Burra History in Burra, South Australia, Australia | Educational research centre

Burra History

Locality: Burra, South Australia, Australia

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23.01.2022 From the Burra Record 1 Aug. 1961, page 1 Summaries by Eric Fuss Pascoe’s Barber Shop has closed after 73 years. In 1888 the late R.D. Pascoe began business in the shop now occupied by Messrs R.A. Bevan & Son [corner of Market Square and Mt Pleasant Road] and later moved to a portion of that now occupied by Bence’s Ltd [now part of St Just Cafe]. In 1910 the premises now housing the Burra Radio & Electrical Service were taken over and one portion used as a barber shop and t...he other as a newsagency. It was at this time that Mr J. (Joe) Pascoe commenced his trade with his father and brother, the late Mr Claude Pascoe. Another brother, Frank, ran the newsagency and the late Mr O. (Twist) Ockenden was in charge of a branch of the saloon at Aberdeen. In 1946 following the death of Mr R.D. Pascoe ‘Joe’ carried on the business on his own until five or six weeks ago when ill health caused him to retire and close the hairdressing section of the business. One interesting feature, which has gradually faded over the years, was the pigeonholes of shaving mugs and brushes. Years ago the business formed a Shavers’ Club with a membership fee of one shilling a week. Each member had his own mug and brush in one of the pigeonholes and for the one shilling fee he would be shaved as often as he presented himself during the week. At one stage there were 184 mugs and brushes. Going back a year or two ‘Joe’ said haircuts were 6d and shaves 3d and with three chairs in operation it would have been a quiet Friday to have fewer than 40 shaves to do. Joe still has the razor he used when he first commenced work and though considerably worn down, it could still be used today. All this has changed with the advent of the safety razor and later the electric razor. Another well known feature was the collection of sheep photos, which covered the entire four walls. The collection dates back to 1910 when the late Mr L. Gebhardt of Mokota brought in the first photo to hang in the shop. Other stud breeders followed suit and after a time it amounted to a very fine collection indeed. See more

23.01.2022 Here are many fascinating then and now photographs from Turn 8 Photography. Can you place dates on the old photographs? They are certainly intriguing.

23.01.2022 It's wonderful that our "Burra Record" is available on Trove up until 1954, it would be great if more could be digitised. Great job Port Lincoln History Group.

22.01.2022 Burra RSL President Mike Pinkerton presenting WW11 veteran Edward G.J. MacMillan with his certficate in recognition of his service and commemorating 75 years of VP day, Victory in the Pacific and the end of Australia's involvement in the war. Ted, we salute you! #VPday, #rsl, #Burra,

21.01.2022 It was a great honour and privilege to attend the History Council's Awards Night at The State Library on Eric Fuss' behalf and bring his certificate for South Australian Regional Historian home to Burra.

19.01.2022 Here is a photo not seen before. Can you pick the location before looking at the clue in the next photo? Wirth’s Circus came to town on Friday January 14, 1921. Horses weren’t used to seeing elephants in the street. The summary from an the article from Burra Record of 19 January tells us the wows of Edgar Pearce and the elephants. Lance Tiver was driving Edgar Pearce’s dray at Aberdeen on Friday when Wirth’s elephants caused the horse to bolt. In negotiating the Royal Exchange Corner the dray crashed and Mr Tiver was thrown right through the bar door. The dray’s shafts were smashed off and the horse with harness attached galloped through the town to Mr Pearce’s stables. The harness was badly damaged and the horse cut and bruised. Mr Tiver surprisingly escaped with a shaking and a few abrasions.

18.01.2022 Remembering Les Warnes and the Bay to Birdwood Today is the 40th anniversary of the Bay to Birdwood, an annual historic vehicle run and so today we feature Les Warnes (1922-2016) from Burra, who at the age of 88, in 2010, participated in the 30th anniversary of the run on 26 September. Remarkably Les drove in fourteen runs, his first being in 1982. He loved his 1913 Newton Bennett which he was given to him in mid 1937 when he was aged 15; it was used as a station runabout ...and for rabbit trapping and general station work on the Warnes family property Woogangi 65 km north east of Burra. In 2010 the Newton Bennett was the oldest vehicle in the rally and Les was probably the oldest driver. Les lived a good and very interesting life.

