Gawler History

Main Street 12-14 Willaston

Fast Facts
Place type: Building
Also known as: Coolup, 12-14 Main North Road Willaston
Address: 12-14 Main Street
Town or Locality: Willaston


DESCRIPTION:

This is a substantial Federation-era bungalow of quality detail. It is constructed of face dressed bluestone to the facade with sandstone rubble side walls and red brick dressings. The Dutch-gable roof is clad with corrugated metal and features louvred vent. Windows are timber-framed, doublehung sashes to either side of the central door which features leadlight glazing to sidelights and fanlight. The prominent chimneys are of red brick with moulded caps. The return bullnose verandah is clad with corrugated metal with gablet over the entrance and is supported on timber posts over brick piers and features carved brackets. The verandah is enclosed by a low brick wall with glazed brick capping. A non-original timber picket and a steel gate define the front boundary.

STATEMENT OF HERITAGE VALUE:

This dwelling likely built in the early 1900s is an intact example of a Federation-era dwelling located within the early 1858 subdivision of Willaston, demonstrating the early pattern of generous allotments. The property, once occupied by a local machinists’ firm, demonstrates a time of growth in agricultural trade in the area and of the identity of the Main street of Willaston as a commercial centre during its early establishment. The dwelling is a high-quality and intact example of an uncommon typology. The high-level of craftsmanship, in its stone and brick construction, and timber detailing is reflective of its prominent location along the Main Street.

BRIEF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:

John Reid, one of the original purchases of the Special Survey, took up several of the larger allotments on both sides of the river. Reid arrived at Gawler with his family in South Australia in early 1839, and soon established his home station ‘Clonlea’ on the banks of the North Para River. Reid suffered a series of unfortunate losses and had mortgaged his property to William Paxton, a Hindley Street chemist who had made a fortune from the Burra copper mines. Paxton eventually foreclosed on the debt leaving Reid with the homestead and 40 acres of his original 630 acre landholding. In 1848 Paxton laid out a new township on Section 1 of Reid’s former sheep run on the northern side of the North Para River, naming it Willaston after a place where he had lived in England. Thomas Greaves built the first Willaston Hotel near the bridge over the North Para River in 1849 and also established a camping ground for mule teams from the Burra Mines, alongside. Willaston retained its own separate character and developed its own shops and industries, and within a few years had grown to be the largest village after Gawler itself.

The population of the northern township of Willaston grew considerably (from 381 to 555) and the number of dwellings increased from 84 to 121 in the period between the 1901 and 1911 censuses and to 151 by 1928. The disposition of the population in and around Willaston was by 1928 more scattered, but within Willaston was also more concentrated as a number of allotments were further subdivided.

Industry in Willaston remained centred around the brick yards of William Weaver (later William Gouger) and the nearby lime kilns operated by George Eyers (later Luxon and Dracker), William Rendell, A.C. Edson and Ayling and Dwyer and there was little new commercial activity; Coombe's general store continued to predominate and only two new shops and a blacksmiths shops were established between 1900 and 1928, all along Main Street.

The date of construction of the dwelling is unknown, however, in 1866 the property was split down the middle, each portion with a frontage to the Main Street, and owned by Andrew Archibald Robertson and James Woods, wheelwrights and machinists. These prominent early figures in Willaston were partners in the local firm Woods & Robertson, described as a large machinists’ business. It is possible this property was the site of their workshop, described in an article in The Register to have been “in full swing, supplying machinery for the early settlers in the areas.” They occupied this site until 1880, when both portions of the allotment were transferred to Henry William Mortimer of Gawler omnibus. A later Certificate of Title indicates a merge of the two titles in 1974.

Please <click here> to view photos of 12-14 Main Street Willaston.

Acknowledgments

This report has been prepared by the following people:

• Nancy Cromar (Flightpath Architects)

• Deborah Morgan (Flightpath Architects)

• Kate Paterson (Flightpath Architects)

• Douglas Alexander (Flightpath Architects)


The study team would like to acknowledge the assistance of the following people:

• David Petruzzella (Strategic Planner; Town of Gawler)

• Jacinta Weiss (Cultural Heritage Centre Coordinator; Town of Gawler)

• Jane Strange (Senior Development and Strategic Policy Officer; Town of Gawler)


Gawler History Team Inc. thanks: Flightpath Architects, Ryan Viney and the Town of Gawler for allowing us access to this important document of Gawler History.

www.flightpatharchitects.com.au

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References

main street 12-14 willaston
main street 12-14 willaston


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