The First Fifty Years

Town of Gawler

The First Fifty Years

Researched and written by Wendy Treloar

GAWLER'S BEGINNING : Let there be Light

The township of Gawler was established through an application for a Special Survey by Henry Dundas Murray and John Reid as part of a syndicate of 12. The site was recommended for a town by Colonel William Light to David McLaren ( the manager of the South Australian Company) when they passed through the district while returning from the Barossa in January 1839. Light foresaw the area at the junction of the North and South Para rivers as a key point for future journeys to the north and the Murray River. He had previously camped at what he referred to as "Para Pass" on his exploration and subsequent naming of Lynedoch Vale (after Lord Lynedoch) and the Barossa Range in December 1837. Later, poor transcribing changed the respective spellings to Lyndoch and Barossa, and so they remain today. Although time proved Light to be correct, the suggestion for a survey of what was to become Gawler was declined by McLaren and the Company.

Special Surveys were provided for by the Board of Colonisation Commissioners in 1835 at the behest of George Fife Angus. These surveys allowed by the advance payment of 4,000 pounds, selection of an area of 15,000 acres outside defined districts. After this area had been divided into 80 acre sections, the purchaser could choose 4,000 acres within that area with the remaining 11,000 acres then being available to other settlers for the set price of 20 shillings per acre. (PIKE, Douglas, 1957. pg. 178). Shortly after his arrival on 17 October, 1838, Colonel George Gawler started pushing for the Special Surveys to begin, the first being selected on 11 January, 1839.

By this time, Colonel Light had resigned as Surveyor General. His pleas for more staff, equipment and funds had been ignored by the Commissioners who were happy to lay the blame for the consequent slowness of surveying the new colony on Light. He was in very poor health and was tired of the duplicity, insults and innuendo that he was facing almost daily. His staff resigned along with him. The following day, 3 July, 1838, the company of Light, Finniss & Co. was formed, comprising of William Light, Boyle Travers Finniss, William Jacob, Henry Nixon and R.G. Thomas as draughtsman.

Henry Dundas Murray and John Reid arrived in South Australia in January 1839. They rode out to Para Pass the next month, after Light commended the site to them. On their return, they applied for and were granted the Gawler Special Survey. At the same time, Light was approached by a committee to survey and mark out a town in the Boston Bay area, among other requests. Due to his declining health, he refused all offers but that of Gawler Town. In a letter to his friend George Palmer in April 1839, Light mentioned that he had just finished planning Gawler (DUTTON, Geoffrey, ELDER, David, 1991. pg. 270). Light's plan was draughted by Mr. Thomas, dated 1 July, 1839 and pegged out by Jacob and Nixon. William Light died on 6 October that same year.

BUILDING A TOWN

John Reid and his family did not wait for the plans, but left Adelaide to take up his 630 acres on the banks of the North Para on 16 February, 1839. The other proprietors were:- Henry Dundas Murray, 530 acres; Henry Johnson, 938 acres; Stephen King, 532 acres; William Field Porter, 320 acres; Patrick James Tod, 300 acres; John Lindsey Patterson and James Fotheringham, 300 acres; Thomas Stubbs, 200 acres; John Sutton and Robert Tod, 100 acres each and Rev. C.B. Howard, 50 acres. Mr. Johnson apparently transferred his portion, as on the title, when issued, his name was replaced by Jerningham, Moore and Wright. Each of the owners contributed 140 acres between them for streets, the cemetery, market-place, schools, churches and parklands. The remaining 100 acres of town land was divided into 200 allotments.

The conveyancing of the land was handled by solicitors Smart and Phillips who remained trustees over the land allocated for public purposes. ( A photographic copy of the Trust Deed is held in the Local History Collection of the Gawler Public Library). Smart and Phillips later left South Australia without first ensuring that there was provision in the Trust Deed for the appointment of new trustees (COOMBE, E.H. 1908, pg. 8).

The Reid family named their property "Clonlea", first living in tents, then later in a four roomed wattle and daub hut. Travellers to and from the north called on the Reids for rest and refreshment. Growing in number to the extent that John Reid purchased a town block and set up a Mr. Schiebner to build and run the "Old Spot" hotel. A rather grand name for a building of one room and a tent!

E.H. Coombe quotes from an official statement on settlement in 1840 :- " Gawler Town is situated near the junction of the North and South Para Rivers with the River Gawler. It contains one very good inn, one public house, police barracks, two smith's shops, six dwelling houses and 34 inhabitants." By this time, Reid had 24 1/2 acres under various crops, "a dwelling house, three cottages, a dairy and outhouses".

There was little progress until the discovery of copper at Kapunda in late 1842. The transportation of the ore to Pt. Adelaide and return trips laden with supplies used Gawler as a rest stop. Mr. Henry Calton had taken over the enlarged Old Spot and organised a postal service between Adelaide and Gawler. John Harvey, who drove that mail run for a year, bought some allotments and built some pine houses. A bridge had been built over the North Para in 1842, the South Para still being crossed at the ford at Dead Man's Pass ( formerly Para Pass).

By 1848, the population had grown to 300 with about 60 buildings which were :- "mainly along Murray Street and on Church Hill. Most of these were makeshift structures, built of cypress pine, mud bricks, stone and locally harvested limestone (calcrete)." (WHITELOCK, Derek, 1989. pg.188) The original plan of the town was being adhered to without being overseen by any form of government. The Church of England, Catholic and Congregationalist churches had been built in the squares along Cowan Street as intended. The cemetery, however, although in its original position, was unregulated, without curator, registrar or records. There were few fences, no footpaths or made roads.

On 28 January, 1851 the "Old Colonist" arrived in Gawler. (This was the nom de plume of the author of a series of articles published in the South Australian Register). He compares the dust problem with that of Adelaide and states :- "There are about 220 houses in the township, with a population of at least 1,000 persons." (YELLAND, E.M. editor. 1970. pg. 110) He mentions the two breweries and Mr. Duffield's flour mill and continues:-

The principal street in the town running north south, is Murray Street; it is closely filled with shops and trade buildings of all descriptions, though none, with the exception of one recently built (Barker's), and one in the course of erection, are above mediocrity. Public- houses are sufficient in number; those of a character to accommodate traveller's are 'Calton's Hotel' and the 'Bushman', near the end of the town, both old establishments, and both capable of improvement according to the advance of the colony. (ibid. pg.110)

He and his companions were disappointed with the town, apparently expecting it to have progressed further that it had. He does maintain that :- "it is undoubtedly the key to the north", which again vindicates Light's choice of the site.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

South Australia's first municipal council was, naturally enough, for the city of Adelaide, providing for a mayor, 3 aldermen and 15 councillors. As it was to be in state government, a criteria of value of land holdings or rental was set to allow eligibility to stand for election. The first election was held on 31 October, 1840 and resulted in the first city Corporation in Australia. The first Council served for 12 months, after which only 6 members were re-elected. Resentment was caused by the raising of rates from 4 pence in the pound to 9 pence. J.H. Fisher resigned from his second term as mayor when the salaries of the officers were reduced. (These two measures were probably in response to the second Council carrying a 600 pound debt from the first Council ). Fewer and fewer members attended meetings after that. According to Pike:-

A desperate effort was made to retrieve the respectability of the Council by gathering leading and influential citizens into its fold by invitation. As none of them had been elected, Grey* had no qualms in bringing the Corporation to an end as soon as authorised by Lord Stanley. The Municipal Council was called together in August 1843, and although quorum did not attend, a statement was read on the theme ' The Advocate General is of the opinion that the Corporation is defunct'. (PIKE, Douglas. 1957.pg. 245).

