| Whitwarta South Australia |
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Construction of the Whitwarta Bridge (c. 1914) The bridge was officially opened on 17 August 1914. As reported in the Advertiser, The Commissioner of Crown Lands (Hon. F. W. Young) opened the bridge.[1] |
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Whitwarta
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| Population: | 25 |
| Established: | 1870s |
| Postcode: | 5461 |
| LGA: | Wakefield Regional Council |
| State District: | Goyder |
| Federal Division: | Wakefield |
Whitwarta is a town in South Australia. The town is situated beside the Wakefield River (known as Undalya to the Indigenous people) about 100 km north of the state capital, Adelaide. The name Whitwarta means freshwater (distorted from Whitarter), a reference to the freshwater springs that exist along the pronounced bend in the river nearby.[2] The constant availability of freshwater along an otherwise dry river (the Rocks upstream of Balaklava is the next closest and permanent waterhole) meant that Whitwarta was a suitable place to establish a village. Approximately 20 people now live in the village.
Geographically, Whitwarta is situated on the plains, almost halfway between the Clare Valley and Skillagalee Hills to the East and the Southern Hummocks Ranges to the West. A series of salt lakes pepper the countryside to the West and North East of Whitwarta.
The old Whitwarta School(1879–1951) still stands at the northern end of the village on Bowman St, as does the Post Office at the southern end. The church and Whitwarta Hotel along the Kadina Road were damaged by floods during the 1900s, and were demolished as a consequence. The last flood occurred in September 2010 (the previous flood occurred in summer of 1998). A number of Eucalyptus camaldulensis sprouted on the flood plains and riparian zone shortly afterwards, some of which have been fenced-off by local farmers to avoid stock damage. A management plan for the River Wakefield was carried out in 2000, which included recommendations for the amelioration of water quality and flow at Whitwarta. Up until the late 1970s, it was common for the River Wakefield to flow every winter. Damming of the river upstream has impacted flows to the point that the River Wakefield now flows about once every five years. The trees around Whitwarta have suffered in recent years because of the rise of salinity in the soil. The National Trust of South Australia has listed a stand of Eucalyptus largiflorens (River Box) at Whitwarta on the significant tree registrar. These trees, which are located approximately 500 m north of the River Wakefield and about 600 m west of the Halbury-Whitwarta intersection, are the only Eucalypts of their kind in the district. Local farmers say that these trees sprouted after a flood in the early-mid 1900s.
A gliding club and rifle club are both located on the outskirts of Whitwarta.
Whitwarta once had a cricket team and a tennis club.
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According to the Manning Index of South Australian History, the "Nantuwwara (Nantawarra) tribe of some 25 to 30 once occupied the country from the River Wakefield, north to Whitwarta and west to the Hummock Range." The index indicates that the Nantuwarra name refers to the 'place where the kangaroo people live'.[3]
See the article by H.M. Cooper (1961) Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Aust. (1961), Vol. 34. for information about traditional campsites in the Wakefield River region.
There are several accounts of major flooding of the Wakefield River at Whitwarta. The major floods recorded at Whitwarta occurred during the following years:
Two German settlers from Hamley Bridge, Johannes Rudolph Ferdinand Heopner and Elise Moeller, who married on 6 June 1878, purchased property at Whitwarta upon marriage. They purchased property 44, 45 and eight other lots of the Hundred of Stow within the township of Whitwarta. They moved to Whitwarta in an attempt to set up a successful blacksmith business, and because they saw Whitwarta as a fit place to raise children. Johannes purchased land at Whitwarta with the hope that the town and surrounding districts would boom not only because of the availability of freshwater but because it was along one of the paths ("Gulf Road") that "Bullockies" used to cart copper from Burra to Port Wakefield. However, the boom period at Whitwarta did not last for long because of the creation of a railway at nearby Balaklava.
Irrespective of lean years of business, Jonny, as he was called, made a start in the once busy town. In 1878, with the help of his mate Conny Lange, a local stonemason from Balaklava, they built a 3-roomed cottage on lot 45 Hundred of Stow. The design and layout of the house was dictated by Jonny's financial situation at the time. The house was set back nearly 50 metres from Bowman Street (named after the pastoralist Edmund Bowman) so that his blacksmith shop (constructed in 1878) could sit almost directly beside the road.
The 1878 building consisted of a kitchen, bathroom and Whitwarta's first Post Office. They slept in the Post Office room. Materials used to construct the cottage included limestone, which was quarried from section 164 Hundred of Stow and red river sand. The sand was sourced from a bed in the River Wakefield behind the cemetery. Lime was made on the building site. Kilns were set up at most building sites in the district, as it saved on transporting materials from afar. Red bricks were used around windows and as quoins.