17.01.2022 Honouring Burra and District men and women involved in WWI and WWII. On this day in 1917 Gunner Charles Stanley Burton of Mt Bryan was killed in action. Burra Record 21 Nov. 1917, page 2 Gunner Charles S. Burton, who was reported killed in action on October 14 in France, was the son of Mr J.F. & Mrs Burton of Mt Bryan. He was Born: on October 28th 1885 and spent his life prior to enlisting at Mt Bryan, where he engaged in farming pursuits. Of a quiet and unassuming disposit...ion he never at any time took an active part in public affairs, but was highly esteemed throughout the whole district. He left South Australia in 1916 with the 43rd Battalion. Another brother, Gunner Herbert Burton, also of the 43rd Battalion, is returning to Australia, having lost a leg and also receiving other injuries. Private Alick Burton is still in France and has never had a day off after nearly three years constant service. Burton, C.S. (Charles) Charles Stanley Burton Born: 25 Oct. 1885, Kooringa Died :14 Oct. 1917 Killed in Action in the field in Belgium Memorial Details: 29 The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Belgium Parents: John William Henry & Emelia/Emeline, nee Broad Rolls: Burra & District Roll of Honour Burra & District Fallen Soldiers Memorial Burra, Riverton, Saddleworth District Roll of Honour Mt Bryan Roll of Honour (1916) Mt Bryan Honour Roll final version Unit: 2nd Depot & 43rd Infantry Enlistment Date: 15 Feb. 1916 Place of enlistment: Burra Occupation: Labourer Embarked from Australia: 9 June 1916 Served in: France & Belgium District Connection: Birth, farmer Mt Bryan Information from An Index of MEN AND WOMEN from BURRA AND DISTRICT Involved in WORLD WAR I By Eric Fuss & Meredith Satchell 2nd Edition April 2008

17.01.2022 Today should have been the 127th Burra Show but Covid 19 intervened. Here are just a few photos of the show over the years. For much more detail of Burra Shows you can purchase the 269 page book Burra Show 1877-2016 available at a bargain price at the Burra Visitor Centre. The first Burra Show was in 1877... There was also no show from 1886-1893, 1897, 1914, 1940-1945 and 2015.

17.01.2022 Burra experienced severe cold 75 years ago and the train was 2 hours late. Burra Record 10 July 1945 The residents of Burra have this week experienced one of the coldest spells of weather which can be remembered. On Saturday morning the inside temperature registered 40 degrees. [4Celsius] The cold continued throughout Saturday [7th July]. The train from Adelaide arrived in Burra on Sunday[8th July] at 1.15 a.m. over two hours late. Passengers were suffering from the intense cold, and the fact that the train was so late did nothing to improve their feelings. Mr. R.A. Bevan who has experienced weather in all its moods over the past 17 years as local bus driver, said he had never before witnessed frost forming when such a strong easterly wind was blowing.’