It remained 'defunct' until 1 June, 1852 after the District Councils Act was passed.

With local government moving into other areas of the state, Gawler found itself within three district council areas, Gawler in Barossa West and Gawler South in Munno Para West and Munno Para East. (Willaston, north of the North Para, remained in Mudla Wirra until 1933, as parts of Gawler South remained separate until that date). Gawler ratepayers were not happy with this arrangement, as the Barossa West offices were in Lyndoch, they felt most of their rate money was being spent out of Gawler. Through solicitor John Rudall, a meeting was called and representations were made for Gawler to form it's own Corporation.

*Governor George Grey, in office from 1841-1845.

THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF GAWLER

The proclamation of the incorporation of Gawler appeared in the Government Gazette on 9 July, 1857. The area covered was basically that of the township selection of the Special Survey, totalling 487 acres. The town was divided into three wards, North, South and East with one Alderman and two Councillors for each ward. The mayor was elected by the Council members from one of their own number. Elections were held annually on the 1st. of December.
The first meeting was held on 4 September, 1857, without an election being held. Appointed by the Governor were; Aldermen James Martin, George Warren and F.F. Turner and Councillors R.J. Turner (elected mayor) B. Cotter, T. Wilcox, T.O. Jones, James Fotheringham and J.H. Harrison. Each ward had an Assessor appointed - James Harris, W.L. Bathurst and G. Gozzard and Mr. John Rudall was the first Town Clerk. There had been 150 pounds granted from the Government for setting up expenses. A further 300 pounds was requested from the Commissioner of Public Works ( as a result of this first meeting) to pay expenses until rates could be collected.

The priority of this first Council was the up-grading of Murray Street. Through lobbying of local members, they obtained a Parliamentary vote of 1,000 pounds towards their goal. Large excavations were carried out at each end of Murray Street to "improve" the gradients. A row of cottages at the southern end of the street were consequently left standing about 6 feet above the roadway. This initiated the first action against Council for compensation for the costs of installing steps from front gardens down to the new street level. (COOMBE, E.H. 1908. pg. 40).

The first election for Council was held on 1 December, 1857 with the previously appointed members being returned. Richard Turner was again elected mayor and remained so for the next three years. Fines were levied on Council members for late or non-attendance to meetings, which were held in the court house. To improve the health of the townspeople, it was ordered that the blacksmiths were to build furnaces rather than use open fires, pigs were to be removed from premises within two weeks of any complaints being received from ratepayers and action was to be taken against residents disposing of dead animals into streets or rivers.

Other endeavours during the three years of Mr. Turner's time as mayor included the appointments of an Inspector and a pound keeper and the operation of a scavenger's cart to collect rubbish and ashes once a week. Roads and footpaths were worked on along with fencing areas of the Park Lands and efforts were made to improve the drainage. In August, 1860, money was allocated to Gawler by the Chief Secretary for the provision of care to the indigent persons.

In January, 1861 the Council petitioned the State Government for changes to the methods of electing municipal Councillors, requesting ballots and for the mayor to be elected by the ratepayers. This request was brought into being with the passing of the new Municipal Corporations Act later that year. It also did away with the positions of Aldermen except in the Adelaide City Council. This reduced Gawler Council from nine representatives to seven.

Dissatisfaction with the Council was not long in coming; on 6 May, 1861, a special meeting of Council was read a letter compiled after a meeting of ratepayers . The resolutions were:-

1. That in the opinion of this meeting the balance-sheet issued by the Corporation was most unsatisfactory, inasmuch as it affords no information to the public as to where and how the money has been expended, and that is not in accordance with the Act, which requires a full abstract.
2. That is the opinion of this meeting that there is wasteful expenditure of the funds of the Corporation, and that members of the Corporation are allowed to infringe the law without being noticed by the Inspector.
3. That in the opinion of this meeting so much has been shown of the improper way in which the Corporation conduct their business, the uncourteous way in which they have treated the ratepayers on various occasions, and their absence from this meeting (though specially invited to attend), that that body are not entitled to the confidence of the ratepayers attending here this evening.
4. That in the opinion of this meeting it would be unwise at the present time to close the cemetery, and would be a great hardship to compel every person to bury their dead at so great a distance as the intended new cemetery.
5. That in the opinion of this meeting the making of the roads and footpaths within the township is of much more important matter that the fencing of the park lands, and that therefore, no funds belonging to the Corporation be at present expended for the latter purpose.
(signed) Walter Duffield, Chairman. (COOMBE.E.H. 1908. pg.54)

There is no record of Council's response to this letter but later that year, James Martin was elected for his first term as mayor.

In 1863, a letter was written to Colonel Gawler requesting that he allow his amorial bearings to be used for the town seal. His son replied that he was agreeable to the proposal and his bearings were adopted (and are still used today). However, it was later discovered that Colonel Gawler had no right to a coat-of-arms, so it is now referred to as a crest. In that same year, the rate was declared at 1 shilling in the pound.

The Supreme Court was petitioned in 1864 to appoint new trustees to replace Smart and Phillips . These positions were granted to James Martin and Edward Clement in December, 1864, which allowed for them to convey the Park Lands and Market Allotment to the Corporation and land to the churches, schools etc. as provided for by the original Special Survey proprietors. During this period, four footbridges had been constructed at various places crossing the two rivers. Excavation work continued, with the levelling work being the main objective. The majority of the footpaths were dressed with gravel, slate flagging being laid in Murray Street. Fencing of the Park Lands continued and seating was also provided. A new cemetery was established at Willaston. A petition had been circulated calling for the closure of the original cemetery due to the possible health risks to near-by residents and the unkempt state of some of the graves. This was in direct contrast to point 4 of the letter of dissatisfaction sent to the Council in 1861, and, ironically, one of the signatories of the petition was Walter Duffield. The new cemetery had a curator appointed and the first burial was Mrs. E. Clement on 18 November, 1866. Dog registration had been introduced and by-laws made on a variety of matters, such as, the slaughtering of cattle within the town, grazing livestock in the Park lands and even the selling of sub-standard bread by bakers. Some of the new By-laws introduced in 1867, as reported in the Bunyip 24 July, 1867 were to:-

Prevent the obstructions and encumbrances in the streets of the Town of Gawler.
To prevent the improper exposure of goods for sale in the Town of Gawler.
To regulate the driving etc. of horses and horned cattle through the Town of Gawler.
To restrain the keeping of houses of ill-fame in the Town of Gawler.
To restrict the breaking in of horses in the streets of the Town of Gawler, either by leading, riding or driving.
To provide for the better observance of Sunday in the Town of Gawler.
For preventing the erection of tents.

A significant part of Council's time in 1867 was taken up with the arrangements for the visit of H.R.H. Prince Alfred, the Duke of Edinburgh. His planting of trees in the Park Lands, naturally led to another fence being erected there for the trees protection!

