Haunted Kapunda

 

Haunted Kapunda by Allen Tiller

 

  Kapunda, dubbed the 'most haunted town in Australia,’ after a 2001 documentary, is full of history, mystery, and the paranormal. In 2019, MSN.com voted the North Kapunda Hotel the 8th most haunted hotel in the world.  Kapunda’s hauntings were featured in the documentary Kapunda: Most Haunted Town in the Western World and the television series Haunting: Australia.

  What makes Kapunda, a historic mining town in South Australia, so haunted?
Join paranormal investigator, historian, and researcher Allen Tiller as he dives into 20-plus years of research into a town his ancestors helped establish. Read about a one-legged pushbike riding ghost, a haunted lolly shop, murders, mining accidents, the truth about Dr Blood, Haunting: Australia’s paranormal investigation in the North Kapunda Hotel, and Allen's connection to some of the most haunted buildings and ghosts in Haunted Kapunda!

 

HAUNTED KAPUNDA by Allen Tiller

Buy it here: https://www.amazon.com.au/Haunted-Kapunda/dp/B0DV4R599T

#AllenTiller #hauntedkapunda #haunted #kapunda #southaustralia #history #ghosts #paranormal #trueghoststories

A History of the North Kapunda Hotel: The First 100 Years

 A History of the North Kapunda Hotel:
 The First 100 Years
– by Allen Tiller

  Built in 1848 by the North Kapunda Mining Company, the North Kapunda Arms Hotel opened to the public in 1849. The original building was a single-story hotel with a double-storey accommodation wing for miners and travellers on Franklin Street (now Crase Street). The accommodation building still stands today and is the oldest original structure of the building.

  John Bickford was the first publican of the North Kapunda Arms Hotel, the first licensed hotel in Kapunda. It narrowly beat out James Whittaker at the Sir John Franklin Hotel on Main Street by one week.

  The North Kapunda Hotel, as it is known today, is an icon in the town and has featured in many of its notable historic occasions, including the reading of the Riot Act in 1893 by Corporeal Hugh Gray Queale during local political upheaval.

  This book investigates the building's first 100 years of history, including the many publicans who worked and lived in it and their families, the 1866 reconstruction, the Bachelor’s Hall, Crase’s Assembly Rooms, and the many clubs, foundations, societies, and religious groups that used the hotel as their base of operations.

Available here: https://amzn.asia/d/6HJxVrD

#Kapunda #history #allentiller #Northkapundahotel #southaustralia

 

 A History of the Kapunda Congregational Church: The First 100 Years.

The Kapunda Congregational Church, located on Chapel Street, Kapunda served the local community for more than 100 years. Many of Kapunda’s well-known citizens including William Oldham, James and William Shannon, the Hawke family, and Sir Sidney and Lady Isabel Kidman attended the church.
A Welsh Congregational Church, located on Stow Street, Kapunda also existed in the town, sharing many of the same Reverends’, but preaching almost exclusively in the Welsh language.
This publication documents the first 100 years of the Kapunda Congregational Church, its Ministers, some of its Deacons, parishioners and their lives, giving some insight into the church's influence on the town of Kapunda, its politics and the lives of the Congregational Church community.

Purchase here: A History of the Kapunda Congregational Church by Allen Tiller

#Kapunda #church #congregational #religion #history #allentiller #author #book

 K A P UN D A. (1879)

Kapunda, the subject of our illustration, is an important township situate in the electoral district of Light, about 4 miles north of the metropolis, with which it is connected by rail.

Kapunda was originally a mining township, and up to a very short time back active operations were still conducted at its mines, which possess a peculiar interest as having been the first opened up in this colony, and their discovery no doubt stimulated the search for minerals which shortly after resulted in the discovery of the celebrated Burra Mine, and still more recently in that of the world-renowned Moonta and Wallaroo Mines.
  Kapunda is a native term, signifying a place of smoke, — an almost prophetic designation, seeing that for many years after the mines were opened smelting operations were carried on here when the sulphurous smoke from the furnaces of the smelting works justified the name given to the locality by the aboriginals. "During the past few years the mines have been worked by a Glasgow Company, who substituted the precipitating process for smelting ; but operations have gradually been suspended, and over the once famous Kapunda Mine — the copper from which was especially valuable for electrical purposes — " Ichabod " may now be written.