16.01.2022 Here is the story of a baker and a hero who died 75 years ago today. The bakery in Thames Street was demolished many years ago. Maybe someone will know exactly when. William Frederick Gebhardt (‘Casey’) died at Burra Hospital on 25 July 1945. He was born in Burra 11 August 1863 and remained in this town all his life. He was educated at Burra Primary School and on leaving there, he learnt the bakery business under his father, the late Mr F. Gebhardt, one of the town’s old ...pioneers. Later he was in partnership with his father and on the latter’s death, carried on for some years alone, before handing the business over to two of his brothers, Messrs Alf and William Gebhardt. Altogether this business was carried on by the Gebhardt family for 65 years. In his younger days he was a keen sportsman with respect to hunting and coursing. Some 25 years ago the small daughter of the late Mr D. Pizzo fell down a well where Mr Alf Gebhardt now resides. A rescue party was organised and the late Mr Gebhardt volunteered to be lowered down by means of a clothes line. He remained below while the girl was hauled up and was then recovered with some difficulty. For this feat he was later presented with a sovereign case, filled with sovereigns at a ceremony at the Burra Institute. He was twice married. He first married a daughter of the Late Mr George Jordan of Saddleworth and they had two children: Mr Fred Gebhardt of Adelaide and Evelyn, Mrs Pudney of Adelaide. Later he married the daughter of the late James Wilton of Adelaide and there were seven children from that marriage: Myrtle, Mrs Timms of Adelaide; Tilly, Mrs Taymidices of Sydney; Carrie, Mrs William Nankivell of Burra; Gladys, Mrs O. Pearce of Adelaide, Ivy, Mrs Tilbrook of Clare, and Allan and Ken Gebhardt of Burra. There are seven grandchildren. Two sons, Fred and Allan went to WWI and Ken has just returned from the present war. Burra Record 7 August 1945 [Despite above information the apparent relevant registered birth was for William Frederic Gebhardt 15 August 1864 at Kooringa.] 15 Nov. 1911, page 3 Accident. On Saturday a little girl aged 8 years the daughter of D. Pizzo of Kooringa, fell down an old well on the property of the SAMA in Thames St, occupied some time ago by S. James. It is nearly 40’ deep and although dry has rocky sides. The girl was knocked about and sustained a broken thigh. She was taken unconscious from the well by Fred Gebhardt. 29 Nov. 1911, page 3 Fred Gebhardt was presented with an inscribed sovereign case filled with coins at the Institute on Wednesday in recognition of his courage in rescuing a girl from a well recently.

16.01.2022 Today is a special day for Burra, it is 175 years since the opening of the Burra Mine On 29 September 1845, the first charge of gunpowder was fired in the Monster Lode, blasting away large masses of rich red oxide of copper ore. In the course of a few hours after the arrival of the first miners at the Burra Creek, about ten tons of the most splendid copper ore was actually placed in the days, and the train [of drays] departed for Adelaide the following morning. Text from page 63 The Story of the Monster Mine The Burra Burra Mine and its townships 1845-1877 by Ian Auhl.

16.01.2022 Burra Remembrance Day 2020

14.01.2022 Our History Matters webinar series for teachers continues next Wednesday with the topic of 19th Century migration to SA, and we’ll discuss how you can connect w...ith your local community museums. Senior Community History Officer, Amanda James and Migration Museum Curator, Corinne Ball join Senior Kaurna man Uncle Mickey O’Brien to talk history, and provide some guidance on how and why connecting with your local museum is important for our shared history. Register at the link below to receive your Zoom code for tomorrow and share with your teacher friends! https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/history-matters-teacher-pro Image is from the Barossa Museum, Tanunda, courtesy of a History Trust team member.

13.01.2022 We are very proud and delighted to announce that Burra Historian Eric Fuss was the recipient of the Regional History Award.

12.01.2022 Today is 75 years since the end of World War II We give thanks for all of those from Burra and District who served. We remember them. A list of names of those who served is below as well as what happened in Burra 75 years ago. Burra Record, 21 August 1945, page 1...Continue reading

11.01.2022 101 years ago SA Farmers’ Union Store in Market Square was opened on 3 September 1919. Three directors were present: Messrs Miller, Ferguson & J.M. McDonald. Mr Miller made a short speech and declared the store open at noon. Shareholders were given a sumptuous lunch at the Institute. (For 300.) SA FARMERS’ UNION STORE This building was erected in 1919 as a general store for the SA Farmers’ Union. It closed as such in 1927 and was then used as a hall and for a variety of ...retail outlets. In 1944 it was briefly a clothing factory for the war effort before being bought by the RSL for use as club rooms in 1946. Additions were made at the rear in 1980 when the Burra Burra District Council moved in, and it became the Regional Council of Goyder Offices from 1997. After the building was extensively remodelled in 2002, to better accommodate the Council Offices, the RSL continued to meet in the hall/Council Chamber See more

11.01.2022 More help needed. Thank you to all the people who so kindly commented on the last post to help discover the location of the house. Thanks to Judith Eberhard for giving us the correct information. The house was on Mullaby east of Burra. The researcher who enquired as to the whereabouts of the property is very pleased to know its location. Here are some photographs of Mount Bryan Station from the the book 'Razorback Range Country' by Ruth Stolte which was published in 1985. I am seeking originals of these photographs or ones similar for possible inclusion in a book. I have not been able to locate digital copies. Can you help?

