Search this land for traces of the Kaurna People.

Today we are meeting on Kaurna land.

When you tread, remember the Kaurna People. They are the traditional custodians of the land.

Protect our country

The Kaurna named this place Kadlitiya.

FISH FOR SOUTH PARA RIVER

By the Melbourne express on Friday a consignment of 30 tins, each containing 33 brown  trout, arrived in Adelaide from Ballarat. It was forwarded by the Ballarat Acclimatisation Society to the Gawler Angling Club for liberation in the South Para River. Mr W. D. Bruce, Chief Inspector of Fisheries arranged for the transfer of the fish. He stated that the trout in two years would be about 3lb. in weight and ready to be caught.

From the Advertiser Newspaper, Saturday 30 July 1927, page 13

Acclimatisation Societies became active in Australia in the 1860’s and promoted the introduction of exotic plants and animals into the Australian landscape to remind the settlers of their home environments. Some introduced species failed to thrive but others did immeasurable damage to the environment.

Although native fish such as the Congoli and the Mountain Galaxias can be found in the South Para river, these fish are smaller than trout and were considered less rewarding for anglers to catch and so in an attempt to replicate British fishing, trout were introduced.

THE OLD BARRAGE

Periodically, the disposal of the refuse of the barrage that was once   stretched across the South Para River, near to Walker Place, comes before the Town Council, and on each occasion is put off to a more convenient season. The Council desire that the   broken structure should be reduced by fracture, and the material carted out of the bed of  the stream, but there is always the objection that the use of explosives demands such close attention, all roads having to be watched, and the likelihood of damage being done to neighbouring buildings. On Monday evening an offer was made to the Council by an English miner to reduce the wreck by fracture for a sum of £10, or at day work at 12/- per day, but whilst the Council would have liked to make the attempt the old bugbear of damage  cropped up, and the offer was rejected. If the barrage has to be removed (it has lain a wrecked idol for many years) a suggestion by Cr. Eckermann is not amiss. He put forward that men should sink a large hole in the bed of the stream, and when deep enough the barrage should be ignominiously tipped into it and buried from sight. Winter rains and stream debris would soon cover the grave of the monument of Gawler optimists. At present  the barrage is a most unsightly obstacle in the river bed, near to the swing crossing to Water Street, Gawler South.

From The Bunyip Newspaper, Friday 7 March, 1930, page 6

In 1912 a group of volunteers erected a dam on the river so that the people of Gawler could enjoy a recreational lake for boating and swimming. It had been intended as the first step in the process of building a more permanent structure however World War One created shortages of both money and labour and so it was not until 1919 that the weir was built.

The weir was badly situated, prone to erosion though flooding and so quickly became a damaged eyesore. It was just two years after it was completed that Council were discussing its removal however there were concerns regarding the damage explosives might do to surrounding areas. It was not until 1933 that the barrage was finally removed with The Bunyip newspaper reporting that Murray Street was showered with splintered material blown sky high!

MEMORIES OF OTHER DAYS FROM THE RECORDS OF OLD GAWLER RESIDENTS

Mr T Baldock, son of the late Mr and Mrs Jas. Baldock who arrived in this State in 1839, was born at Evanston, Gawler West, on 11th January 1858. Mr Baldock worked for 50 years in the same shop first for James. Martin’s and later for Perry’s, at one period the shop employed over 800 hands. He served 15 years in the local militia. During the Russian war scare it was decided that the soldiers would be called up by the firing of an old cannon at Dr. Popham’s in High Street, and the soldiers were to assemble at Dean’s Corner, now Walker Place. One night the cannon was fired and Mr. Baldock was one of the first on the spot. One brave lad  on hearing the gun said to his wife, “I’m off, and tell them if the Russians come I’m up the river looking for gold.”

From The Bunyip newspaper Friday 9 December 1938, page 9

In April 1885 it was feared that the hostilities between Britain and Russia over Afghanistan might mean that Australia would come under attack. It was reported that Russian warships were on their way to Australia and so Fort Glanville and Fort Largs were manned ready for war.

In Gawler, the Mayor, Mr Leonard Burton called a meeting of concerned residents and applied to the Colonial Secretary to raise a body of Gawler cavalry. Permission was granted and a few days later over one hundred volunteers were drilled at the Exhibition Building in the Gawler parklands

By the middle of May Britain and Russia had reached a settlement and the Russian crisis had passed as quickly as it had begun.

THE SOUTH PARA

The river here presented a beautiful appearance. The two floods meeting caused a stagnation in the water, and it was almost as calm as a lake. And indeed like a beautiful lake it looked with its noble gums springing out of its bosom. Upon its waters had there been a boat at hand a most enjoyable row could have been obtained. In consequence of the slowness of the current none or very little damage was done. The Chinamen's garden was partially flooded, but we believe without injury. The new footbridge erected recently at the bottom of Walker-place, and in communication with Water-street, Goose Island, was somewhat damaged. Concrete foundation was cracked owing it is said to the supporting earth haying given way and the weight of the bridge pressing upon it. -This ' damage can, however, be easily repaired, and the foundations made stronger than before. Higher up there was nothing of consequence to be seen.

From an article in The Bunyip Newspaper Friday 5 April 1889, page 2

In 1889 Gawler suffered through the worst flood in twenty-one years. At Willaston homes near the river flooded and local bridges were pummelled with debris that was washed downstream. The Chinamen’s garden refers to the market gardens that were located on Goose Island and which were prone to flooding.