When Jonny had secured enough wealth from his blacksmith business, and because of a growing family, he decided to have another house built in front of the 1878 house. Now known as Whitwarta House, it was built in 1912 within a year by Jonny and Conny. Materials were sourced from the same locations as those used for the 1878 house.
According to local farmer Esmond Heopner, who lived in the house when he was younger, it was regarded as "a very modern house for its time." A modest and "quiet fellow citizen", the house reflected his standing in the community. The six-roomed house comprised a parlour (lounge) at the front, a passageway leading to the dining room and three bedrooms. A "boys room" was located at the rear. Es Heopner tells the story that this room allowed for the boys to quickly slip down to the river for a swim just before dinner time in the hope that their mother wouldn't notice their absence. Apparently their wet hair gave it away!
Drastic alterations occurred to Whitwarta House after Jonny's death in 1942. The 1878 building fell down shortly after, and the blacksmith shop was demolished due to limestone damage. Coins dating back to 1865 were found in-between the corners of the red brick, a tradition of builders of that time. Coins have recently been found behind the fireplaces in the house as well.
Jonny was a very religious man who belonged to the Lutheran congregation in Balaklava. It is said that he was one of the first to develop the stump-jump plough (a labour saving device to remove mallee tree stumps), for which he was awarded a medal for exhibiting it at the Port Wakefield Agricultural and Horticultural Society in 1885. Others, like Smith from Maitland, South Australia patented the invention. The stump-jump plough is now regarded as one of the most significant inventions that changed the face of the Australian countryside as it permitted land to be cleared at an unparalleled rate.
It was reported in the Advertiser that Eric R. Lange, who was born at Whitwarta died from gunshot wounds while in action in France. He received his schooling at the Whitwarta public school, and on leaving worked on a farm for a few years. He enlisted on 6 July 1915, and sailed for Egypt in October 1915, with the 9th Light Horse. After serving for seven months in Egypt he joined the Field Artillery as a gunner, and embarked for France, landing there on 12 June 1916. After a short period he was sent to the base for six weeks through a nervous breakdown. He again went into action as a driver, and remained at the front until his death on 13 June 1917.[5]
According to the Australian Military History Column Embarkation Roll 3350, Private Stanley Roy Angel, a 24 year old Farmer from Whitwarta, South Australia, enlisted on 10 March 1917; and at the conclusion of the war Returned to Australia, 10 July 1919.[6] He was part of the 9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Embarkation Roll, 28th Reinforcement Commonwealth Group. He embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on board HMAT A73 Commonwealth on 2 November 1917.
In 1881, the follow trades and professions for Whitwarta were recorded in Wright's Australian and American commercial directory and gazetteer.[7]
Research by the University of South Australia indicates that the following teachers served at the now defunct Whitwarta School from 1879-1947:
1879 HOWIE, Edith M. 1880 HOWIE, Edith M. 1881 HOWIE, Edith M. 1882 HOWIE, Edith M. 1883 HOWIE, Edith M. 1884 RICHARDSON, Jane 1885 DARBY, Louisa Margaret 1885 TUCKER, Julia 1886 TUCKER, Julia 1887 ARMYTAGE, Frances Gertrude 1887 TUCKER, Julia 1888 ARMYTAGE, Frances Gertrude 1889 LUCY, Mary Theresa 1890 LUCY, Mary Theresa 1891 LOWE, Edith Charlotte Lister 1891 LUCY, Mary Theresa 1892 LOWE, Edith Charlotte Lister 1897 TUPPER, Sarah Ann 1898 TUPPER, Sarah Ann 1899 KIPPIN, Minnie 1899 TUPPER, Sarah Ann 1900 TUPPER, Sarah Ann 1901 TUPPER, Sarah Ann 1902 TUPPER, Sarah Ann 1903 TUPPER, Sarah Ann 1904 BOWDEN, Blanche May 1905 BOWDEN, Blanche May 1906 BOWDEN, Blanche May 1906 CLARK, Evelyn Maude 1907 CLARK, Evelyn Maude 1907 CORRELL, Stella Daisy 1908 CORRELL, Stella Daisy 1908 McLEAN, Annie Isabel 1909 McLEAN, Annie Isabel 1909 McLEAN, Annie Isabel 1910 McLEAN, Annie Isabel 1946 HOOPER, Maurice Desmond Thomas 1946 HOOPER, Maurice Desmond Thomas 1946 HOOPER, Maurice Desmond Thomas 1947 HOOPER, Maurice Desmond Thomas 1947 HOOPER, Maurice Desmond Thomas
See Service histories of S.A. State Teachers for more information.
