EDWARDSTOWN WW1 MEMORIAL BOARD -

Edwardstown and surrounding areas Memorial Board 

Update - February 2020

Last year 2019 when the new sports oval, and buildings were completed, the Honour Board was moved to the upper floor of the main building.   It can be seen most days and nights when the centre is open.

The large and beautifully carved board is at Warradale Army Barracks, and later this year, there will be a time when descendants and other interested parties can attend and see this board for the first time in decades. Open day at Warradale Army Barracks.   For the time being the board will stay where is is now - it is well looked after and safe and has been since 1986.
If at any time there is a specific need to visit the memorial board, it probably could be accommodated.

Most of the above named  men  came from Edwardstown, South Plympton, Vermont, Forbes, Ascot Park  and other suburbs around, which are now part of Edwardstown or Mitcham council area.   

A list of all the surnames on the board will be added very soon.  Stories and a bit of history are being written up in another of my posts.  

EDWARDSTOWN MEMORIAL ROSE GARDEN

On the corner of Robert Street and Raglan Avenue, is the Edwardstown Memorial Rose Garden. Next to the Edwardstown Bowling Club.

GARDENS

Historically, gardening/horticulture was an important part of Adelaide's way of life. Schools had gardens which children would participate in – we had what I called Arbor Day – tree planting every year – many trees were planted by school children all over the State.

Gardening clubs were everywhere – most organisations and big businesses had their own garden clubs and competitions were held between them on a regular basis. There were a couple of railway stations near where I lived as a child, and remember the station master's gardens with flowers and fruit trees. New subdivisions, new homes and migrants. People moved into their own homes, or SAHT houses and people were encouraged to plant lawns, gardens, flowers and in the back yard, fruit trees, vegetables and more flowers and vines. Neighbours then began to compete with one another. Largest pumpkin, best tomatoes, most potatoes. I remember when the Italian and Greek migrants came out in the 1950/60s and competition became even fiercer (in a good way) in neighbourhoods, as they also brought with them different vegetables and ways of gardening.

When I first came to live in Edwardstown, I loved walking passed a home in Robert Street where the owners had, a backyard full of towering sweet pea plants. Oh, the sweet smell. I know that another home in Castle Street had huge dahlias which the owner grew and showed. Many older homes had wonderful old rose bushes and shade trees in the front.

Community – not something the government is behind these days, as it prefers subdividing and small blocks with no room for gardening or sport or socialising.

Flowers themselves, have, throughout history, held special significance in peoples' lives, from flowers and plants planted at a birth, to a bride's bouquet, and those at a funeral. An olive branch signifies peace; an oak tree, strength. Medicine originally came from plants and flowers, and most flowers had a meaning – rosemary for remembrance is one.

I have vivid memories of Adelaide's Flower Day when the city was full of colourful floral displays, especially in Victoria Square. Everyone wore flowers and it was so spectacular to me. People would go into the city on the bus or tram and walk around to see the beautiful pictures and stories made with flowers. All done by volunteers, and even businesses became involved and put on their own colourful displays.

It was a shared community event. Finished in 1975 I believe.

Memorial Gardens have been around for generations and in memory of good – the Taj Mahal in India or indeed of the bad. A memorial garden was erected in the late 1800s in memory of those slaughtered in an earlier massacre.

Around the turn of the 19^th/20^th century, and especially after World War 1, the pain and loss of so many people, created in those left behind a need to do something to keep the memories of their loved ones close. All around Australia, people wanted to plant trees, build monuments, design and create large and ornate memorial boards, and from this grew the memorial gardens in all council areas.

EDWARDSTOWN ROSE GARDEN

In the late 1950s Marion Council designated the area on the corner of Robert St and Raglan Avenue, South Plympton to become the Memorial Rose Garden with Memorial Gates facing where the roundabout is now. The 1950s was a time when once again, after a war – this time WW2 – a memorial to the fallen was deemed most appropriate, and since there were already many memorials, councils like Marion found various ways to incorporate new ones.

