perfect as that obtained from the Burra.
   All the bones were carefully packed in cases with sawdust preparatory to being sent to the Adelaide Museum for reconstruction. Just as they were about to be taken away the owner of the property appeared on the scene and declined to allow them to go to Adelaide unless he was paid £10. As Mr. Zietz could not promise that amount without consulting his Committee, the cases were placed in the hands of Mr. E. Potter, the Chairman of the Gawler Geological Class, until a decision is arrived at.
 A large number of persons visited the scene of the discovery yesterday. Mr. W. H. Percy, who was working on the property, rendered valuable assistance in getting the remains out, and the contractor, Mr. James Peek offered every facility.[3]

Perhaps, when recollecting in a 1952 issue of The Advertiser Ernest L.B. Potter of Croydon, he remembered wrongly that his uncle Edward Potter had discovered the Diprotodon, instead of Professor Howchin. In an Out Among the People column, it was reported,

ERNEST L. B. Potter (West Croydon) tells me that as a boy of 10, about 1890, he remembers a diprotodon skull being found in an excavation for an underground tank at Gawler South, near Dead Man's Pass on the South Para and the road to One Tree Hill. His uncle, Edward Potter, a geologist, pronounced it to be a diprotodon.[4]

 

The skull and bones found in Gawler were identified as those of a Diprotodon from the Pleistocene Epoch of Australia.  Diprotodon Optatum became extinct about 25, 000 years ago and was known to exist while indigenous populations were in the area. These animals grew up to 3.8 meters long from head to tail and stood about 1.7 meters tall at the shoulder.  Its closest relations today are the wombat and the koala.

For more information on the Diprotodon, please visit here: Diprotodon: Not a wombat

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2024.

---

[1] 'Prehistoric Times In South Australia', The Mail, (1 March 1924), p. 1.

[2] 'Early Gawler And District Nomenclature.', Bunyip, (11 December 1936), p. 8. 

[3] 'Scientific Discovery at Gawler South.', Bunyip, (24 July 1891), p. 2.

[4] 'Out Among The People', The Advertiser, (2 September 1952), p. 4. 

 

Gawler National Trust Heritage Museum

In the past year, I have held 3 presentations at the Gawler Heritage Museum, raising close to $2000 for the museum. Many people still don’t seem to know Gawler has a museum in Murray Street, so I thought I might share a ghost story to see if it generates some interest and gets some people visiting…

This building started as Gawler’s Telegraph Station and was built in 1860. Pre-internet and telephones, A wire signal was installed that allowed a tapped, morse code message to be sent to Gawler from Adelaide or Port Adelaide when the mail arrived.
Eventually, the Post office moved next door and this building became the Gawler School of Mines and the Gawler Adult Education Centre. From 1915 until 1953 it was the Commonwealth Government Electoral Office. In 1966, the building was transferred to the National Trust. It is now Gawler’s National Trust Museum.

Ghosts

The building is allegedly haunted by twin girls who sit on chairs on
the upper level. A witness claimed to have walked into the room and saw the little girls sitting there,
talking to each other. They did not seem to notice the living lady, and vanished before her eyes, as she
stared at them in shock!

Another ghostly occurrence is linked to the old piano upstairs, during a paranormal investigation, the piano was heard to tap out a few notes – perhaps this was a ghost playing a tune…or typing our morse code…

Gawler's Dark History Presentation - 11 May 2024.

Gawler's Dark History Presentation 

- 11 May 2024.

Join Me on Saturday 11th of May for a late afternoon talk about Gawler's Dark History!

I'll be detailing some shocking local murders, suicides, nasty accidents, and maybe a ghost or two! This event is strictly 18+ as some of the details are rather gruesome!

This is a fundraiser event for the Gawler National Trust Museum to help raise some much-needed money for the upkeep of Gawler's historical museum.

I'll also have books available for sale and signing (EFTPOS available).

$15 per person, 11 May 2024 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM.


Tickets are almost sold out so get in while you still can!

Gawler National Trust Museum - 59 Murray Street Gawler, SA 5118


https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/gawlers-dark-history-address-by-award-winning-historian-allen-tiller-tickets-831684349277?

#history #allentiller #gawler #truecrime

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

 

 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

 

 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

  

Joseph Kettlewell and Julia Hannah Guy.

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

Joseph Kettewell Guy was born on 8 Oct 1875 in Gawler, South Australia. His father was Philip Kettewell Guy (1837-1922) and his mother was Louisa Ella Pilgrim (1841-1936).

Joseph married Julia Hannah Guy (nee Whinnen). Born 21 April 1875 at the Wallaroo Mines, South Australia, Australia. Joseph married Julia Hannah Whinnen on 24 June 1902, at the Residence of John Whinnen, Gawler.

Together they had one child; Marjorie Elizabeth Louisa Guy (1903 - ?).

Joseph Kettewell Guy was a founding member of the Gawler Bicycle Club

Joseph Kettewell Guy Died on 15 July 1964 – in West Mitcham, South Australia.

Julia Hannah Guy (nee Whinnen) died on 23 November 1966 - in South Australia, aged 91 years old.

 

Gawler History Team is seeking more information on the Guy family in Gawler. Please contact the Gawler History Team at gawlerhistory@gmail.com with historical information.

 

researched and written by Allen Tiller. 

Sources:
https://gawlerhistory.com/Guy_Joseph_Kettewell_%26_Julia_Hannah

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.

Ghostly Gawler - History Month Presentation 2021

 

Ghostly Gawler

As part of the South Australia History Festival, paranormal historian Allen Tiller presented a talk on ghosts, hauntings and other paranormal events in the Town of Gawler for the Gawler History Team. 

   

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.