As reported in the Advertiser (24 August 1918: 60) "August 19 - About 50 people assembled at the publics school on Friday to witness the unveiling of a roll of honor of the old scholars of the school, and to celebrate Arbor Day. Miss Arthur is the teacher. The chairman, Mr G. Belling, asked Mr. J. Angel, one of the oldest residents in the district, to unveil the roll of honor, which he did. There are ten names on the roll, and three have made the supreme sacrifice. Afternoon tea was provided by the ladies."[8]
On 3 December 2001 a number of local residents of Whitwarta gathered in front of Whitwarta House to celebrate the pioneers who shaped the township and the farms around it. A number of descendants of the original pioneers were present. A plaque was unveiled to commemorate the occasion. Esmond Hoepner of Whitwarta gave a plein-air presentation of the history and life of Whitwarta and its people. A portion of this presentation, recorded on video, can be viewed here:
A capsule was laid in concrete beneath the plaque. It is to be unveiled on 2 December 2101 by the Whitwarta residents of the time.
The plaque reads: This plaque is erected to commemorate the pioneers of this township before 1900. Whitwarta was named before 1850 and surveyed into 69 allotments in 1879. Apart from a number of private dwellings it had:
Names of some of the pioneers who made a valuable contribution in Whitwarta were
The Cemetery is located 1.5 km to the East of Whitwarta, a short distance from the Watchman Road. It is surrounded by Aleppo Pine trees. A very notable couple were laid to rest at the cemetery, these being John William Adams (died in 1893 aged 93) and Susanna Adams (died in 1891 aged 85) The plaque reads that these "Two pioneers of South Australia arrived with the first Governor in H.M.S Buffalo 1836 and was present at the proclamation of the colony, Dec 28, 1836."
A list of the pioneers buried at the cemetery is available:here
The following account relating to the opening of the Whitwarta Bridge on 14 August 1914 (p. 13) appeared in the Adelaide Advertiser:[9] The Commissioner of Crown Lands (Hon. F. W. Young), Messrs. David James, and O. H. Duhst arrived by the midday train today on their way to Whitwarta, to the official opening of the Whitwarta bridge. The party were met at the station by the chairman of the district council and driven in motor cars to Whitwarta. There was a good gathering at the bridge of residents from all parts of the district. Mr. F. McArdle (chairman of the district council) introduced the Minister, and in presenting him with a pair of sterling silver scissors to cut the ribbon placed across the bridge, asked him to declare the bridge open for traffic. The Hon. F. W. Young thanked the council for the honor and referred to the pleasant times he experienced when he was a resident of the district just north of Whitwarta. He referred to the present crisis in Europe and the hardships and sufferings caused by war, and asked all to bear in mind the fact that the German residents of the State were good colonists and would, if required, fight for the flag of their adopted country. The Government had taken measures to have necessaries of life (of which there is a good supply in Australia) sold at a price which will be reasonable. It was hoped that the Wallaroo mines would be kept working, if not full time, yet enough to enable workers to provide for their families, and other work would be undertaken which would further provide for the workers. Australia was a country rich in wool, gold, lead, and other minerals, besides wheat, and when peace was declared the State would not be long in again reaching a prosperous condition. He referred to the excellent staff of men employed by the State in the roads and bridges department under the engineer (Mr. Stevens), and specially mentioned Mr. H. G. Ault, who had charge of the construction of the Whitwarta bridge.
The children of the Whitwarta school sang "Rule Britannia," and Mr. Young asked the teacher (Miss Mcintyre) to grant the children a half-holiday.
Mr. James supported the Minister, and hoped it would not be long before the bridge would be tested by a good flood.
Mr. Duhst congratulated the council upon having such an up-to-date structure. The National Anthem, with three cheers again for the King, terminated the proceedings. The visitors were afterwards entertained at dinner at Saint's Hotel, Balaklava.
The bridge that was constructed at Whitwarta in 1914 replaced an earlier bridge, which was built 40 years prior (approx 1874). This appears in a discussion of the state of the bridge in the Advertiser 13 May 1912 (p. 11):
It reads: The Whitwarta Bridge, near Balaklava, for a long time has been in an unsatisfactory state. The chief complaint has been its narrowness for present-day traffic, and it has also shown signs of decay. The Balaklava District Council some time ago drew the attention of the Government to the matter. On Friday last, as the result of Mr. 0.H.Duhst. M.P., having been spoken to, an officer of the Roads Department (Mr. Greenlie) inspected the bridge, and it is understood that his opinion is that the structure is unsafe for heavy traffic. The planks in the decking and also girders are either eaten by. white ants or are crumbling with dry rot. The bridge was built about 40 years ago. A large amount of traffic passes over it.[10]
Diamond Lake, about 3 km west of the Whitwarta Village is a distinctive landscape feature of the region. It is an ephemeral salt lake. See location on Google Maps. A variety of wildfowl can be seen here when the Lake fills after winter rains, such as: Black Swans, Grey Teal, Chestnut Teal, Pacific Black Duck, Water Hens, and Plovers. Gypsum continues to be mined from the banks of the Lake. The Lake fills up from local rainfall-runoff, and fills from the northern lagoon first.