Mr Ross, of Ross Roses (now of Willunga) designed and planted the area with specially chosen beds of roses, in the centre of a lawned area, with trees at the fence line and at top of mound leading to the oval.

Mrs Ross, to whom I spoke in 2016, told me how her husband had spent so much time planning and planting the area and that the roses were planted in 1958. By the following year it would have become a lovely garden.

When the Gates of Remembrance were finally erected, it was a special place for the local residents.

WHAT IT WAS.

The Edwardstown Memorial Rose Gardens was an area for the people. To walk around and admire the blooms – to sit and contemplate and remember – or talk to people passing by and even have a chat with the gardener. Yes – there was a real live gardener, with his own little shed just behind where the football scoreboard is today. Wayne looked after the whole complex and did a really good job. From mulching to mowing; pruning and planting; cleaning up rubbish and keeping the garden growing well. From the many bottle trees and paper bark trees – most gone now – it was a good place to be. People wandered around; wedding parties had photos taken in the rose garden; mothers took children to crawl on the grass. A welcoming place.

The rose bushes were mainly bush rose types. Full bloomed flowers and big bushes. I have heard that many people would come and get cuttings each year from Wayne while others came by and picked a bunch of flowers. I believe that a couple of the beds were planted with white Peace roses. Not that sure, but the pure white was so bright on a sunny day.

Not a weed in sight, and the scents of the old fashioned varieties of roses was so sweet. There were rose bushes along the Raglan Ave fence and a number of large beds. Seating was at the 'back' of the garden at the edge of the mound leading to the oval. Just the one bench. Sitting in the sun or shade, hearing the cars and people – the players on the oval, and watching the birds and the flowers. Such an inviting area. A couple of my friends who became ill loved to sit there to get the calm they needed. There were many ground cover plants covering other areas and combined with the flowering trees, such a bright place that invited not only people, but birds too.

WHAT IT IS

Now it is all so different. The council no longer had a 'gardener' overseeing the complex and jobs were taken on by contractors or other separate groups. Care did not seem to be a priority and gradually the large fully established rose bushes died off. It became very neglected. A number of trees around the top of the oval were cut down and nothing replaced them. Bare patches and less shade. Weeds grew in between the plants and throughout the lawns. Over forty years of glorious colour, smell and sight gradually disappeared and today there are only a few original rose bushes surviving, and they do not do as well as they should. The watering system was a big failure for some time. No paths for prams or wheelchairs or such. One flagpole with no flag except on Anzac Day.

There was, some time ago, a sort of 'fix up' when concrete borders around each bed and new roses planted. Maybe if they had planted roses to suit the conditions, 'gardeners' not spraying the weeds and vehicles not running over concrete edges and cracking them it may have survived. Every year someone had to contact the council re the Anzac Day services and the council would send out workers who would pour another heap of mulch on an already too thik layer, plant some unsuitable roses, and do a general tidy up. Then leave it for another year. Anything that went wrong would be blamed on 'vandals'.......

As it became less and less like the original garden, people appeared to forget the reason for the garden and it has been treated with disdain, albeit unknowingly. Football players practising on grass and in the rose beds. Now people use it to exercise their dogs.

The complex had been popular for decades for people with dogs, but as cycling became more popular, they 'pushed' out the community from using the oval area, especially dogs running free. So, where do they go – to the lawns.

UPDATE 2019

Rose garden gone.  Just a few rose bushes along the side of Raglan Ave with a few small bushes behind the cement memorial area with the flags and service plaques.
A terrible lawn that is very badly uneven and floods the memorial and surrounds with heavy rain.  There is no easy way for some to get into that area of the complex as the gates are heavy and old.  They have been renovated and look good and the paving in front and back is nice. At least the cyclists can know that they are very important as one of the first things done here was the bike racks.     More needs to be done to make it disabled friendly but I think the council is now actually thinking about those with special needs more.   The footpath around Robert Street end is great now as it has been widened and paved, and with the fence taken down it is now really useable for everyone. 

