Front Cover: Port Germein Hotel, High Street, Port Germein. Photo by Barbara Parker, 2010 This hotel dates from 1881 when the district was an important producer of wheat. A 1646 metre long jetty was built so that the wheat could be taken out to the sailing clippers anchored out where the water was deep enough for them Burnside Historical Society Inc. to load. This jetty was said to be the longest in the southern hemisphere. The sailors drank at the hotel on their too-brief shore leave. NEWSLETTER - December 2010 Volume 30, No 4 Port Germein Hotel, 1998, photo J Graham Disclaimer Views and opinions expressed in articles in the Newsletter do not necessarily reflect the views of the Burnside Historical Society Inc. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of articles printed, responsibility is not accepted for any errors they may contain that are out of the Society‘s control. The Privacy Act A member‘s personal information collected by the Society, for example name, address and telephone number, will only be used for forwarding of the Newslet- ter and relevant information concerning the Society. The information will not be shared, sold or given to any third party without the member‘s consent. Any e-mails will be treated as above. However, any information sent by e-mail will be at the sender‘s risk and the Society will not be held responsible for any Port Germein Hotel unintended use or disclosure of this information. 20 SourcingFrom thewater Editor’s from a well Desk on the Hensley‘s property, dug to around 60 metres BURNSIDE President’s HISTORICAL Message SOCIETY INC. deep with pick and shovel! PO Box 152, Glenside SA 5065 I have commented previously to the effect that this has been a very busy year for This is our last issue of the quarterly Newsletter for 2010 and thanks must go to Terry Sim, who once worked in the Fish section of the South Australian Muse- the Society. As it now draws to a close we can take some satisfaction from the all those who have helped in so many different ways with the articles, produc- OBJECTIVES um, spoke first in the session, Histories and Heritage of the Murray and Lakes. fact that in addition to our normal monthly meeting programme we have organ- tion and distribution. We have the editorial committee who oversee the choice The objectives ofth the Society shall be: He spoke about A fresh history of the Lakes. He emphasised the need to docu- ised and run the 9 biennial Eastern Regional Seminar for historical societies, of articles and help with proof reading and we have the members who have con- th ment the changes to these significant stretches of water. He has carried out re- celebrated2.1 to our arouse 30 interest anniversary in and andto promote run our the biennial study and regional discussion tour, of on Australian this occa- tributed as reporters, summarizing the meetings and events and contributing search using a variety of written sources, such as newspapers and parliamentary sion to Upperand South Spencer Australian Gulf. history and in particular, the history of the City of Burn- articles. reports. He maintains there is evidence that the Lakes were naturally fresh at the side; A report on the regional tour is to be found elsewhere in this Newsletter, suffice timeThen of there European is the settlement.distribution of the Newsletter where Shirley Sumerling and her 2.2 to promote the collection, recording, preservation and classification of works, to say at thissource point material that it and was artefacts enjoyed of byall kindsall – therelating splendid to Burnside weather history; complement- husband Mike have very capably sorted newsletters and then coordinated the Rodney Barrington’s interest in the State‘s railways extends to the Railway ed2.3 the wonderfulto assist inappearance the protection of the and countryside, preservation ofthe buildings, features worksand points and sites of inter-of members to deliver in the different suburbs. Thanks Shirley. Special thanks go river ports in South Australia. The first South Australian railway interfaced est were manyhistorical and significance varied and inwe the were City treated of Burnside; to some very good meals, espe- to one of our delivers, Margaret Rohde, who found it necessary to retire during with the River Murray at Goolwa in 1851. The treacherous journey through the cially2.4 at theto coArid-operate Lands with Botanic similar Garden societies at and Pt otherAugusta. bodies throughout Australia; the year. Colin Harris has taken over her round. Murray mouth was replaced, in fact, by a horse tram conveying traffic to sea- 2.5 to do all such other things as are conducive or incidental to the attainment of One of myany recurring of the above themes objectives. throughout the past two years has been the im- going vessels at Port Elliot. Rodney talked about the river trade and