1868-1878

By September, 1868, ratepayers were again unhappy with the Council and sent with a list of resolutions a call for Council's resignation. Council decided to consider the resolutions in three months time. The matter was never considered due to the exodus to the Barossa Goldfields in October of that year. Further information on this call for resignations is in the next section.

Works for that period included the contract for building the new bridge over the South Para with a 140 foot span and a width of 32 feet being awarded and the building of a new Willaston bridge over the North Para in 1869. The old cemetery was officially closed and the notice appeared in the Government Gazette. The new cemetery having a shed built in 1874 and gates and seating added in 1876. The all important fencing of the Park Lands continued, along with gates and stock yards. Dr. Richard Schomburgk of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens made an offer to supply trees and shrubs for the Park Lands. He had previously lived at Gawler River and was the first curator of the Gawler museum. An avenue of Moreton Bay fig trees still stands along the South Para Park Lands, courtesy of Dr. Schomburgk. The fire brigade arrived in 1877 at a cost to Council of 50 pounds initial outlay and 15 pounds annually for maintenance. Over a hundred olive trees were planted at the southern end of Murray Street to create a plantation that Council believed would be a profit making concern.

There was quite a lot more work carried out constructing drains, culverts and watertables. Tenders were called for the levelling of the Northern Market Allotment. Mr. Manifold and Mr. Pimlett were engaged to build a wall along the Murray Street frontage of the old cemetery, in part, to better display the monument built to explorer John McKinlay erected at the front of the old cemetery. Unfortunately, a few coffins were disturbed in the process, which were re-interred at the Willaston cemetery. Repairs were carried out on the footbridges, a regular occurrence due to the periodic flooding of one or both of the rivers. A stable, tool house and sheds were built on the Corporation land on Lyndoch Road, the tender was won by Thomas West. The foundation stone for the Gawler Public School was laid on 12 April, 1877 by the mayor, James Martin, and opened on 24 January, 1878. It was built to accommodate 600 children.

THE TOWN HALL

In 1868 the first "official" motions were made towards building a Town Hall. This came about through the efforts to get an Institute built. Land was offered by Mr. John McEwin on the condition that a Town Hall, Council Chamber, offices and an Institute be built to the value of 5,000 pounds within three years. It was the Corporation's rejection of this offer that caused the no-confidence vote and call for resignation. There were four ratepayer's meetings held and after the Councillors ignored the call for resignation, requisitions were signed calling for the same from each ward separately. These too, were ignored. A poll was held with 93 voting for the Town Hall and 61 against. As ratepayers were allowed (as they still are) to have one vote for each piece of property owned, this translated to 294 votes for and 182 against. Two parties of widows voted, 26 years before women could vote in general elections. Questions were asked by the Councillors themselves as to the legality of the ratepayer's meetings called by the mayor. This seems strange to me, as the John Rudall, the Town Clerk, was a practising solicitor!
Mr. McEwen withdrew his offer of the land, "As the ratepayers had signified their want of confidence in the Council and had called on them to resign, therefore he did not recognise them as representing the town." (Bunyip 3 October, 1868 pg. 3).
As mentioned before, the Councillors were saved by the Barossa gold rush.

The matter was dropped until January, 1872, when the then mayor, T.O. Jones, suggested building chambers and offices on Lyndoch Road. Three weeks later, Mr. Jones presented building plans to the Council for a four roomed building, one room he suggested, a Council labourer could live in rent free in return for care-taking duties. However, the plan did not come to fruition.

In June, 1873, Councillor Bradley stated "That it is now desirable to build a Council Chamber in North Market Square". Once again, nothing came of this and Councillor Bradley moved a motion on 1 February, 1875 that the Council borrow 1500 pounds to build a Council Chamber, dwelling house and shed. This was seconded by Councillor Dawson and carried unanimously. The editorial in the Bunyip supported the building but did not think it could be built for the amount suggested by the Council. Disagreement arose over the site again and another ratepayer's meeting called for another poll to be held. There were 85 for using the Northern Market Allotment and 80 against. James Martin (now serving as a Councillor) gave notice that at the next Council meeting he would raise the fact that he did not believe that the resolution voted on was carried out in accordance with the Standing Orders. The editorial in the Bunyip condemned him for obstructing the process and reported that they were " well aware that he is opposed to the erection of the Chamber at all." He had created difficulties as early as 1868, when he was mayor. A deputation arrived at the Council meeting of 12 April, 1875 asking for a solicitor's opinion on the use of the site and querying the manner in which the poll was taken. At the next Council meeting, it was resolved that the wishes of the memorial presented by the deputation be complied with. The legal opinions of both Mr. William Belt and Town Clerk, John Rudall were tabled at the meeting of 10 May, 1875. Both men stated that they believed that the Trust Deed conveyed to the Corporation in December, 1864, did not allow for them to build anything other than a market on the land originally allocated for that purpose in 1839. Mr. Belt added that he did not believe the vote for Council to borrow the money could be upheld as the sections of the Act quoted referred only to the Adelaide City Council. Councillor Bradley forwarded notice that he would move a motion for a Chamber to be erected on Lyndoch Road on 11 June, 1875, but this was put aside due to confusion as to whether or not the Council actually owned the vacant land.

The plans were shelved yet again to resurface in February, 1877 when Councillor Malcolm proposed that steps be taken to select a site for a Council Chamber. At this time, the Council consisted of James Martin (mayor) and Councillors Fergusson, Pimlott, Sanderson, Bright, Dean and Malcolm. The latter three were signatories of the memorial presented to Council in 1875 that prevented the last attempt at building the Chamber. Mr. Malcolm suggested using the Southern Market Allotment, so that Council would not have to purchase land. An odd suggestion considering that he opposed the use of the Northern Market Allotment only two years prior. A committee was appointed to report back to Council that consisted of the mayor, Malcolm, Dean, Pimlott and Bright ( four of these previously opposed to building.) By May, the Council decided that the site should be a portion of the Park Lands, opposite Walker Place and that no more than 2,000 pounds should be borrowed for the erection of the building.

Following what was becoming tradition, a ratepayer's meeting was called at the end of July and about 170 people attended. Three Councillors spoke for the site then former mayor, T.O. Jones rose and recommended either of the market allotments or Council land on Lyndoch Road (where the stables and sheds had been built ), as the Council's preferred site was unstable and unsuitable. A number of others agreed with him in saying that the land behind Walker Place was alluvial, a combination of silt washed down the South Para and from the hillside opposite. A poll was taken again with the majority voting for reconsideration of purchasing a site in Murray Street. Finally, the site next to the Institute Hall was decided on. A competition had been held for the design of the building and was won by Mr. W. Abbott. Tenders for the building were received on 17 December, 1877 and Mr. James Peek was the successful tenderer, with the contract to commence from 1 January, 1878 and to be completed in seven months.

The foundation stone was laid by James Martin (ironically, in my view) on 16 April, 1878. He was presented with an engraved silver trowel and an ebony mallet to commemorate the occasion. The grand opening was on 18 November, 1878, presided over by the Governor, Sir William Jervois. His family, secretary and M.P.'s Basedow and Downer accompanied him on the special train from Adelaide for the festivities.