Originally a mining township, as we have said, Kapunda as years rolled on became the centre of a gradually enlarging wheat-growing district ; so that prior to the opening up of the Northern Areas it was the boast of the district that it grew more than one-third of the total cereal produce raised in the colony. This led to the establishment of local agricultural implement manufactories, several of which have flourished to such an extent as to lead one to suppose that the true South Australian gold diggings are to be found in the machinists yards.

Kapunda has also of late years become one of the leading markets for the disposal of horse stock and cattle. Irrespective of the many irregular sales, monthly sales are held, the proceeds of which, on an average, amount to £7,000 monthly.

We have said that Kapunda is connected by rail with the metropolis. For many years it was the most northerly point to which the iron horse travelled, being the depot of the traffic to all the more northerly districts ; and it suffered considerably for a time when the line to the Burra via Roseworthy diverted much of this traffic.

 At present it is passing through the throe of another somewhat similar crisis, its railway having been just extended to the banks of the Murray at the North-West Bend, which some fear will have an adverse influence on the prosperity of the town, whilst others again hold than the influence will be beneficial rather than otherwise, and have evidenced their faith by the expenditure of large sums in building business and other premises. Like Adelaide, Kapunda may be called a place of churches ; the Episcopalians, Roman Catholics, Wesleyans, Baptists, Congregationalists, Primitive
Methodists, and Bible Christians, each living their own places of worship. The town, which possesses a very capacious, well-arranged Model School, and an excellent Mechanics' Institute, also boasts a local newspaper, the Herald, which has entered on the sixteenth year of its existence. For some years past Kapunda has had the advantage of local gasworks, and before the present year has passed away will have in operation what will prove a greater boon — a well-arranged system of water supply. Of public offices Kapunda has a capacious court house and a commodious post and telegraph station.
  The National Bank of Adelaide, and E., S., & A.C. Banking Companies have each a branch in Kapunda ; and there are several large well-conducted hotels, as also a number of shops, stores, agricultural implement manufactories, a flour-mill, & c..
 The affairs of the town are managed by a Mayor and Town Council, half of the members of which are elected annually for a term of two years. The population of Kapunda proper is about 3,000 ; but in addition there are several suburbs largely populated, and the district as a whole is closely settled. Within the past year or two the greatest wants of the town have been supplied, chiefly through the liberality of Mr. F. H. Dutton, of Anlaby, a large estate situate about ten miles east of Kapunda. These are a hospital and a recreation ground ; the former was erected at a cost of £4,000, and has been of great utility ever since it was opened in Nov. 1877. Dutton Park, which was the name given to the recreation ground in recognition of Mr. Dutton's liberality, contains 40 acres of land immediately abutting on the western boundary of the town. Half of this has already been planted and laid out as a park and cricket ground, the local club having recently completed the construction of an oval at an expense of about £100.

On the whole, Kapunda may be described as being both a thriving and pretty town. Owing to the demand for timber at the mine the neighbourhood has become tolerably bare of trees, and up to a few years back a notion prevailed that neither flowers, fruit, nor vegetables could be grown within a certain radius of the mines ; but during the last few years this has been shown to be a fallacy, and the appearance of the place has
been considerably improved by the number of trees which have attained a goodly size, as also of the neat gardens which are now so common.

'OUR ILLUSTRATIONS.', The Illustrated Adelaide News, (1 February 1879), p. 6., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article224815221

 

H.B. Hawke & Co. Seed-Sower 1878

Attention is directed, to the following selection from a number of Testimonials received.

Port Pirie, August 30, 1878,

Sir — The Seed-Sower I purchased from you last year sowed over 800 acres for myself and others, and performed its work in a very superior manner, giving satisfaction to myself and the others that used it. By elevating it, it casts the seeds fully a chain wide, which at the time was considered too much, but after the crop came to maturity was found highly satisfactory. I, therefore, have great pleasure in recommending the same to anyone requiring such a Machine. — Yours, See.,

Mr. H. B. Hawke, Kapunda.                                                                                             Thomas Magor.

 

Linwood, August 23, 1878.

