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The Gumeracha &
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Gumeracha Civic Centre, Albert Street, Gumeracha South Australia |
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Contact UsEmail: or Postal: PO Box 12, Gumeracha, SA 5233 Phone: The centre during opening hours - 8389 1462 After hours Judy - 8389 2224 or Betty - 8389 1025 Open: Open to public from the first Tuesday in Feb to the second Tuesday in December 10 am to 3 pm Other times by appointment
Coming Events
FACTS & FIGURES, STONES & BONES OPEN DAY
Tuesday 20th May 2008 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. History Centre Albert Street Gumeracha
If you are researching the area or trying to find further clues to your family's history please call in. Guidance on where to look and "how go go about things" is freely available from our volunteers.
The collection has been put together over many years; thousands of files and records are available at the centre, some of which are unique and unavailable from any other source.
A donation would be appreciated.
A basic resource for family history research is found in cemetery records. The centre holds burial records and cemetery maps and photographs of existing memorials for the area. It also holds births, deaths and marriage records for the whole State on searchable compact disc.
The photo above is of William Richard Randell's grave in Salem Church Cemetery, Gumeracha. "WR" arrived in South Australia with his parents at the age of 13, and died on 4 March 1911, at the age of 86 years. He is Gumeracha's most historical figure, being the pioneer of steam navigation on the River Murray. The frames for his pioneering paddle steamer, the Mary Ann, were made at Gumeracha and the boat assembled near Mannum. Randell had never seen a steam boat before he built the Mary Ann, and it remains, perhaps the only one ever to have a box-shaped boiler, because the only material available in South Australia at that time was rectangular iron plate and there was no means of bending it into the more conventional tubular shape. This boiler is preserved at the Mannum museum.
"WR's" motivation to navigate the Murray was to sell flour from his Gumeracha mill on the Victorian goldfields where good prices were to be had and transport via the River was cheaper than by sea and via Melbourne.
The Mary Ann's first voyage took place on 19 February, 1853, whilst his rival pioneer navigator, Francis Cadell first brought his steamer, The Lady Augusta, onto the River on 16 August, 1853, virtually six months later.
The Gumeracha and District History CentreThe collection comprises archival material covering the Torrens Valley Ward of the Adelaide Hills Council. Townships included in the collection are:
and surrounding areas
You Can HelpProviding any historical information, photographs, family histories, minute books etc... from this area will be of a great value to us. We would be pleased to accept any information on a donation, or loan for copying basis.
"Time present and time past are both perhaps present in time future And time future contained in time past"
T. S. Eliot
For over thirty years Gumeracha & District History Centre volunteers have been collecting and filing information about the people and places of the Torrens Valley.
Some of the material is unique to the Centre and unavailable from any other source.
There are Council records from Talunga, Highercombe and Para Wirra dating back to early settlement and church records, including births, marriages and deaths.
Other material of interest to the “Family Historian” or “District researcher” includes many biographies, school admissions, Gumeracha and Birdwood Police Journals, various minute books of clubs and associations, Lodge records and detailed histories of all the towns of the district.
The large filing system contains many maps and plans of the area, newspaper articles, war records and thousands of photographs of residents and developments past and present, dating back to 1860.
Many family history books, published and unpublished are in the centre’s library, and there is now a good collection of data CD’s (B.M.D. South Australia etc.)
Local sport is also well catered for with a good collection of press cuttings and photographs held in the vast filing system.
Torrens Valley Historical JournalThe “Torrens Valley Historical Journal” has now reached Number 62. This journal contains a wealth of information dating back to first settlement.
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Birdwood - Old Blumberg
The township of Birdwood began with the settlement of the land west of the present site in January 1848 by Lutherans from East Germany. They farmed small areas of land leased from the South Australian Company, Wheat was their main crop. A Flourmill was established in 1855. Subdivision of the land followed, creating the core of the township.
Wheat crop failure due to disease caused a decline in the population by the late 1860's. In 1870 Gold was discovered in the area bringing new people to the township.
Anti German feelings during the first World War saw German names disappear from the South Australian map and in 1917 BLUMBERG was renamed BIRDWOOD.
Shannon Street Birdwood 1937
Education: A Lutheran Day School was conducted from 1848 - 1917 when all Lutheran Schools were closed by the Government decree. In 1909 a High School was established but closed in W.W.1. A primary School began to operate in 1924 and the High School was returned in 1931.
