Gawler Cultural Heritage Centre

27/11/2024

Today, we had the honour of attending an intimate unveiling of the headstone for Sydney Albert ARMSTRONG, Service No. 2108 of the 27th Battalion. This significant event was made possible thanks to the dedicated efforts of The Headstone Project South Australia.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Headstones Project team for their commitment to preserving our history and honoring those who served. Your support has allowed us to properly commemorate Sydney Albert Armstrong's service and sacrifice.
Thank you for making this meaningful tribute a reality.

19/11/2024

How exciting to see that the Mary Ann Tucker leather frame will soon be coming back home to Gawler, for display in the Reading Room at the Civic Centre. The frame and the exquisite embroidery that is part of the artwork, have been carefully preserved and where necessary recreated by the talented team at Artlab Australia. Our thanks to the Copland Foundation for funding this project.

10/11/2024

Flying Officer Ivor Clarance Hatcher

Ivor was born on the 3rd of May 1923 to Gilbert Hatcher and Florence Badcock. Their address at the time was Gawler Post Office, SA. Ivor enlisted in the Citizens Air Force on the 31st of January 1942 at No 5 Recruiting Centre, Adelaide. He began his training at 4 Initial Training School, Victor Harbor before completing flying training at 1 Elementary Flight Training School at Parafield and 5 Service Flying Training School at Uranquinty NSW on 26 Pilots Course.

Ivor completed his Fighter Pilot training in Mildura at 2 Operational Training Unit and was temporarily posted to number 76 Squadron (Sqn) before posting to RAAF Gawler in March 1943 flying Kittyhawk fighters as part of number 86 Sqn. Ivor was seen as a local hero in the squadron and possibly played a part in ‘borrowing’ the Thompson Foundry cast iron Eagle sculpture, adopting it as the 86 Sqn mascot.

Pilot Officer Hatcher was given a temporary commission and rank of Pilot Officer in the RAAF when 86 Sqn left RAAF Gawler to deploy to the South-West Pacific Area of Operations, North-Eastern Area Command. 86 Sqn arrived at Merauke, Dutch New Guinea in July 1943 in order to protect the base from Japanese air attack. On the 8th of September 1943 the newly promoted Flying Officer Hatcher was listed as missing, believed killed in his Kittyhawk after not arriving at an 86 Sqn detachment on Horn Island. It is believed he encountered bad weather; however Japanese air activity was also reported in the area. Flying Officer Ivor Hatcher and Kittyhawk A29-327 are still missing to this day.

Flying Officer Hatcher is listed as having flown 335 hours and 33 mins in Tiger Moth, Wirraway, Boomerang and Kittyhawk aircraft. Hatcher was described as ‘very keen and loyal, with a very pleasant personality’ in his final Officers Report.

The cast iron Eagle was returned post-war by 86 Sqn and is still cared for in the Heritage Collection as a symbol of remembrance to Flying Officer Ivor Hatcher and all those that served in South Australia’s only Fighter Squadron at RAAF Gawler.

The Eagle can be viewed in the Gawler Heritage Research Centre today between 1:00pm - 4:00pm.

Lest We Forget.

Australian War Memorial
Virtual War Memorial Australia
National Archives of Australia
Town of Gawler

21/10/2024

167 years ago today, the first Gawler Institute Committee meeting was held at Mr. James Martin’s Cottage on Murray Street, opposite the Old Post Office. Within the Gawler Heritage Collection, we are fortunate enough to house the first ‘Minutes of Proceedings of the Gawler Institute’. This book is a testament to the dedication and vision of those who came before us, and it’s an honour to preserve and celebrate their legacy. The Committee used several sites before the Insititute Building itself was built in 1870/1871.
Our opening times are:
Monday 1:00 pm-4:00 pm,
Wednesday 10:00 am - 12:00pm and 1:00 pm-4:00 pm
Thursday 1:00 pm-5:00 pm or by appointment.
Please contact us on email: [email protected] or phone: (08) 8522 9268


Gawler Civic Centre
Gawler Libraries

17/09/2024

Have Your Say: Willaston Cemetery Conservation Management Plan 2024
Your feedback matters—help shape the future of Willaston Cemetery!
To view the draft plan and share your thoughts visit 👉 https://ow.ly/UWWl50T0Q5k

Have Your Say: Willaston Cemetery Conservation Management Plan 2024

Established in 1866, the Willaston Cemetery has been a key part of Gawler’s history and community. To ensure its preservation and honour its heritage, we’ve updated the Conservation Management Plan with the help of Phillips Pilkington Architects. Now, we want your input on the draft plan!

Your feedback matters—help shape the future of Willaston Cemetery!

To view the draft plan and share your thoughts visit 👉 https://ow.ly/UWWl50T0Q5k

29/07/2024

CLOSING SOON! Call For Independent Community Representative - Heritage Collection Committee 📣

Council is seeking to appoint an independent Community Representative with knowledge and passion for Gawler’s heritage. You will join three Elected Members and three current Independant Community Members charged with the responsibility of contributing to the development, management and promotion of the Gawler Heritage Collection.

People with relevant qualifications in local history and/or experience in securing grant funding are strongly encouraged to apply. Applications close 31 July 2024 at 5pm.

For more information, visit https://ow.ly/BPAq50SpLmo

17/07/2024

Call For Independent Community Representative - Heritage Collection Committee 📣

Council is seeking to appoint an independent Community Representative with knowledge and passion for Gawler’s heritage. You will join three Elected Members and three current Independant Community Members charged with the responsibility of contributing to the development, management and promotion of the Gawler Heritage Collection.

People with relevant qualifications in local history and/or experience in securing grant funding are strongly encouraged to apply. Applications close 31 July 2024 at 5pm.

