Scotty's Grave - Allendale North

If you are a taphophile or into geocaching, then chances are you’ve probably already come across “Scotty’s Grave” just north of the Wheatsheaf Hotel at Allendale (near Kapunda).

This unusual little grave, set back in a farmer’s field, with its own access gate cut into the boundary fence, has been a talking point in the local community since 1865 when the first headstone was installed.

There is many a legend about “Scotty”, who he was, and how he came to be buried in the field, some of the stories, no doubt, have been exaggerated in retellings in the local watering hole down the road over the past hundred and sixty-five plus years.





One legend tells of Scotty being in his native Scotland and falling madly in love with a girl, but being forced to immigrate to Australia. He arrived in the Kapunda region and could be heard often in the Wheatsheaf Hotel, singing about his lost love.

One day, the publican entered the bar after being away for some time. He entered with a new wife, who turned out to be Scotty’s long lost love from back in Scotland.

Scotty and his love hatched a plan to run away together and met at the back of the hotel where he had hitched two horses. They rode away together into the night, but Scotty’s horse threw him off, and he died on impact.

His long lost love rode back to the hotel, with her new husband, none the wiser, and the following day, when Scotty was discovered, she took it upon herself to oversee his burial.

The truth about Scotty’s Grave is that “Scotty” is actually a man named James Burnett who was a local Shepard in the Allendale North area. While trying to cross the River Light at Baker’s Flat, on the 2 August 1846, he slipped from his horse and drowned.

The reason he was buried where he is, was stated in The Advertiser in 1903 as being “where Scotty’s hut was located when he was alive”.

His headstone was erected in 1863 via subscription from locals, advertised in the Kapunda Herald. W Flavel, thoughtfully, copied the inscription on the headstone in 1865 for prosperity’s sake.
An ornate fence was erected in 1885, cast in Kapunda at Mellors, and over the years there have been numerous restorations and upkeep projects of the grave.

Believe it or not, there are actually two graves at Scotty’s Grave Road, lying next to Scotty is a man by the name Carrol, who died two years earlier in 1844 – not much, if anything is really known about this particular gentleman.

Sources: 

'The Saturday Express.', The Advertiser, (31 Jan, p. 903), p.6.
'Current Comment.', Kapunda Herald, (18 Jan 1935), p. 3.
Allendale North Scotty’s Grave, Grave Secrets, http://headstones2.gravesecrets.net/allendale-north-scottys-grave.html

First published on The Haunts of Adelaide 19 April 2016. © Allen Tiller

 North Brighton Cemetery

Harold James Buckingham Tremaine and Florence May Tremaine (nee Hazel).

Recently my wife and I visited the graves of my great-grandparents Harold and Florence Tremaine.

 

Florence May Hazel was a daughter of William James Hazel (1860-1932) and Harriet Emma Hazel (nee Cole) (1863- 1937)

Florence was born at Hawker’s Creek, South Australia.

 

Daryl, Harold, Florence and Audrey Tremaine 1959 at Kapunda

Harold James Buckingham Tremaine was a son of John James Buckingham Tremaine (1854 - 1899) and Maria Lucretia Joan Tremaine (nee Datson) (1859-1890)

 

 

The Drowning of Edward Minkwitz

  Edward Arthur Minkwitz was born at Nairne in the Adelaide Hills on 11 November 1904. The son of Paul Richard Minkwitz and Emma Bertha Amalia Minkwitz, nee Altmann.[1]

 Paul Minkwitz owned and operated a chaff mill at Kapunda.

 On Sunday 30 December 1923, Edward Minkwitz of Coghill Street, Kapunda, drowned at Semaphore, South Australia.

  Minkwitz worked at the Eudunda Farmers’ Co-operative Society, Adelaide. He was visiting his uncle, Mr Shaw, and cousin Elma Shaw who lived on Semaphore Road. Edward was going to return to Kapunda later that day, but Elma convinced him to take another swim.
 The cousins proceeded from the Semaphore Kiosk into the water together, but at some point, got separated. Elma returned home for dinner and figured her cousin was enjoying himself still in the water. However, when he still had not returned in the early afternoon, the Shaw’s become worried.

  At about 11 am, an elderly tourist from Broken Hill, Mr S Gilbert was standing on the end of the Semaphore jetty when he heard someone call out. He saw Minkwitz in a panic, bobbing around and sinking into the water. Gilbert raised the alarm that someone was in trouble. Multiple swimmers came to rescue Minkwitz, but none were successful.

 Harold Ware, a well-known local sideshow operator, and a strong swimmer, who had only a fortnight before retrieved the body of John Shoobridge, who had drowned in the same spot, came to assist.[2]
 Ware dived in and out of the water for three hours, finally retrieving Minkwitz body. He said in a News interview:

 

"At last I recovered the body in a deep channel that runs out to sea. about 50 or 60 feet to the north of the jetty, and with the aid of other bathers placed it in a boat, which conveyed it to the jetty ramp where Sgt. Wilkins and Constable Hansberry took charge.”

"In my opinion," continued Mr Ware, "the deep channel, which has made its appearance only this year, is a positive deathtrap to the unwary, and I consider that the council should take immediate steps to warn bathers of its presence, particularly in view of the crowds that will throng the beach, today and tomorrow. It runs out to sea, parallel with the jetty in a part that is much used."[3]

 

  Minkwitz family travelled to Semaphore from Kapunda on hearing of his death. The family were interviewed by the local media. One of his brothers stated that Edward was not a good swimmer, but had learned the basics in the rivers around Kapunda.
 His sister stated: “It is a tragic coincidence that we lost another brother, aged 20, eight years ago from illness. He also was staying with his uncle, Mr Shaw at the time”.