ANZAC DAY

Once our ex-servicemen marched to the Memorial Gates, and people congregated in the area on Robert St, Raglan Ave and Towers Tce corner while police cordoned off the area for the ceremony. Wreaths were laid in front of the gates. There was even a small band.

Over the past number of years, especially since there have been so many movies, tv programs and education in the schools, the numbers of those attending has increased considerably.

Photo of Dawn Service 2017

 As the older generation fades away, the younger generations are stepping up in numbers to remember and commemorate not only the first two wars, but all wars and skirmishes and peacekeeping. Children come to the dawn service with their parents. Occasionally there have been overnight vigils, when the young hold the vigil. What a credit to our young!

Beginning of one dawn service with young people arriving to begin the vigil.

There has been a little change to the morning service, as finally an area on one garden bed next to the flagpole has been simply planted with rosemary and a few steps placed within so people have been able to lay their wreaths at this spot.

Breakfast after the service has been a yearly ritual for many people and this is held at the bowling club next door.

WHAT IS COMING  To be updated.

Plans are in for the Council to demolish the building on around the oval including the Bowling club and the hall. (2017) The velodrome is going to be updated and sports seem to me, to be the main focus. The 'Rose Garden' area is going to be modernised. What looks like a token place for Dawn Services to be held. Why does history and things that belong with the past have to go. Wish Marion could find a way to allow the past to stay with the modernity of today and tomorrow.     I just hope that the Council never forgets the reason for the whole complex. It was planned, paid for and built by the people for the people. They raised money and cleared the land. They shared the area. It was used for people to get together to celebrate, to have fun and enjoy the outdoors. Impromptu not like the everything has to be planned by committees and ok'd with insurance etc. Now it will become more of a sporting complex, though there have been mention of some educational activities which I cannot fit it with the whole project, but what will be...... Just hope some female sport will be more than a token to the area.

HARCOURT GARDENS

Harcourt Gardens was another suburb that 'moved' around. 

January 1918 is the first time I can find  the name for land and it is for the sale of 80 acres.  It is said to be within a half a mile of 3 train stations and situated facing a 'main road'. It is advertised as eminently suitable for market gardens and fruit blocks.   An advertisement in 1921 describes the land as the finest offered on Marion Road.  More land sales and in 1922 says it is only 150 yards from Brighton Station on the Glenelg Rail line, and the same distance to Pengelley's factory.

By 1925 the water and electricity was being installed, and there were four bungalows already for sale.  The advertisement in the Register 14.5.1925, says '..handsome  stone pillars adorn the verandahs....'

 Harcourt Gardens was land between  Towers Terrace, Marion Road and including Stuart Rd.  When advertising, they spoke of the Soldiers Memorial Grounds being in Harcourt Gardens, and  there were already 10 acres supporting such grounds.   The Memorial grounds, although Edwardstown sports,  is part of South Plympton from Wood Street on the side of the oval complex to Cross Rds and further on.   Below is a wonderful old picture found on Trove newspapers  1948 National Library , of Harcourt Gardens - still so country.    People were often very liberal with their addresses.  They put down the suburb they wanted it to be  - it must have been a bit difficult for new postmen.

Harcourt Gardens Bus Co.   Now Adelaide Coachlines, Dumbarton Avenue, Edwardstown.




This company was started by Mr Hill, the husband of Miss Irene Quinsey.   This gentleman was an accountant who saw a need for a bus route in this area.     Mr and Mrs Hill bought the land and house which are still in use today by the company and the Quinsey family.   Adelaide Coachlines are situated in Dumbarton Avenue, Edwardstown, just off  Towers Terrace opposite the reserve. 

Harcourt Gardens Kindergarten.      Built in the late 1950s when the 'baby boom' was in full swing, and many schools and kindergartens were being built to keep up with the no of children needing places.  Flat roof - new architectural styles - mid century modern -a far cry from the bungalow styles of the previous generations.  Many of these wonderful buildings still abound in our areas.    