For more information, visit https://ow.ly/BPAq50SpLmo

04/07/2024

On Wednesday we received a visit from Ilona Oppenheim who was keen to see the portrait of her mother Mrs Hilda Heinrich, which is held in the Gawler Heritage Collection. The portrait was painted by noted artist John Dowie in 1985. The painting was commissioned in recognition of Mrs Heinrich's 30 years of service to the Gawler Institute and its Library. Mrs Heinrich was also awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 1982 for her dedication to the Institute.

25/06/2024

Did you attend an event (or several) throughout South Australia's History Festival 2024? We want to hear from you, and we've got the prizes to prove it.

Share your thoughts, opinions and feedback before 30 June 2024 and you'll have the chance to win one of three family passes to the Bay to Birdwood 2024, a limited edition three volume box set of Behind the Streets of Adelaide published by Torrens Press, or a copy of The Wakefield Companion to South Australian History (Revised Edition) published by Wakefield Press.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=5r5YUW_A3U-4rTJUEIa9iCSp-s7pj61LrSLFsgQ3nQtUMTBGNllXNEk5QTJYUDFQSDFBNExDR1JTTCQlQCN0PWcu

25/06/2024

A look back in time at the Exchange Hotel on Murray Street. The original photograph taken in approximately 1880 is called 'Gawler' (B 8329) and is from the State Library of South Australia, Gawler Collection.

The library summarises "Procession of horses and wagons outside the Exchange Hotel in Murray Street, Gawler. This photograph possibly depicts the local farmers arriving to sell their grain to agents."

GAWLER, SOUTH AUSTRALIA
c 1880

Today there will be two photographs; this one provides a look back in time to Murray Street, Gawler.

The original photograph taken in approximately 1880 is called 'Gawler' (B 8329)and is from the State Library of South Australia, Gawler Collection. Feel free to use the link below to see the unedited photo, or alternatively, you can find the image posted in the comments below:

https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+8329

The library summarises "Procession of horses and wagons outside the Exchange Hotel in Murray Street, Gawler. This photograph possibly depicts the local farmers arriving to sell their grain to agents."

The Exchange Hotel is still there and can be found at 155 Murray Street. According to the hotel website, "The Exchange Hotel was first licensed in 1868 and has been through many transformations to become the hotel it is today. Today, the original facade of The Exchange remains with a fresh and modern hotel on the inside." More information about the hotel can be found:

https://www.exchangehotelgawler.com.au

On a side note, acclaimed South Australian author Allen Tiller of The Haunts of Adelaide fame tells a haunting tale about the Exchange Hotel, which can be accessed using the link below:

http://hauntedadelaide.blogspot.com/2022/02/the-haunting-of-exchange-hotel-gawler.html

Sources: Thanks to the State Libary of South Australia, The Exchange Hotel and The Haunts of Adelaide.

Edited and colourised by A Colourful History

The colours on my modified photographs are not meant to be an absolute representation of what existed when the original pictures were taken. I try to replicate colours, but I ask you to please view the colourised photographs as digital art.


State Library of South Australia | History Trust of South Australia | History Council of South Australia | Heritage South Australia | The Haunts of Adelaide | Town of Gawler | Gawler History Team | The Exchange Hotel | State Records of South Australia

11/06/2024

Congratulations to Martin Walker on receiving the South Australian Lifelong Historian Award 2024. The award is bestowed by the History Council of South Australia, the peak body charged with providing a representative voice on historical issues, celebrating and raising the profile of history in the state.
At the awards ceremony held on Friday 31 May at the Piccadilly Theatre North Adelaide, Martin was awarded the SA Lifelong Historian Award jointly with Meredith Satchell. Martin Walker was integral to the delivery of the Down the Line Exhibition at the Heritage Gallery freely sharing his knowledge, time and personal collection of rare objects so that the community could gain a deeper understanding of the importance of communication technologies in the development of the town.

29/05/2024

EVENT CANCELLED 📣

Unfortunately, due to presenter illness we have had to cancel the 'Much Excitement Prevails: South Australia and the Rush for Gold by Prof. Benjamin Mountfort' event, which was scheduled to occur Thursday 30 May, 2pm - 3pm.

All those booked in will receive an email to notify them of this cancellation.

23/05/2024

SA and the Rush for Gold by Prof. Benjamin Mountfort

Learn more about the impact of the goldrushes on South Australia and how these types of historical stories and new research are still valuable to us today. Presented by Benjamin Mountford, Associate Professor of History at the Australian Catholic University and co-editor of the journal ‘History Australia’.

Thursday 30 May, 2pm - 3pm

Presented by Gawler Cultural Heritage Centre

For more information: https://festival.history.sa.gov.au/events/much-excitement-prevails-south-australia-and-the-rush-for-gold/

22/05/2024

Today until 4:30pm Virtual War Memorial Australia

21/05/2024

McDouall Stuart Hitches a Ride

Journalist and adventurer Rosemary Cadden discusses how her solo road trip to follow the tracks of fellow Scot, John McDouall Stuart, evolved into a book. Her stories will take you up through the centre of Australia as her conversations with people and her research reveal how land, lifestyles, and perspectives have changed over the past 150 years.

Thursday 23 May, 2.30pm - 3.30pm
Presented by the Gawler Cultural Heritage Centre

Book now: https://events.humanitix.com/mcdouall-stuart-hitches-a-ride

18/05/2024

Gawler’s Military History. Display by RSL Gawler sub branch and Gawler Cultural Heritage Centre, here at the Gawler Civic Centre room G.3
Opening
Monday 20th May - Friday 24th May 10am - 2pm