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.
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.
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