 Around the Edwardstown, South Plympton, Ascot Park areas after WW2, there was much building by individuals, and the State Bank houses gave people a home of their own, especially those who had returned from the war. SAHT was probably the biggest builder of all.  Now in 2019 sahousing is demolishing all the buildings and replacing them with box like structures.  
Businesses were booming too - South Australian was a big industrial place as Sir Thomas Playford - our Premier from 1938 to 1965 worked to ensure business came to South Australia.  His tenure as premier of the State was a time when the growth of population and its economic growth was unmatched by any of the other states of Australia.  
Today, this building is now the Rotary Club used book store. on the corner of Towers Terrace and Aberfeldy Avenue Edwardstown. 
The mosaic tile at head of post was made by "Nanna Cay" and is in the garden of the Rotary store.   

 There are more mosaic tiles  made by the children of the kindi, decorating the  path in nearby  Dumbarton Avenue reserve. 

  
"Nanna Cay" - Cay Doorne with her award from the Marion Council for volunteering at the Harcourt Gardens Kindi.    She continues volunteering today, but in the new pre-school at  Forbes School, Thomas Street, South Plympton.

EDWARDSTOWN WALK FOR HISTORY MONTH IN SA

On a wild and woolly Tuesday, the first ever Edwardstown history walk began in pouring rain.  So many wonderful people had turned up, even with the gale force winds and rain.  Real rain, not just showers.    Thank you to all who came. Do hope you enjoyed the stories and the sights.  Special thanks to Graham who talked about the station master, his house and the railway; to Alfee from Edward Park for allowing us to walk through; Miss Carey for all her history help re Catholic Church and Fitzgerald families; Mrs Quinsey for pictures and documents regarding her ancestor Miss Irene Quinsey - the first female chemist in Edwardstown in the early 1933s and whose husband began the Harcourt Bus Service (now Adelaide Coachlines); for the many people I have spoken to around the area and to the Hurley family at the Maid of Auckland.  The morning tea they provided was amazing.

Love this area - I guess I adopted it years ago as it has been so neglected for a very long time. Still is.  As many people have said, they thought Edwardstown  was only  a large industrial area with housing trust homes filling in the void, with the Castle Plaza as the centre point.
If you like to see the area - walk for instance - try this one for now.

This is a picture of South Road near where we start this walk - taken just over a hundred years ago.
Bit busier now!!!  


We began the walk  when the heavens opened, out the front of the Maid, looking at the small shops at its side.   One of which was the house that Miss Irene  Quinsey built back in about 1933 with her chemist shop in front.   At that time there was land between her home/shop and the hotel, but now it is attached.  Renovations to the Maid in the 1950s.   At this time, it is the "Six Degrees Cafe"
Lillys Doggy Day Care, two shops south,  had, until recently still showed the 'Burge Chemist sign above the front doors.   Miss Quinsey had sold her shop to Mr Burge.

Miss Irene May Quinsey was born 8th January 1904 in Victoria and she and her sister Sarah both became chemists with the encouragement of their parents, while the brothers were to stay on the farms.  "Maisie" (Irene) came to South Australia and by 1932 had established her own chemist shop.  By 1936 she was advertising her own 'Marvellous'  I.Q.R.Ointment which was endorsed by the Australian Medical profession.   I.Q.R  stood for Irene Quinsey Remedy.
In 1943 Irene married Mr Charles Hill, an accountant in Adelaide.    He saw a need for another bus




route in this area, and started the Harcourt Gardens Bus Service in Dumbarton Avenue and lived there until they died.  Now called Adelaide Coachlines, it is still situated in Dumbarton Ave, and the Quinsey family are still running the bus company.