As with the building of the Gawler Institute Hall, it took ten years from conception to completion of the building.
A description of the building can be found in the Gawler Handbook :-

Externally viewed from Murray Street it has an imposing effect, to which the ornaments -two vases and the Gawler coat-of-arms - add considerably. The architecture is Italian, and the design reflects great credit on Mr. W. Abbott, the architect, as also does the carrying out of the structure, under the supervision of Mr. B.E. Deland. The accommodation is as follows:- Basement, 4 rooms, 13 feet 6 inches by 11 feet 8 inches; 34 feet 6 inches by 19 feet 9 inches; 12 feet 6 inches by 6 feet 6 inches; the staircase leading to the ground floor occupies 13 feet 3 inches by 8 feet, and the passage is 33 feet by 6 feet 6 inches. Broad flights of steps lead to the ground floor over the front area, where there is an arcade 8 feet in width. The entrance hall is 33 feet 5 inches by 6 feet, on the sides of which are the offices, each 14 feet by 12 feet, and intended for Committee meetings, and the use of the Mayor, Town Clerk, Inspector and other Corporation officers. Adjoining the Town Clerk's office is a fireproof room 12 feet 9 inches by 6 feet 5 inches; a useful and valuable addition to buildings were documents are required to be carefully preserved. At the end of the entrance hall is the Council Chamber, 35 feet by 20 feet, with a ceiling sufficiently lofty to ensure the comfort of those who will meet here; it is 17 feet in height, and has the usual finish and style which characterises efficient workmanship. On the first floor is a suite of offices corresponding with those below, with a passage of 7 feet wide through the centre and which opens to a balcony over the arcade.(LOYAU, George. 1880. pg. 76)

The first Council meeting to be held in the new building was on 25 November, 1878. James Martin gave a summary of the works carried out by Council in the preceding two years then resigned as mayor. Councillors Malcolm, Ferguson and Bright also resigned but Bright was persuaded to stay on and run for Mayor at the up-coming elections. Mr. Deland also resigned as Clerk of Works, effective from when the building was finished.

PROVISION OF SERVICES: 1879 - 1889

The disagreements over what could or could not be done with the Northern Market Allotment described in part one came to an abrupt halt in 1879 when the Government bought the land from the Corporation. The reason for the purchase was to construct a goodshed to serve the newly build tramway. The tram connected the Gawler railway station to Murray Street, travelling along 19th. Street then turning onto the Adelaide Road, over the South Para bridge and terminating at the northern end of Murray Street. The station had been rebuilt during 1878-9 with the original 1857 buildings being demolished. The site of the station had been a sore point with Gawlerites since its construction, being about a mile from the main street. According to Dr. George Nott :-

Great dissatisfaction was expressed by all the tradesmen and townspeople at the inconvenient distance of the station from the township; and public meetings were held, and representations made to the Government respecting it, but all to no purpose; and a great and permanent injustice has been done to holders of property in Gawler, by diverting the traffic, which by the natural position of the town commanded, from its legitimate course. The opening of the railway,for a time, gave a start to land-jobbing and speculation, and three townships to the south of the South Para were laid out in allotments, and realised large sums to the proprietors, viz;- Bassett Town, Gawler West and Gawler South. The last two, though they have essentially the same interests, have, through the jealousy of the rival proprietors, been divided from one another by a ditch, a wire fence and a strip of public land. (NOTT, George.1860.

A bus service operated between the station and the main area of commerce and continued for a time in competition with the tram.

Naturally, the sale of the Northern Market Allotment did not pass smoothly. The Government offered a sum considerably lower than the market value, after their valuator, Mr. F.J.Botting, priced it at 400 pounds. The general consensus in the town was that it was worth between 6-700 pounds. The land was on the corners of Murray and Cowan Streets with 198 feet fronting the former and 148 feet fronting the latter. Much correspondence was entered into wit the Government being tardy in replying on many occasions. Arbitration led to an agreed price of 594 pounds. The shed was completed in 1881 by James Martin & Co. as sub-contractors.

As this was happening, the use of the Park lands was being debated in Council. A Recreation Committee had been granted the use of 16 acres of Park lands for sporting activities by the previous Council. A letter from that committee was read at the Council meeting of 13 May, 1879 requesting that cattle be kept off their allocated portion. This led to debate on the size of the allocation and the right's of cattle owners, especially as they paid licence fees for grazing rights. A deputation arrived at the Council meeting of the 27th. bearing a petition with 250 signatures requesting that the status quo remain. It was during the debate that followed, it was shown that Council still retained control over the area of the Park lands referred to as the Recreation Ground. It was decided that "great cattle" were to be kept off the Recreation Ground and it was discovered that entry fees to any area of the Park Lands could only be charged following an act of Parliament. This perhaps demonstrates the value of having the longer terms of office in Council that we have now, as opposed to the one year terms of this time. I have not been able to discover the volume of land that contituted the Park Lands, however, it covered the area from the North Para ford along the river to its junction with the South Para and then followed the South Para where it flows behind Murray Street to the South Para bridge. At the time when charging admission fees was raised, the Park Lands were used by the Agrigcultural Show Society, games of cricket and football, drill practice by the Gawler Volunteer Rifles and the pasturing of sheep, cattle and horses. Annual mayors reports from 1879-1889 mention the Corporation planting 3,280 trees, mainly in the Park Lands, reserves, the cemetery, the olive plantation but few street trees. Some reports did not mention trees at all, so the total amount planted is unknown. George Loyau talks of shrubs bein planted too, but little evidence of those remain today. Loyau, when visiting the Park lands was prompted to write;-

In emerald robes now Nature decks the hills,
And all is beauty in this fairy scene;
What sweet tranqillity the landscape fills,
How great the charm found in this world of green!
The winding Para stretching far away,
Like some vast mirror - one long train of light,
Lies margin'd with its trees of green or grey,
Bursting at intervals upon my sight.
Here park-like lands and well till'd fields abound.
Here cultivation opens its varied store,
While plenty hath each fertile harvest crown'd,
Contentment smiles and asks for nothing more.
(LOUAU,George, 1880.pg102)

Over the same period, every mayor reported that more fencing was carried out in the Park Lands. This included a galvanised iron fence to enclose the Recreation Ground in January, 1883 after a public meeting decided against a picket fence. In November, 1881 an Act of Parliament was passed that allowed the Corporation to let the Recreation Ground, but only for a maximum of eight days at a time and no leasing. On 6 February, 1882, the ratepayers ratified a decision by Council to erect an Exhibition Building. The tender of Beer and Finch was accepted on 19 June, 1882 at a price of 1,195 pounds. The bluestone building was declared open by Governor Sir W. Jervois on 9 November that same year. The Agrigcultural Society contributed towards the buildin costs and later, in 1883, they paid 16 pound, 10 shillings toward the 100 pound cost of erecting stockyards at the rear of the building. Twelve seats were erected by the Corporation in 1885.
(Council tender documents). In 1888, a new oval and bicycle were constructed at the Grounds.