09.01.2022 95 years ago this week a "Back to Burra" week was held. Here is what the local paper the "Burra Record" had to say about it. We are fortunate that a great many photographs were taken during the week of 24-31 October 1925. Only a few of the large collection are shown here.

09.01.2022 The cottage on the corner of Best's Place and Morehead Street, Aberdeen, Burra is currently for sale. It was built as a residence and offices for the Bank of Australasia in circa 1875. This explains the reason for the two front doors, the one on the right leading into the office and the one on the left to the passage of the residence. The Council Assessment Records for 1877 state that it was a 3 roomed stone house and banking premises and stable. The stable appears to stil...l be in existence. The bank manager was Edmund Alexander Jaffrey who brought his new wife Caroline to the town in 1876. Their first two sons were born in this house in 1877 and 1879. The Jaffrey family left the town about 1881. J. R. McLeary replaced him but left in 1884 to be replaced by Mr Horn. The bank had a short life at Aberdeen and was closed on 12 April 1886. Coincidently the Aberdeen National Bank was on the opposite corner and traded from approximately the same dates as the Bank of Australasia. In 1886 that building became part of the Royal Exchange Hotel. By 1909 Arthur Richards was a greengrocer in the former Bank of Australasia. In 1910 E P Sara owned the property, it became Sara’s Petrol Station from about 1926 until about 1947 the Sara family sold the property in 1960. In October of 1947 Mr L L Fiebig, of Burra North wrote to the council stating that he had been licensed to sell petrol from the pumps opposite Sara’s (store) at Burra North. He stated that he wished to make certain alterations to the site and enclosed a plan setting out the proposed alterations. He also sought permission to erect a small building. In the late 1960’s the property was a fish and chip shop and after that time it became a private residence. If you know anything about this site or have photographs we would love to discover more.

09.01.2022 50 years ago in November 1970 the Burra Record reported these items. There is a lot to read for just one months worth of news and several notifications of birth, the babies mentioned now having just turned 50. Thanks to the late Eric Fuss we have notes like these from 1845-2016. If you would like to know what the paper reported at a particular time please let me know and it can be featured. In early November 1970 the Bon Accord Bridge was demolished, fortunately we have o...Continue reading

09.01.2022 Burra Manual Telephone Exchange Closes At 10.45 a.m. on 30 September 1981 Mrs E. Shattock of Commercial Street ended her phone call to Mrs T. Rawlins of Queen Street and the era of the manually operated telephone exchange in Burra came to an end. The normal number of telephonists on duty varied from three to five, but for the occasion all fourteen telephonists on staff were present. At 10.55 a.m. the sign of disconnection took place as small metal shutters began to fall ope...n all over the board to reveal the numbers of Burra’s 500 subscribers as Telecom technicians removed the connections. Alarm bells rang and buzzers sounded, but instead of prompting the concern of telephonists this time they were greeted by cheers and mixed emotions. Chocolates were handed round and a cake in the shape of the old switchboard was cut. A formal end to the era was celebrated at a function in the Town Hall that evening when each lady was presented with a plaque made from timbers of the old switchboard. There was a delay of a few hours before the automatic system cut in. A few people are still experiencing a problem because they are not waiting for a dial tone before beginning to dial. The delay can be two or three seconds. [Photo of those on duty for the last shift Coralie Field, Joan Moreland, Robyn Tschirn, Susan Pittaway and one of Telecom technician Geoff Deeble at the new Exchange in Bridge Street.] 8 October 1981 Notes from the Burra School and Community News by Eric Fuss

08.01.2022 Burra’s Centenary Celebrations 13-20 October 1945 A very big post for a very big event. Here are some photographs and summaries of the event from the Burra Record. The summaries are by the late Eric Fuss. It’s a wonderful record of a very important community event and tells the story in detail. A huge amount of organisation took place in just a few months to produce a week of celebratory events. A centenary souvenir booklet of 50 pages was produced and souvenir badges wer...Continue reading

07.01.2022 Burra RSL President Mike Pinkerton presenting WW11 veteran Leonard Bence with his certificate in recognition of his service and commemorating 75 years of VP day, Victory in the Pacific and the end of Australia's involvement in the war. Len, we salute you! #VPday, #rsl, #Burra,

06.01.2022 Does anyone know where this house is near Burra? This question has come from a researcher who would love to know the answer.

