Dutton Park Continentals

Dutton Park Continentals

Recently, while searching through an envelope containing my long-deceased grandmother, Audrey Tiller’s (nee Tremaine) belongings, a small cardboard ticket, previously unseen by me, fell from the folds of the envelope onto the floor.

 The cardboard, upon inspection, turned out to be a ticket to an event in Dutton Park, Kapunda. The event marked as the 2nd of March 1904 was before my grandmother’s birth in 1913. This makes me wonder if the cardboard ticket belonged to my great-grandmother, Florence May Tremaine (nee Hazel).
 

A 'Continental' is a fundraising fete. In this circumstance, the ladies of Kapunda had organised a Continental to raise money that would help erect a new grandstand-pavilion at Kapunda’s Dutton Park.
 The event had a carnival-like atmosphere and was held on a Wednesday throughout the afternoon, into the evening. Organisers estimated that around 500 people arrived for the event. Each charged 6d. ($3.92* in today’s money) raising 16 Pounds ($2,506.49*).

The day began with a procession from the Post Office on Main Street, along Hill Street, then Baker Street into Dutton Park. The procession contained the Kapunda Brass Band, members of local friendly societies in their regalia, and several pushbike riders in colourful costumes.

 

Dutton Park Memorial Gates 1905
SLSA: B29965

Events on offer at the continental included a slow bicycle race. An orange-eating contest, where oranges were hung from strings, and boys had to catch, then eat the hanging oranges. Various sporting events, including running races across various distances, egg and spoon races, obstacle races, a potato race (I don’t know what that is?) and a wheelbarrow race.

 In the evening, there was a fashion show of local ladies wearing their homemade gowns and also a skating rink which was put together for the local children to keep them entertained while the adults watched the procession on the stage.
 Stage shows of various musicians, singers and comedy acts also played, but were often drowned out by the noise of the crowd on the skating rink. Also present were several carnival side-shows, including a fortune teller, Professor Snipeman.

 The event was considered a great success, and plans were made to hold further continentals in the same year to raise more money toward improving Dutton Park.

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2019

References: 

*Calculations for inflation from pre-decimal currency to decimal currency done at https://www.rba.gov.au/calculator/annualPreDecimal.html

1904 'MEETINGS.', Kapunda Herald (SA: 1878 - 1951), 25 March, p. 5. , viewed 23 Feb 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108328931

1904 'DUTTON PARK.', Kapunda Herald (SA: 1878 - 1951), 20 May, p. 5. , viewed 23 Feb 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108329690

1904 'DUTTON PARK.', Kapunda Herald (SA: 1878 - 1951), 15 April, p. 5. , viewed 23 Feb 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108329238
Photo: https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+29965