Corporation works were not, of course, devoted to the Park Lands. In 1880, Council voted 35 pounds for shower and plunge baths to be built in Whitelaw Terrace. These were moved only a year later to the corner of Walker Place after a further 20 pounds had been allocated by Council. Connecting pipes were laid from James Martin & Co's premises for the water that the company supplied in return for half the takings. Roads, footpaths and kerbing continued to be constructed and surfaced. A variety of materials were used; asphalt, limestone, limestone rubble, hard metal, river gravel. tar paving and quarry ballast. In 1887, the care of main roads was divested from the Government and put on the shoulders of local governments, with grant money to assist. Unfortunately, the annual grant money was regularly less than the amount required for the work carried out. Gas street lamps appeared, mainly due to the generousity of townspeople presenting them to the town. When the price of gas for lighting increased in 1888, Council decreed that the lamps would be extinguished an hour earlier, 10.30 p.m. and not lit at all during the nine day phase of the full moon.

Cooperation between the Corporation, residents and the District Council of Munno Para West saw the building of the Goose Island footbridge in 1888. (Goose Island is a neck of land that extends into the South Para, almost in line with Walker Place.) Other bridges of sorts had been erected there before, privately build and not very substantial. (COOMBE, E.1908. pg.403) The total cost was 126 pounds 18/11, of which 41 pound 8/4 was given by the D.C. of Munno Para West and 38 pounds 11/6 came from residents. (ibid pg. 44) This was one of many footbridges in the town, but the first built as a joint venture, The Corporation suffered extreme bad luck with their bridges as only one year later, in April, 1889, both rivers flooded. On 2 April, the North Para and Gawler Park bridges washed away and on 17 April, the Willaston Road bridge, Gawler West and the new Goose Island bridges were all destroyed. There was major property loss on Goose Island and Gawler West also. Consequently, the majority of John Jones' annual mayor's report was dedicated to Councils work on repairing flood damage. This included the construction of a temporary ford on the North Para at Willaston ( after an "influential deputation" was sent to lobby the Government for funds), rebuilding the four lost footbridges, repairing the Walker Place culvert, replacing fencing and trees in the Park Lands, repairing the roof and guttering of the Exhibition Building and repairing the pier walls of the South Para bridge. Tenders were called for the rebuilding of the Willaston road bridge, James Martin & Co. 3,164 pounds for the ironwork and Schneemilch and Thomas for the masonry at a cost of 2,271 pounds.

Council did manage other works in spite of the floods, such as building a Corporation shed and laying 500 yards of slate kerbing ( some of this still exists today in parts of the town).

Newly instituted during this decade was the appointment of the first Officer of Health on 8 October, 1883 in the person of Dr. William Home Popham and Arbor Day was to become an annual celebration from 2 August, 1889 to celebrate the fiftieth jubilee of the town. In September, 1889, Gawler was connected to Adelaide by telephone, mainly through intense lobbying by Dr. Popham. Subscription cost 25 pounds per annum and we had a grand total of three subscribers.

Until 1880, Gawlers' primary water supply was, naturally enough, from the two rivers, the sinking of wells and underground rainwater tanks. In 1880 a pumping system was established to supply the town. It was a Government program but the Corporation had a lot to say in the matter, right down to the colour they wanted the hydrants painted (white). The source was a well sunk at the end of Murray Street on the banks of the South Para. A description was found in the Bunyip;-

The well is 61 feet deep and 8 feet in diameter. From a concrete floor at the bottom of the well, five bores, into which tubes have been inserted,have been pushed down to a further depth of 67 feet, 6 inches to the bedrock. Through four of these tubes ( the fifth being a blind one) the water rushes up into the well, and from here it is pumped into the reservoir. The machinery used is as follows:- a pair of Cornish boilers supply steam to a pair of Tauges high pressure expansive steam engines fixed over the well, and which can raise and deliver over 13,000 gallons an hour. The water passes through a six inch main to the reservoir, situated about a mile east of the town, from whence it goes back again through pipes laid to all parts of the water area. This reservoir will contain when full 279,000 gallons.
This tank is at the top of Calton Hill.

To round off the decade, mention should be made of legal challenges to some of Council's by-laws. At this time, the breaking of a by-law resulted in a court appearance, rather than a fine being imposed, and collected, by the Council. The catalyst seemed to be a number of citizens being charged with "riding fast - instead of walking slow around the corners of the streets". One law-breaker imported a lawyer from Adelaide to conduct his defence. It was he, Mr. Barlow, who according to Loyau:-

Showed that the power to make laws used by the Corporation was not given them till 1873, or rather their powers were limited till that period.
The by-law in question was made in 1861, shortly after the Council was inaugurated, and though extant and unrepealed, it was not deemed necessary to enforce it till the occasion referred to. Furious riding and
driving by reckless persons caused the Council to institute proceedings which, as before stated, were unavailing.
In consequence of the by-laws being at fault they were brought in a revised form before the House of Assembly, but were not confirmed without a great deal of trouble, in consequence of the action by Mr. Bright M.P.,who, by reason of a letter sent by Mr. J. Warren of Springfield, and Mr. W. Gilbert, of Pewsey Vale, objected to certain of them. They were, however, eventually confirmed by the Governor and are now in force.
(LOYAU,G.1880 pg.81)

CONTINUING THE WORKS: 1890 - 1900

Gawler was prospering at the end of the eighties and the early part of the ninties. In 1892 James Martin & Co. was employing around 700 workers and May Brothers foundry about a further 300. The flour mills, though, had declining fortunes to the extent that only one remained operational, the other turning to production of compressed fodder and chaff. Lime-burning and brick making were industries that progressed well during this time. In 1890, James Martin & Co. completed the first locomotive of a fifty two locomotive contract that they had won from the Government. The Corporation decreed that with it being the first locomotive made in South Australia and good for the town, a public demonstration would be held, with invited distinguished guests, the town decorated, a banquet and a fireworks display. This display was at a cost of fifty pounds and caused some argument between the Councillors as to whether or not Council should outlay that amount. The mayor had the casting vote and they went on with the display. May Brothers were dealing mainly with agricultural and mining machinery. Both companies were obtaining orders for goods from all over Australia.

When not organising town celebrations, Council was involved with negotiations with the Government and the District Council of Mudla Wirra over the rebuilding of the Willaston road bridge. Deputations moved back and forth with discussions about the approaches to the bridge and the type of timber to be used. The relative merits of red gum, blue gum, karri and jarrah were thoroughly gone into, particularly as to which timber would best resist attacks by white ants. The new bridge was officially opened by Sir John Downer on 17 September, 1890 to the joy of people on both sides of the North Para. The Bunyip published a scathing editorial on the time it took to replace the bridge and reported a full history of the rebuilding. The time taken was commented on thus;-

It certainly is a disgrace to the colony that the bridging over 180 feet of waterway should occupy 17 months, and if this a fair sample of the way our public works are conducted it is no wonder that we are characterised as a "slow" colony, and that we have to pay a large amount of interest every year.