how from I take this opportunity to congratulate the incoming Mayor, David Parkin, and portance of the relationship and partnership we have with the City of Burnside. I 1878 a rail connection to North West Bend, present day Morgan, captured trade hope he enjoys reading our Newsletter as much as Wendy Greiner did. We have stressedOFFICE at every-BEARERS opportunity FOR that 2010 it- 2011is a mutually advantageous one: the from a large area of Victoria and New South Wales and reduced freight move- thank the Council for the annual Community Grant that it has been allocating to City of BurnsidePresident: provides us withColin very Harris,valuable PSM support (8331 and 3571) we, in turn, assist ments to Goolwa. River ports were created at Milang and Murray Bridge. Rail us each year. This has gone towards producing the Newsletter. the CouncilResponsible in helping Officer: to raise communityIsabel Williams, awareness OAM, of JP Burnside‘s (8379 4090) rich and var- infrastructure remains largely intact in the four river ports. Peter Harden, the ied history.Vice At-President: the same time, it isMeredith no secret Ide that the dysfunctional(8365 3049) character of finalIf you speaker can help for withthe session, articles talkedor photos about with River the heritageNewsletter, treasures please ofcontact South me Aus- on Secretary: Sharan Northcott (8332 1761) the elected Council in recent times has made it harder for us to get full value traliamy new. The email crossing address of the [email protected] Murray and the building or on of 8332the Roundhouse 8019. in 1873 Treasurer: Richard House from the partnership. Inevitably, the attention of Councillors has focussed on at Murray Bridge, as the bridge keeper‘s residence, are linked to the early be- Committee: Margaret Beare. John Clark, John Love, Eleanor internal divisions and tensions and this, in turn, has impacted adversely on the ginningsPlease note of the that development the new starting of our time Colony. for meetings The overland in 2011 trade is 7.30 routes pm from. the Trott, June Ward, and Isabel Williams OAM, JP Council administration, making it hard at times for us to progress a number of eastern states cross at Edwards Crossing. Peter described the stages in the con- Elaine Smyth, Editor importantNewsletter initiatives. Subcommittee: struction of the road bridge, the first to span the Murray. It was started under Mr Elaine Smyth, Editor (8332 8019), Peter Davies, Barbara Parker, PSM and Frank Rees George, and when completed in 1879 was the biggest steel structure Hopefully,Elizabeth the recent Rogers, elections OAM. will have cleared the air and I will be writing in Australia. It was modified to take the railway, 40 years before a separate rail shortly toContributors: the newly elected Apart Mayor, from the David Newsletter Parkin, Subcommittee, to congratulate we arehim fortunate on his win to bridge wasIN completed THIS ISSUE in 1925. Road traffic lessened following completion of and to drawhave to several his attention occasional the contributorsimportance whoseof the namesrelationship appear wewith have their with articles the the Swanport Bridge in 1979, 100 years after the first bridge was completed. City of Burnside.in the relevant However, issues. it is also incumbent on me to acknowledge with real President‘s Message 3 gratitude Distributionthe interest and Organiser: support Shirleythat outgoing Sumerling Mayor (8364 Wendy 3505) Greiner has pro- Meredith Ide Program for 2011 4 vided throughout her period of office. She has taken a keen interest in our activi- ties and itProgram was always Subcommittee: reassuring to know that we had this sympathetic interest at PleaseMeeting note Reportsthat I have written the sessions that I attended in more detail7 and Colin Harris (Chair), Meredith Ide, Shirley Sumerling and Mary Wilson the highest level of Council. I know that I will have the support of all members copiesAnniversary of these Dinnerwill be available at meetings to borrow and hand on9 to other members. in thanking Wendy and wishing her well in her future activities. Meeting Reports 10 Supper Co-ordinator: Hazel Newton In closing for the year I do need to emphasise the need for us to build our mem- Upper Spencer Gulf Regional Tour 12 Meetings of the Society are held in the Burnside Community Centre, corner Portrush The Flinders Ranges 14 bershipRoad and in Fisher2011 andStreet, beyond. Tusmore Through (car park the and inexorable entrance off march Fisher of Street) time weat 8 are pm los-on ing long-standing members and recruitment of new members is not keeping pace Caroline Emily Clark 15 the third Monday of the month unless an alternative time or venue is notified. Admis- with this loss. All of us have a role to play in attracting new members and if the State History Conference 16 sion is free, including supper.