Dear Sir — The Seed-Sower I had from you last season did its work splendidly. No farmer ought to be without one if he has any quantity to sow ; he will save the price of one in time and labour in one season. — Yours, &c.,

Mr. H. B. Hawke, Kapunda.                                                                                                       James Bold.

 

Condowie Plains, August 4, 1878.

Dear Sir — The Seed-Sower we had from you did its work exceedingly well. It sowed much better than we did by hand. We sowed a thousand acres with the Machine last season, and it is as good now as when we got it. One man can sow 80 acres a day with it. — Yours, See.,

Mr. H. B. Hawke, Kapunda.                                                                                             W. Painter.

For more testimonials please visit:

'Advertising', The Illustrated Adelaide News, (1 February 1879), p. 13., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article224815229

 THE KAPUNDA MODEL SCHOOL.

This fine structure, which is uniform with the Government school buildings in Adelaide and other parts of the colony, was opened lor the reception of pupils in January 1878. It will accommodate 500, which number is the average attendance; there are 650 names on the roll.

The land upon which the building is erected was given for educational purposes many years ago. The building consists of a boy's schoolroom 54 x 24 ft., a girl's department 54 x 22 ft., and the infant's room 50 x 24 ft., with a recess and gallery capable of seating 70 children. There are two class-rooms 24 x 18 ft., and two 22 x 18 ft., besides three lavatories, passages for hats, cloaks, "&c., and the Head-master's private room. The whole of the buildings are lofty and well-lighted, and are ventilated on the Tobin system. Each large room has two fireplaces, so that the teachers and scholars can be cool in the summer and warm in the winter. _

 All the rooms used for instruction are provided with raised platforms, the London school board desks, and a plentiful supply of maps, charts, diagrams, &c.; outside, the schools are provided with large sheds, yards, and the usual outhouses. The supply of water is obtained from two large underground tanks. The girl's playground is divided from the boy s playground by a 6-feet galvanized iron fence, and the whole of the buildings are surrounded on three sides by a substantial stone wall and by a picket fence in front.
 The Head-master's dwelling, a neat little cottage of five rooms with verandah back and front, is separated from the school buildings by a paling fence.
The staff consists of the Head-master (Mr. W. L Neale), Head-mistress (Miss Smith), Messrs. V. J. Pavia and A.H. Neale first and second assistant masters boy's school respectively, the Misses Davie and Whitridge first and second assistants girl's school, and eight pupil teachers. The building cost about £5,500 and the contractors were Messrs. Manson & Munro.

'THE KAPUNDA MODEL SCHOOL.', The Illustrated Adelaide News, (1 February 1879), p. 3., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article224815226

 Kapunda General Cemetery - Clare Road.

Entrance to the Kapunda General Cemetery on Clare Road, circa 1900 [SLSA B 69054/84]

A closer look at the Kapunda General Cemetery Commital Service Shelter within the cemetery ground, circa 1900 SLSA [B 69054/83]

 GIRLS' HOME (ST. JOHN'S), KAPUNDA.

A very successful retreat for the inmates of St. John's Home has just been concluded by the Rev. Father Mclnerney, S J. (says the " Southern Cross").

The holy and zealous priest did not spare himself in teaching these poor children to love and serve God, and in helping them to raise themselves to better things. The girls attended well during the whole time, and the good spirit which now prevails proves the advantage gained by this much-needed retreat—the first that has been given since the home has been established.

Father Mclnerney has sown the good seed, and there is every hope of a fruitful harvest in the future. In concluding, the good priest advised the girls to keep a spiritual flag flying bearing the following mottoes: -

"All to the greater glory of God," and beneath, in respect to sin and evil, "No surrender!" These two watchwords have been readily taken up by the children of the home, and their prayers will often ascend to heaven for the kind father, who was the means of bringing to their young hearts grace and peace and consolation.

Citation:

'GIRLS' HOME (ST. JOHN'S), KAPUNDA.', Kapunda Herald, (27 February 1903), p. 3., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110275217.

(This article is from the Kapunda Herald, and recreated here for research purposes.)