The editor also questioned the budget blowout from an estimated 3,500 pounds to a final cost of 7,000.
One of the delays was in the delivery of the iron, which, when finally delivered to James Martin & Co. (eight months after the contract was signed) took only about five weeks to fashion into the fifteen girders required. The Inspector General of Main Roads, Mr. Hargrave, had planned the bridge neglecting to allow for the fact that two roads from Gawler led to the approach - one from King Street and the other an extension of Murray Street. It was the latter, the main road, that Mr. Hargrave had overlooked! When correcting the mistake, each approach was only to be 22 feet, 6 inches wide, generally considered inadequate for a wagonload of hay. The Corporation objected to the necessary changes being made at their own expense and were backed in this by the Government Treasurer. Timber caused the next delay, some red gum was accepted (after another Council deputation) but it was a fortnight before the rest of the timber was delivered. With both rivers running high again through that winter, crossing the North Para ford was hazardous and just before the new bridge was opened, the mayor, John Jones, sent traffic over the new bridge after a wagon accident, personally directing the traffic.

Water occupied much of the Corporation's time during this decade, not floods damaging or removing the bridges but the supply of water to the town. The Barossa Water Scheme was first mooted in the 1870's and as early as 1881 the area was surveyed and plans prepared. By October, 1890, it appeared that the Government were going to proceed with the Happy Valley Scheme in preference to the Barossa. On receiving the new that the former Chief Hydraulic Engineer had cabled his advice from London to go ahead with the Happy Valley Scheme, Council resolved to form a committee to lobby Parliament. The Bunyip produced a supplement detailing the merits of the Barossa Scheme and the pitfalls of the Happy Valley one.(Appendix) The Government brought out the former Chief Hydraulic Engineer from London to again investigate the best scheme and he again chose Happy Valley. By September, 1891, the Onkaparinga Waterworks Bill ( still Happy Valley, but now renamed for the river that would be dammed) had passed its third reading in the House of Assembly and was sent on to the Legislative Council. In spite of this, the fight continued with petitions being forwarded to the Legislative Council and public meetings being held, all to no avail.

At the Council meeting of 28 March, 1892, it was resolved that the Corporation should, if necessary, take legal action against the Government for compensation for the land on which the Gawler waterworks was built on in 1880. Councillor Lucas had first raised the matter in November, 1891, when it was decided that they should ask for 100 pounds plus interest. Whether they really believed that they were " the laughing stock of the Government and outsiders" as Councillor L.S. Burton maintained for not collecting any money for the land or it was a punitive reaction to the loss of the Barossa Water Scheme is a matter for speculation. As the Council had a debt balance of just over 6 pounds in November, 1891, it seems to me that their willingness to spend 100 pounds to take the Government to court was a curious decision. L.S. Burton was even prepared to recommend that Council take forcible possession of the land so that the Government would take action against them. On 7 November, 1892, Lucas moved that the claim be withdrawn and be replaced with a claim for 20 pounds rent per annum. Three Councillors wanted to ask for 10 pounds per annum, the vote was tied and the mayors vote went in favour of the 20 pound option. No result had been obtained by 19 December, 1893, as the mayor, E. Lucas, reported to Council that a petition on the matter before Parliament would not be considered until the next session. (Bunyip 22 December,1893) The Corporation claims were disallowed on the basis that they should have acted at the time the pump was built.

At a later date, mayor William Cox , in his annual report, quoted from the reply from the Conservator of Water on a query about water charges - "It must be remembered that this is a pumping scheme and that when all things are considered, we make but a mere trifling out of the ninepence per thousand gallons. And further, as the Hon. Commissioner informed the deputation, there are no definite limits to the quantity of water available. As a matter of fact, we now have none too much water in the wells." (Bunyip, 4 December, 1896). Because of this and the ratepayers requests for public swimming baths, Mr. Cox urged for agitation towards the Government for the Barossa Water Scheme and in light of the dry weather, the Government be lobbied to cut the supply to the railway department. The railway water was supplied from the same pump and in the previous year it had used nearly two and a half million gallons and it was feared that the townspeople would be " subjected to a water famine" (ibid.)
By the end of 1897, after two years of low rainfall, not only was the quantity of the water becoming a worry, but the quality. So much so that the Corporation requested the Engineer-in-Chief take samples for analysis. The concerns were justified, as in April, 1898 residents were told that the water was unfit for human consumption unless boiled or filtered. Typhoid fever was mentioned in virtually every mayors annual report in this decade (and others), so the quality of the water was obviously suspect. A dozen cases occurred in Gawler South in November, 1898. This was blamed on disturbed soil (from preparing a garden bed) rubbish and over-crowding by Dr. Maher.

On 17 November, 1898, the Legislative Council finally passed the bill for the Barossa Water Scheme. The editor of the Bunyip seemed unimpressed with some members of the Government:-

After keeping the residents of the town and district in suspense for some time, the Legislative Council decided yesterday to sanction the carrying out of the proposal of the Government to construct a water conservation scheme at Barossa at a cost estimated at 225,000 pounds. It was quite on the cards that the proposal would be lost on account of the conduct of some of our own representatives. The amendment to refer the matter to a Select Committee was avowedly for the purpose of shelving it, and those who supported this device were deliberately playing into the hands of those who wished to wreck the whole project. We do not question the conscientiousness of the position taken by the North-Eastern members who opposed the proposition, but we question either their desire or capacity to make themselves aquainted with all the elements in the present problem. Thanks, however, to members of other districts who have a broader outlook, the scheme has been sanctioned. The results will, we believe, triumphantly justify the decisions.

The scheme passed with ten votes to seven. On returning to Gawler on the night of the vote, James Martin was given accolades for his part in pushing through the bill, including being greeted by one of the town bands.

Mayor Cox's annual report of 27 November, 1899, stated -: "Steady progress is being made with the Gawler waterworks at Barossa, but it is almost certain that the completion of this work will take a much longer time than we were led to expect when the proposal was before Parliament."

Work had actually commenced in February,1899. The wall of the reservoir was constructed on a new principle, that is, curved against the pressure of the water that is was to hold. It was at the time the highest arched concrete dam in Australia at 94 feet. Other innovations included the method of mixing the concrete - proportioning of cement, sand, metal and water was done by weight and mixed by hand using long rakes. A 'flying fox' transported the concrete from the mixing shed. These time and cost saving measures brought the project in under budget. (HAMMERTON, Marianne. 1986. pgs. 116-7) The reservoir is now known as the 'Whispering Wall' as the curve of the wall transports a whisper across the entire length of its face.

In spite of the water problem, Council planted over 7,000 trees during this decade, most of which came from a Government allocation. The majority of these were planted in the Park Lands and the cemetery but street tree planting was increasing.

At the end of 1890, a new Fire Brigades Act passed through Parliament. The local brigade until this time was voluntary with the Corporation cottage acting as the fire station. It was a bucket brigade until the water pump was operational. Council received notice that the volunteer brigade was to be disbanded from 31 December, 1890, at the same time as the Fire Brigade Board was dissolved. The mayor, William Cox, met with the local volunteers who agreed to remain on stand-by until the new arrangements were made. At the Council meeting of 5 January, 1891, Councillor Lucas remarked on " the exceeding alacrity the Government had displayed in the matter - contrary to the usual custom, inasmuch as while the Fire Brigades Act was only assented to on December 23, on the following day notices were issued disbanding the local fire brigades. The disbanding of the local fire brigades called for the most emphatic denunciation (Hear, hear). It was a scandalous piece of business". (BUNYIP 9 January,1891)

The cost to the Corporation contributions to the running of the brigade were increased from one sixth to two ninths of expenses. Although ordered to disband the local brigade, Council had to apply to come under the new Act. Within four months, the new Fire Brigades Board went about reorganising Gawler's brigade. The mayor's annual report cites the new arrangements and reports on their implementation :-

1st. That a more central station be provided.
2nd. That a permanent man be appointed as officer in charge of the District at a salary of 125 pounds per annum.
3rd. That three auxiliary firemen be appointed at a salary of 12 pounds per annum each.
4th. That a light Victorian handreel be provided in place of the one now in place of the one now in use.
5th. That 500 feet of 2 inch canvas hose and two copper branches be supplied.
6th. That two alarms be erected from approved points to the station.
7th. That electric bells be fitted from the station to the firemen's houses.