05.01.2022 Burra did not have a town clock until this clock was donated in 1974. Burra Record 17 Apr. 1974 Burra Burra District Council Through the generosity of Mrs Andrew Tennant a town clock with two faces has been erected in the lawn area in Commercial St. [Market Square.]

04.01.2022 150 years ago ago today was a great day for Burra and district

03.01.2022 Vale Eric Robert Fuss 24 February 1945-22 September 2020 Burra Historian Eric Fuss passed away yesterday evening 22 September 2020 at the Burra Hospital after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was greatly admired as a quiet achiever who made a huge contribution to Burra’s written history. Over many years he generously shared his knowledge about the town and district’s history with researchers and was the author of many publications. His life was well lived and he is remembered with great affection by those who knew him. The funeral will take place at Mid North Funerals 54 Main North Road Clare on Monday 28 September at 11.00 a.m.

02.01.2022 HCSA South Australian Regional Historian Award 2020 was presented to Eric Fuss, known for his work on the history of Burra. Unfortunately, due to ill health, Er...ic was unable to be at the event so his award was accepted on his behalf by one of his nominators. Photograph from ABC Rural 2014 - https://www.abc.net.au//rural/2014-10-05/eric-fuss/5789352

01.01.2022 Today we remember Lt Reg Sandland and Trooper Frank Kelly who were killed in action at Beersheba on 31 October 1917. Burra Record 14 Nov. 1917, page 3 Obituary. Lt M. Reginald Sandland, whose death was reported last week, was the third son of the late John C. & Mrs C. Sandland of Koonoowarra [sic] [Koonawarra] and was born at Koonoona Station 22 June 1890. He was educated at Burra School and St Peter’s College. He was prominent in polo, cricket and football. He left Burra... in August 1914 and was the first Burra boy to enlist. He was attached to the 3rd Light Horse Regiment and left Australia 22 October 1914. He saw action in Egypt and Gallipoli, where he stayed till within three weeks of its evacuation, being withdrawn with enteric fever. He was invalided home in February 1916 and after recovering left Australia again 22 June 1916. He won his commission at Rafa in Egypt and received his second star a few weeks ago. He was killed in action at Beersheba on 31 October. His brother Bert is in the same regiment and company. [Morton Reginald Sandland.] Burra Record21 Nov. 1917, page 2 Obituary. Trooper Frank W. Kelly was killed in action at Beersheba 31 October. He was the youngest son of the late Michael & E. Kelly of Booborowie. He was born in [28 January] 1888 at Manoora and was educated at Booborowie School and afterwards at the School of Mines in Adelaide as a wool classer. He was a great worker for charitable entertainments and a noted athlete. He was a prominent footballer and also for many years organist at Booborowie Roman Catholic Church. He enlisted in January 1916 and sailed from Melbourne in May. He leaves one sister, Mrs J.F. Hogan and eight brothers, of whom three are in France: Ptes H., D. & J. Kelly.

01.01.2022 The previous post told you that Burra Historian Eric Fuss was the recipient of the SA History Councils, South Australian Regional Historian Award for 2020 which was held at the awards night yesterday evening in Adelaide. Eric was too unwell to attend, so some of his achievement are shown in the photographs. By far, the most outstanding achievement is Eric's summaries of Burra in the News from newspaper dating from 1845-2016. This work amounts to over 9,000 pages and is equivalent to writing an A4 45 cm thick book. This is a huge achievement and provides information from newspaper which is not readily available after 1954. We applaud Eric for his achievements as a quiet achiever who has done so much to advance our knowledge of Burra and districts history. His work will live on for generations to come.