 

Dr Ramsey Smith, City Coroner, decided upon reading the police report that no inquest into the death was necessary.

 

© Allen Tiller 2021

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[1] Minkwitz, Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985, (1923), vol. 467, pg. 313.

[2] 'ANOTHER VICTIM', Daily Herald, 931 December 1923), p. 2.

[3] 'DEATH CHANNEL AT SEMAPHORE', News, (31 December 1923), p. 7.

 

Richard William Mackie Waddy

 

Richard William Mackie Waddy (1848–1933) was Deputy Post-Master-General and Superintendent of Telegraphs in South Australia.

He was born in Kapunda on 26 April 1858. The first child of Dr Edward Waddy and Jane Waddy (nee Russell).

Edward Waddy was the first Kapunda Mines doctor. The family left Kapunda and moved to Kooringa, then Mount Barker, and later Strathalbyn. Waddy was educated the Strathalbyn Public School, where he finished top of his class. In 1860, at the age of 12, he was offered a position at the local Telegraph Office, which he took.

 Waddy worked his way up through the ranks of the telegraph office, which later merged with the postal office. He held many important positions including; Operator, Cashier, Clerk in charge of Foreign Accounts, Corresponding Clerk, Secretary of the State Postal and Telegraph Service, Chief Clerk of the Commonwealth Postal and Telegraph Service, and from 1905 until 1913 as Deputy Postmaster-General and Superintendent of Telegraphs in South Australia.

Waddy married Alice Mary Simpson Vercoe on 4 December 1870. Together they had seven children;

Mary Ruth Waddy (1871–1908)

Francis Edward Waddy (1873–1964)

Ernest Winthrop Waddy (1875–1952)

Richard Edgar Waddy (1878–1880)

Egbert Harold Waddy 91882–1945)

Ethel Alice Waddy (1885–?)

Theodore Milroy Waddy (1888–1958)

 

Alice Waddy died on 21 October 1933 at Glenelg, South Australia.

Richard Waddy died on 3 November 1933 at Glenelg, South Australia.

 

 

1933, Chronicle, 9 November, p. 18., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page8668039

1913 'TOO OLD AT 65.', The Advertiser, 11 January, p. 6., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5362492

SLSA: https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+422

 

Researched by Allen Tiller 2021.

 Dr. Edward Waddy

Dr Edward Waddy was born at Dudley, England on 27 August 1815. He was Baptised on 10 Sep 1815 at Saint Thomas, Dudley, Worcester, England.
Waddy came to South Australia in 1846 as a Medical Practitioner and settled at Kapunda. 

He married Jane Russell on 11 January 1847 at the Holy Trinity Church, North Terrace, Adelaide. 

Jane and Edward had four children:

Richard William Mackie Waddy (1848–1933)

Ann Eliza Waddy (1850–1892)

Jane Russell Waddy (1852–1879)

Edward Russell Waddy (1855–1856)

Jane died on 17 April 1863 at Strathalbyn aged 34. 

Two years later Waddy married Mary Thomas James at St Paul's in Adelaide on 20 June 1865. Waddy worked as the Clerk of the Strathalbyn Local Court for 21 years before his death.

Dr Edward Waddy died at 'The Briars' Strathalbyn on 31 October 1878.


From the Southern Argus:

It is with regret that we (Southern Argus) have to record the death of one of our oldest townsmen, Mr. Edward Waddy, which took place at his residence, Strathalbyn, on Thursday last. Mr. Waddy had always been in good health until within the last two or three months, when it was painfully evident that he was fast breaking up. Latterly he was confined to his house, and his critical state caused much anxiety to his friends.
 He seemed daily to grow worse, until death terminated ius earthly career on October 31, _

We understand that the deceased studied for the medical profession in England, but. like many others in the early days of the colony he came out here without having taken his diploma. Shortly after his arrival he was ' appointed Clerk of the Local Court at Mount Barker, but when a Court was established at Strathalbyn, he was removed to take the Clerkship here, and has held the position ever since. The deceased has been in the Government service for some twenty-two or twenty-three years, and has always been regarded as an efficient officer. Ia . the discharge of his duties he was always, cheerful and obliging. About two years since

the local magistracy and the members of the legal profession showed their appreciation oE his services and kindliness of disposition by presenting him with a handsome souvenir.

With his superior education, and a long experience in the -practice and procedure of the Court, the late Mr. Waddy's advice and counsel was always of great assistance to the lay Magistrates presiding in his Court. By reason of his official position, he was prevented from taking a prominent part in public matters.

He took considerable interest in the affairs of the local Institute; and. was for many years a member of the Committee of Management.

His familiar face will.be much missed in the town, and his death again reminds us that the number of our old colonists is fast diminishing.

His remains were interred at the Strathalbyn Cemetery on Friday last, the Bev. J.F. Henderson officiating at' the grave. In addition to the family and relatives of the deceased there was a goodly number at the grave, among whom we noticed the leading residents in the town and district.

SLSA: B44124

1863 'Family Notices', The South Australian Advertiser, 22 April, p. 2., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article31822702

1878 'WILMINGTON, NOVEMBER 6.', South Australian Chronicle and Weekly Mail,  9 November, p. 21.,  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article92263553