This arrangement has practically been carried into effect, except that the Board agreed to rent the Corporation cottage and the adjoining shed formerly used by the Brigade. The Corporation foreman bein deprived the use of the cottage necessitated an increase of his wages, but the rent paid by the Fire Brigades Board will result in a profit to the Council. (BUNYIP 27 November,1891)

Although the brigade was occasionally called to near-by fires in the other Council Districts, those Councils refused to contribute to the cost of the fire station, which did not please some of the Gawler Councillors at all.

In early 1893, ratepayers in the District Council of Munno Para West ( which included Gawler West, Bassett Town, Evanston and parts of Gawler South ) met to air their discontent with their Council. A chief complaint was that road and footpath making seemed exclusive to the streets in which Councillors either resided or had businesses in, with the rest of the district going without. There was merit in their claims, as when the expenditure for the past three years was read by the Chairman of the meeting, the only streets named were, Gilbert, Bridge,Water and Queen. Water Street accounted for just over 129 pounds and the others totalled 120 pounds. This does not give a completely clear picture, however, as there were three Bridge Streets at the time. It was resolved to form a committee to investigate the cost of forming their own Corporation or becoming annexed to Gawler. Gawler Council were in favour of the latter, especially in light of the failed attempts to get Fire Brigade contributions from the south side of the bridge.
The Council moved at its meeting of 27 August, 1894, that the District Council of Munno Para West be approached to appoint ratepayers to meet with the Gawler Council to discuss Gawler's boundaries being extended to take in Gawler South. Councillor Burton believed that if Gawler South joined the Council, Willaston would too, and he thought "Mudla Wirra South would be glad to get rid of it." The editor of the Bunyip was fully behind the proposal. At a ratepayers meeting prior to the Council elections of 1894, most candidates said that they were in favour of Gawler South being annexed as part of their election speeches.
The same thing happened in November, 1898 - things move slowly in the country! As it turned out, the District Council of Gawler South was proclaimed on 14 September, 1899. The amalgamation did not occur until 1933 and parts of Willaston held out until 1985.

The Council co-ordinated the festivities to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897. With the left over funds raised, it was decided to begin a benevolent fund to finance cottage homes in the town. Further funds were to be raised in conjunction with the local Friendly Societies.
At the instigation of mayor Edward Lucas in September, 1895, a meeting was called to canvas opinion on the merits of providing the town with a district nurse. With all being in favour, a ladies committee was formed to raise subscriptions from the town. A local branch committee was formed with Edward Lucas as president after Dr. Alan Campbell, president of the District Trained Nurse Society, spoke to a meeting of subscribers at the Town Hall. In March,1896, Nurse Foster commenced her duties.(COOMBE,E.H.1908.pg.212)
Council were also actively involved with the Federation League, although did not send a representative to the Peoples Federal Convention in Bathurst in 1896, due to the distance.
Mayor William Cox was on the Executive Committee of the Local Government Association and attended meetings throughout 1898-99 regarding amendments to the Local Government Bill. This was a major bill as it was to replace both the Municipal Corporations Act and District Councils Act with a combined Act. Council also involved itself with commercial matters in respect to the Government deciding to manufacture its own locomotives at the Islington Works instead of calling for tenders. Together with members of the Chambers of Commerce and Manufacturing they formed a large delegation to meet, unsuccessfully, with the Premier. After James Martin & Co. winning two contracts to build locomotives in 1888 and 1891, Council was rightly concerned about the effects the decision would have on local employment. Councils of this era did not seem to have any hesitation in petitioning, lobbying or sending delegations to the Government to express their representative opinions.

THE TURN OF THE CENTURY: 1900 - 1907

The new century did not get off to a good start for Gawler with a report in the Adelaide papers that there was an outbreak of bubonic plague in the town. The cries of outrage from Gawlerites were long and loud. Letters were fired off to the Adelaide papers, the Bunyip and the Central Board of Health. The Chairman of the Central Board of Health was quoted as saying that Gawler was the place in which he would expect to find an outbreak. This statement prompted Council to demand both an explanation and apology. Mayor Robert Thomson wrote in his annual report :-

Consequently the trade of the town was interfered with in various directions, but Dr. Smith afterwards explained that he had no intention of defaming Gawler, and he considered the town in no-wise insanitary from a health point of view and that his previous statement only referred to its climatic conditions. It appears to me unnecessary to enlarge on this topic, suffice it to say that time has proved the scare was unwarranted and that those who occupy responsible positions should not deliver injudicious statements. (THOMSON, Robert. 1900.pg.6)

The two cases reported turned out to be typhoid, resulting in the death of an itinerant man and the full recovery of a twelve year old boy from Gawler South.
The Hospital Board in Adelaide decided that year that Local Boards of Health should guarantee payments of 2 pounds per patient sent to Adelaide Hospital when suffering from an infectious disease. Council was concerned that without that guarantee the patients would have to stay in the town at the risk of spreading the disease. Conversely, the possible expense of weeks of hospitalisation, particularly if several people were sent at once, was also a concern. It was decided that the fees would only be paid if the attending doctor first contacted the Local Board of Health before sending the patient to Adelaide for them to judge each case on its merit. The Local Board of Health was made up of Councillors, none of them in the medical profession. Fortunately for anyone in Gawler unlucky enough to contract an infectious disease, the Hospital Board later decided not to insist on payment.

Tree planting continued over this period at the rate of between 600-700 trees per year. Also planted were boxthorn hedges in both the old and new cemeteries and the Recreation Grounds. This is an example of how things change, as boxthorn is now classed as a noxious weed and Council can order you to remove it from your property.

31 December, 1901 saw the valve turned by mayor Charles Rebbeck to provide Gawler with water from the Barossa waterworks. The tank used previously for the Gawler pumping station was now put into service as a storage tank. Whilst happy to at last have a regular supply of good water, residents were shocked by the increase in water rates. Tenement prices (for example) rose from 10 shillings per annum to 25 shillings. Once again, a deputation, including members of the District Council of Gawler South, travelled down to see the Premier, again unsuccessful. The price of the water itself also increased, a public meeting was called and a motion of protest was carried and yet another deputation formed to visit the Commissioner of waterworks. This resulted in a slight decrease in the charge for excess water only. Quality was also called into question ( as it still is today, state wide) but the Hydraulic Engineer, upon analysis, declared it safe for consumption. The Commissioner refused a request from Council in 1902 for provision of free water for the public water trough. Nor would the Government allow free water for sluicing out the watertable in Murray Street. Gawler had its first burst water main in August, 1904. It took pressure from M.P. Ephraim Coombe for the department to repair the damage to the footpath.