 A Timeline of events at St. Johns

1849:

• ·       Government grants land 5kms southeast of Kapunda to Catholic Church.
• ·       Father Fallon ordained
• ·       July 1849 Father Fallon appointed to St. Johns
• ·       Father George Michael Williams was born in Mauritius

1850:

• ·       2nd April The foundation stone of St John the Evangelist Church was laid by  Bishop Francis Murphy
• ·       presbytery built

1854:

·       30 April 1854 that the church was finished and officially opened

1857

·       Father James Martin was born in County Galway Ireland

1859:

• ·       School opened

1860:

• ·       25th March Death of Father Fallon, died suddenly aged 40
• ·       Father Michael Ryan appointed parish priest
• ·       All church services moved to a small barn on site of future St. Roses Church Kapunda

1861:

• ·       Lower cemetery opened
• ·       "St. Johns church" graveyard close

1862:

• ·       13th July The Saint Rose of Lima foundation stone was laid in Kapunda
• ·       8th Feb First church service held at St. Roses's newly completed church

1864:

• ·       3rd April Father Ryan performs the wedding ceremony for Horace McKinley and Martha Craig
• ·       10th Oct. Father Carew performs the wedding ceremony for Joseph J. Walsh and M.A. Carley

1865:

• ·       24 August Death of Father Michael Ryan who died from apoplexy
• ·       Father Jeremiah Moynahan appointed parish priest

1867:

·       St Johns post office opened

·       21st December death of Father Jeremiah Moynahan

1868:

• ·       Sisters of St.Joseph start teaching at school
• ·       13 April death of Father Thomas Hyland

1869:

·       presbytery converted to a convent and school

1878:

·  Eugene McMahon Glynne was born in County Galway Ireland

1879:

·       post office closed

 1881:

·       New school built in Kapunda - children from St. Johns school transferred to a new school

1890:

·       James Martin becomes ordained priest and arrives in South Australia

1891:

·       Father Fallon's remains removed from the graveyard and re-interred in Cemetery

·       Ruby Olive Murray Bland was born near " Lake Victoria"

1895:

·       Act proclaimed by State Children's Council to place Catholic State Children in private institutions if they were away from Adelaide.

1897:

·       Mary MacKillop arrives at St. Johns to oversee renovations - stays 3 months

·       Church site opens as Girls Reformatory under the supervision of Sisters of St. Joseph

·       4th June Mary MacKillop installs Miss Mary O'Brien (Sister Helena) as first head matron of Reformatory

1899:

• ·       reformatory extended to include cells

1901:

• ·       Annual Council report states that the reformatory is kept in splendid order, girls well cared for, receiving good religious, moral and practical training.

 1903:

News Story: 'GIRLS' HOME (ST. JOHN'S), KAPUNDA.', Kapunda Herald, (27 February 1903), p. 3., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110275217.

1908:

• ·       June Sister Helena transferred to Victoria
• ·       Miss Mary Coxs (Sister Berchams) appointed Head Matron

1909:

• ·       Aug: Father O’Reilly approves the closure of reformatory
• ·       15th Nov. Ruby Bland admitted to the Kapunda Hospital with a suspected stone in the bile duct from the liver

• ·       Ruby Bland was operated on by Dr Eugene McMahon Glynn, head of surgery at Kapunda Hospital
• ·       16th Nov Mr Gray, the Secretary of the Children's Department arrives at the Reformatory. announces in the "Kapunda Herald" that St. John's reformatory will be closing.
• ·       28th Nov Death of Ruby Bland from Cholithiasis Operative Shock in Kapunda hospital
• ·       29th Nov. Reformatory closed by Archbishop O'Reilly
• ·       29th Nov. Ruby Bland buried at St. Johns cemetery
• ·       Girls transferred to Redruth girl’s reformatory in Burra

1914:

·       death of Dr Eugene McMahon Glynn aged 48 years

1920:

·       13th Feb: Death of Monsignor George Michael Williams (aged 71)

1921

·       Jan: Death of Father James Martin

1936:

·       Headstone erected on Father Fallon's grave

·       4th Oct Headstone revealed by Father Killian

1938:

·       Window removed and placed in St. Rose's church Kapunda

 2001:

·       Sept. Warwick Moss releases documentary "Kapunda: most haunted town in Australia"

2002:

·       Catholic church demolishes Reformatory after constant vandalism

·       Peter Swann, St. Johns Curator, finds a grave monument to Ruby Bland buried under a pile of dirt and begins restoration of her grave

·       Vandals break Father Fallon’s gravestone

2010

·       Curator, Peter Swann erects a memorial to children buried at St. Johns

·       Blessed Mary MacKillop is Canonised to be Australia's first Saint

2011

·       Trees along the fence line, near the entrance are felled

·       Broadband lines are laid along the reformatory road from Moppa to Kapunda

2012

·       New trees planted along the front fence line

·       Graves in rear section restored

2013

·       University of Adelaide Students begin study into the site, including mapping of the former graveyard, Church, and presbytery. They find several interesting artifacts and raise a few new puzzles about the usage of the site.