Religion: The Lutheran Church was established from 1848 followed by the Catholic Church in 1867. The "Peace Church" (now United) was established in 1929 and the Seventh Day Adventist Church in 1955.
With the establishment of the National Motor Museum in Birdwood tourism is now a prominent industry.
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Cudlee Creek
The name Cudlee Creek was derived from Kadlipari - "Native Dog River" and settled in 1838. The first Church (Union Chapel) & Cemetery was established in 1857. The present Church was built in 1882.
The first bridge over the River Torrens, "Ledgard's Bridge", built in 1871 was replaced by the Union Bridge in 1914.
A 'provisional' school opened in 1913, continued in various forms until closed in 1970. The 'Old Creamery' Butter factory was built in 1890.
To cater for significant export markets of apples & pears a Co-operative Cold Store & packing shed was built in 1922.
Cudlee Creek Cold Store
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Forreston Township
The township of Forreston came into being in 1858 when Alexander Forrest offered section 6026 for sale by auction as subdivided allotments.
Circa 1900 1. Milking Shed 2. Original Post Office & Store 3. Blacksmith 4. Wheelwright & Shop, 5. Butcher Shop 6. Blacksmith 7. Boot Shop 8. Shoe Shop 9. Wine Shop 10:11 & 18 Sheds 12. Hall 1901 13. Tennis Courts 14. Wine Cellar 15. Cellar Bridge 16. House 17. Early Sunday School 19:20:21:22:23 Houses
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Gumeracha
Gumeracha was settled in 1839. The name was derived from an aboriginal word meaning 'fine waterhole'. Gumeracha is the home of the late Captain W.R. Randell, pioneer of the Murray River boat trade. The earliest paddle steamer, the Maryann, was partly built at Gumeracha. Some of the remaining buildings are the Baptist & Uniting Churches, Police Station, the first hospital and courthouse, the second hospital, Post Office and several stores.
The Torrens Valley Historical Society was established in 1976. The name was changed to the Gumeracha & District History Centre and it was opened to the Public in November 1992. It was situated in the former dentist's rooms in the Gumeracha Council Chambers. The Centre move to its present purpose built location in April 2000.
Former Gumeracha Council Chambers, demolished in 1960
Gumeracha Hall 1993 before restoration
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Kersbrook
The township was laid out as Maidstone in the Hundred of Parra Wirra in 1858 by William Carmen after his birthplace in Kent, England. John Bowden, built a house on section 6085 in 1841, and named it Kersbrook after a farm in Cornwall where he was born. In 1868, the Parra Wirra Council Chambers were built in Maidstone. The Township of Kersbrook was proclaimed in 1917.
The Kersbrook Hall 1921 - 1923
Early settlers stripped wattlebark, grew wheat, oats and potatoes. There was also sheep grazing and dairying, from which butter and cream were made and sold. Later the potential of apple and pear growing was realised. More recent developments include cherry growing and vineyards. Most households dug wells for fresh water.
Originally there was a shop, cobbler, school blacksmith and the Wheatsheaf Inn. In 2001, there is the Kersbrook Cooperative Hardware store, Church of Christ, hall, Uniting Church, oval and sports complex, General Store and CFS.
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Mount Torrens
"A town proud of its architecture and history"
The first settlement in Mount Torrens district began with English and German migrants in the early 1840's. George Dunn founded the township of Mount Torrens in 1853. During the 1850's and 1860's the town prospered because of its location. The town was a stopover point for wagons and travellers on route to the Reedy Creek Copper Mines and the River Murray Port of Mannum.
The first major buildings in the town were the Inn and the Flour Mill, followed by substantial public buildings, shops and houses.
Post Card from Mt Torrens
Gold was discovered near the town in the 1860's and 1870's. Crushing began at the Mount Torrens Battery & Cyanide works in 1894.
Early industries included Flour Mill, Lime Kilns and Wattle Bark Mill. With the opening of the railway line, Milk & Cheese Factory, Bakery and associated Rural Services were developed for the whole area.
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History Week
this year will be celebrated by the Gumeracha and District History Centre,
Inc. by an open day. Anyone interested in accessing the Centre's resources
for family or general local history will be welcome to attend. The open
day will be on Tuesday, 20 May 2008, from 10.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m.
Volunteers will be in attendance to assist with enquiries. The Centre is
located next to the Gumeracha library.