A drain was consistently placed on Council funds by the Government allocating annual main road grants at an amount less the expenditure. Requests were frequently made for special grants, usually refused, occasionally granted for less than the required amount. The amount gained for repairs to the roads cut up by the traffic to the Barossa Water Scheme during construction was just 20 pounds.

The South Para bridge was inspected in April, 1900 and declared to be in a dangerous condition. The Government departments decided that it was up to the Corporation to carry out any repairs and widening of the bridge at their own expense. The fact that it needed widening in part because of the Governments tram using it, obviously didn't factor into it, from the Governments point of view. The Council called on the local Members of Parliament to raise the matter in the House to no avail. When planking gave way under a wagon load of chaff in May, 1902, the Inspector General of Roads examined the bridge and recommended repairs that would cost about 400 pounds. Both Gawler and Gawler South Councils wanted a new bridge built which the Government said they could not afford that year. Neither Council could see the point in spending 400 pounds that year when there was the possibility of a new bridge the following year. It was not to be the following year but tenders were called in 1907. Delays were again caused by the tardy delivery of the ironwork and the bridge was not completed until early January, 1908 and officially opened on the 22nd.

The Market Allotment came back into notice in 1904, when Council decided to turn what wasn't used by the tram goodshed into a garden and fence it. A Mr. J. Woodcock designed the layout and plantings of palms, ornamental shrubs and buffalo grass. The decision was made due to it still being uncertain as to whether or not the land would ever be used as a market. Roses were donated for planting by Warren Brothers in 1905 and a dozen more by Mr. F. Kuhlmann in 1906. At that time, the public were not allowed access to the area. (MAYORS REPORTS.1904-1908)

The Gawler Diamond Jubilee Cottage Homes had stagnated since the first steps were taken in 897. Someone must have remembered, as in July, 1905 a representative group from the Friendly Societies met with the Corporation to encourage the revival of the idea. A new committee was formed with a little over 100 pounds in the fund. The amount grew to 211 pounds near the end of 1907 and two cottages were bought on the corners of Tod and Cameron Streets for 315 pounds. They were officially opened by mayor Arthur Smith on 4 December, 1907 (COOMBE.E.H.1908. pgs 214-5)

All payments the Corporation were making to the Fire Brigade Board were still being queried in Council meetings. The local brigade fought three fires outside the Corporation boundaries in 1901 and Council wanted to know if payment had been made for these. They were told by the Board that they were meddling in matters that didn't concern them, however, the 16 pounds that had been charged would be credited against their payments. Nothing had been credited by November, 1901. The rental of the fire station was renewed in January, 1901 for two years at the same rent as before. If Council was not happy with the accountability of the charges they were paying, I'm surprised that they did not increase the rent. In 1907 the Fire Brigades Board wrote to say they would not renew their tenancy unless work was carried out on the premises to a cost of about 55 pounds. The council agreed, provided that the new lease be for a five year period at 44 pounds per annum. The Board did not agree to these terms so nothing was done - and the brigade stayed in the building.

The footbridges were still requiring regular maintenance and this was carried out in co-operation with the neighbouring Councils, all but Gawler South and Nuriootpa contributing to the costs. Sand carting from the North Para in particular also required co-operation between the Councils as the boundary was the centre of the river. Carter's paid for their licences on a time basis as opposed to the volume of sand taken. This changed in 1908 to a cost per load, probably due to the fact that 19,000 tons had been excavated in 1907.

To cap this period, a fiftieth jubilee celebration was jointly held by the Corporation and the Gawler Institute. Naturally, a committee was formed to plan and carry out the festivities. The preparations were darkened with the announcement that James Martin & Company Limited were entering into voluntary liquidation. (James Martin had died on 27 December, 1899 and the company was taken over by Henry Dutton.) However, the town retained enough optimism for the celebrations to go ahead. A banquet was held for 90 people in the Institute Hall on 7 October. On the 9th. a procession of school children, bands, eight Friendly Societies and members of the Council and Institute marched through the main street and to the Recreation Ground for a day of entertainment with Governor Le Hunte present. Coombe's History of Gawler was commissioned to mark this anniversary. (COOMBE. E.H. 1908 pg.35) Mr. S.B. Rudall was honoured that same year for his twenty five years of service as Town Clerk. Council presented him with a marble clock in recognition of his service.

Overall, the town and Town Council ended the Council's fiftieth year quite pleased with themselves and hopeful that the manufacturing industries would be revived.

SUMMARY

Reading through the various mayors annual reports while writing this, I was struck by the amount of work that was done in the same streets, year after year. This was, of course, because I know Gawler as it is now, not when it was confined to such a small area. The first Councils had very little to work with. Most of the roads were laid out in the original plan and others created by purchasing the land from the owners. Footpaths were made from the pedestrian traffic, rather like the sheep trails that you see in pastures. From this, the Council had to provide good surfaces for the traffic with drainage and guttering. They had to change the geography of the town to make it more "user friendly", filling gullies, digging drains and culverts, levelling and creating cuttings. They had to fight for every bit of Government assistance they could get, both in monetary terms and in practical matters. All of this and more with no previous experience. Gawler's mayors and councillors were nearly all businessmen and tradesmen. James Martin, who started in Gawler in 1848 as a blacksmith and wheelwright, served five terms as mayor, totalling seven years. He also served as an Alderman and Councillor. He went on to become the member for Barossa in the House of Assembly and later served in the Legislative Council. All this while becoming one of the biggest manufacturers in the state. Other Gawler mayors were butchers, auctioneers, shop owners, chaff or timber merchants and boot makers. The most educated of our members of Council were two doctors, a solicitor and a head master. These men built their businesses from scratch, often the building that they operated from as well, so it is little wonder that they could employ the same enterprise in building the town. Naturally, they made mistakes, some things took far longer to accomplish than they should have and many seem very pompous in retrospect. But they helped create what was known as the "Colonial Athens" from a place that was a dust bowl in summer and a quagmire in winter between two rivers that flooded on a regular basis. An accomplishment by any standards.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Anon. Bunyip newspaper 1863-1997 - Bunyip Press, Gawler

Anon. 1986 South Australia: The Civic Record 1836-1986. Wakefield Press, Adelaide.

COOMBE, E.H. 1908.History of Gawler 1837-1908. Gawler Institute. Gawler

DUTTON, Geoffrey, ELDER, David. 1991.Colonel William Light - Founder of a city. Melbourne University Press. Victoria.

Gawler Public Library - Local History Collection

HURST, John Bradley. 1973. Adelaide and the Country 1870-1917. Melbourne University Press. Victoria.

LOYAU, George. 1880. The Gawler Handbook: a Record of the Rise and Progress of that Important Town. Goodfellow and Hele. Adelaide.

PIKE, Douglas. 1967. Paradise of Dissent : South Australia 1829-1857. Melbourne University Press. Victoria. [ First ed. 1957 ]

WHITELOCK, Derek. 1989.Gawler: Colonel Light's Country Town. Corporation of the Town of Gawler. Gawler.

YELLAND, E.M. (editor).1970.Colonists, Copper and Corn in the Colony of South Australia. Hawthorn Press. Melbourne.