·       New rear entry gate is installed by the Church, plus fence repairs

2014

·       Father James Martins Headstone Stolen for 3rd Time

·       Ghost Crime Tours at the request of Allen and Karen Tiller begin raising money to help Cemetery rejuvenation.

·       Allen Tiller assists with documenting a Flinders University dig of the St Johns Church ruins.

2015

·       restoration begins on headstones situated in the northwest corner

 

​

 

 

 Many thanks to local historian Peter Swann for all the information he has passed on to me over the years.

Allen Tiller

(please note, this is an edited version of the time line first published in 2010, then updated periodically on the Eidolon Paranormal website - corrections and omissions have been made since that time.)

 

 Rowetts

Joseph Rowett - photo hanging in Kapunda Museum

Richard Rowett (my 4x Great Grandfather) (1802-1859) ran a general store in Kapunda and was also a miner. He was the licensee of the Prince of Wales hotel in 1858 and died in Victoria Township in 1859 (a suburb of Kapunda).

His (7th) son, Charles Rowett (1844-1896) is my 3rd great grand Uncle - He had the Point Pass Hotel; prior to this, he owned the Morning Star Hotel, Prince of Wales Hotel and Victoria Hotel in Kapunda. Later, he owned the Marrabel Hotel.

Richards 1st son (my 3x Great grandfather), Joseph Rowett (1825-1898) was Mayor of Kapunda 1879-1880. Joseph had the Prince Alfred Hotel in Kapunda from 1861-1871 (photo in the comments section.)
Joseph, his brother William and Robert Hooper went into partnership and built the Kapunda Mill, which they ran for 20 years.
Joseph was also the Magistrate and Chairman, and trustee of the Sir Franklin Lodge of Oddfellows.

 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

 

 

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

---

[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

THE BUSHMAN BUYS AN AXE.

THE BUSHMAN BUYS AN AXE.

I met him in Carlson's hardware store

   he came to buy an axe,

And well I knew that process would

   the shopman's patience tax;

For Bill and Jack will take advice

   when buying boots or clothes,

But there are points about an axe no

   city shopman knows:

It must have balance, edge, and fall,

   be thin of blade and keen.

But tempered well for hard grey box,

   As well as timbers green.

May'hap this tall and sun-tanned man

   from Gippsland hillsides came,

Where axework plays a major part,

   and men must know the game;

For strength and skill, and nerves of

   I steel are needed day by day

By those who on the springboard

   stand, while forest monarchs sway.

My thoughts were straying back

   again to hills that I once knew,

And on the rugged slopes I stood,

   where giant Blackbuts grew.

Once more I heard the axes ring, I

   saw the bright steel flash.

There came a creak, a groan, a thrill

   of some great Mountain Ash,

That, stricken, tottered on its stump,

   thundering 'rousing to earth.

It crashed to wake the sleeping bush

   and still the birdland mirth.

I heard the maul and wedges thud,

   the crosscut biting deep,

While bullock teams were winding,

   slow around the hillside steep.

There axe a'shoulder. once I strode,

   where youth and strength held sway,

For tasks were lighter then than now.

   the hardest work seemed play.

In envy of that bushman tall, I walked the busy street.

   Still musing on the timbered slopes,

where trees and skylines meet,

   For bush-bred folk will ever dream of

hills and winding tracks.

   As I was dreaming there that day the

bushman bought an axe.

                   -A. R. Summers.

                    Kapunda.

First published in 1937 in The Kapunda Herald on the 9th of July, 1937. ( http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108402170 ) 

A/ Carlson owned 26 Main Street Kapunda, the building was used as a hardware store with the rear premises used to build water tanks. In 1933, Carlson rebuilt the front of the shop., installing the green tiles that are still visible today!