Walking in  the rain through Edward Park.  This area was, in the 1950s a bustling new industrial site - Berger paints built a large and expensive factory and there were smaller businesses including a varnish factory in the complex.     The new factory employed many men and with the other large industries along and behind South Road.   The trainline behind the factories built a siding for Berger and Hills.

 Edwardstown was now seen as an industrial area.
Houses were needed for men who were now working in the area and the Housing Trust of South Australia built many attached units in the back streets.  In 2016 they are gone.  Replaced by new and modern houses and units.   A good and safe place to come and live and raise a family.

The Berger and other factories and buildings were demolished to make way for  Edward Park  which was built in the late 1980s.  

Before we go behind the Park we can see the large   vacant land next door where once the  Hills factory Stood  from the 1950s to the 2000s, and where earlier - in fact from about 1860, a furniture making factory called Pengelleys had an amazing history. 

Crossing the railway line at the back of Edward Park we were on Angus Ave, for over a hundred years known as Angus Lane.  It can clearly be seen that it is not a wide street, and on the left side one can see two very old cottages sitting at the edge of the footpath.
The Angus family were large and very involved in Edwardstown area - descendants still live here.
The last 'gardener' was the a Mr Angus who was known, so I read somewhere, as the potato king, as he used to sell a lot in the city.

Walking along Railway Tce towards De Laine Ave.  We saw different home styles and ages - thank heavens the council and greedy developers have not totally wrecked the character of much of this and South Plympton's area, as they have in parts of Ascot Park and in a way, the old housing trust areas.   These areas were kept well until the housing trust changed to housing sa and tenancies changed.

Many of the homes around the railway line were built by the State Bank after WW1 when men returned from WW1 and homes were in short supply.    The State Bank also stepped in after WW2 building homes in other areas, such as Raglan Ave between the round about and Marion Road.
My favourite is the Art Deco, even the so called fake Art Deco era in the 50s.

Have a look at the roof styles, the extra features such as window glass, diamond or stained glass, the lines, curves, colours.   Even on this picture, the small ornate sun cover.

The station master's house - Mr Schapel was the first station master at Edwardstown Station when the line opened - single line - in 1913.   This beautiful home was built in 1910 and has been beautifully and carefully renovated by today's owners.
There are many homes in the area have been beautifully looked after but they do not nor have not been assisted by the council as Mitcham has done to preserve history.     The only building given any sort of Heritage tag is the Catholic church on cnr Castle and South Rds.    Many of the buildings in Edwardstown and surrounds are circa 1900.   Hope we don't get to lose them too soon.

We crossed the railway line at the station, at the side of which is a stand of very old pine trees.  We are still trying to find the exact date of planting but have it narrowed down to the early 1930s.  An anecdote was told to me of an elderly lady neighbour who said she had been at Edwardstown Primary School, and they planted the trees for an Arbor Day.  Working around her birthdate, I think the 1930s will be the most likely if the story is true.   Arbor Day was always fun - we got a half holiday.

Messines Avenue, with its lines of elm trees on either side, planted in memory of those who lost their lives in WW1.   Cr Raelene Telfer told the true story of her 'gran' Mrs Swift, the six sons at war, and the one who did not return.   How Mrs Swift was involved in the tree planting, and her many aspects of community life, including preaching at the local church.

We returned to the Maid for morning tea and a short talk by one of the Hurley family about the history of this old building.   The oldest in the district.   Built 1848/9 by Evershed.   Licence for it to be a public house given in Dec 1850 and began business as an inn in 1851.

I shall come back to this story and fill the details out - wanted to start it today.

If you are interested in this or other history of the area.   Want to tell me a story about Edwardstown or your family connection here, please do.      I will figure out how that works later, but I guess you could comment?

I was asked about other walks in the area and this will be a major project I shall attempt to get up and going as soon as I can.  Found the beautiful St Lawrence Ave, its wonderful Jacarandah trees planted along both sides and a plaque telling of Herb Middleton and Colin Briggs, who planted them in the 1950s.   Thanks for the info from one of the lovely walkers.