Place Names of South Australia - G
Georgetown - Gilbert
- Georgetown
- Gepps Cross
- Geranium
- Geranium Plains
- Gerard
- German Creek
- German Flat
- German Town
- German Town Hill
- Germein, Port
- Gibbon, Port
- Gibraltar Rocks
- Gibson Camp
- Gilbert
Georgetown
Nomenclature
Eleven kilometres south of Gladstone surveyed in 1869 by Conrad Wornum and first offered for sale on 15 September 1870 as George Town; it received its present designation on 5 April 1979. A newspaper report had this to say about the infant town:
- In the abstract [it] is a wretched place - it is guiltless of anything like useful ornament. No trees grow there - they know better... In summer it is... very hot and you swallow the dust in slices. In winter your boots have a small farm attached to each. Georgetown is celebrated for its fleas... it is said that they actually pulled a shearer out of bed one night...
General Notes
Information on the telegraph is in the Observer,
27 December 1873, page 12f.
Also see South Australia - Communications - Telegraphic.
A history of the town and photographs are in the Chronicle,
20 October 1932, pages 33 and 42.
The town is described in The Irish Harp,
7 February 1873, page 3c,
Register,
9 January 1874, page 5f,
14 April 1874, page 7d,
Observer,
19 September 1874, page 9d,
3 October 1874, page 9d,
Express,
25 November 1874, page 2c,
Register,
3 November 1875, page 6a.
Also see Register,
27 September 1876, page 3f,
Chronicle,
9 December 1876, page 7b,
Register,
21 February 1878, page 6c-f,
Register,
20 August 1904, page 10a.
Sketches are in the Pictorial Australian in
July 1876.
The opening of a Catholic chapel is reported in the Register,
30 August 1872, page 5d.
A Catholic picnic is reported in the Observer,
7 April 1877, page 12f.
The opening of a Catholic church is reported in the Observer,
3 April 1926, page 59d.
"The Wants of Georgetown" is in the Express,
4 and 5 August 1875, pages 2f and 2g:
-
On 4 August 1875 a deputation waited upon the Commissioner of Public Works when attention was drawn to the fact that the whole of the business of the post office, telegraph and court house was carried on in two very small rooms... The police trooper had to reside at the hotel and, for the want of police cells, prisoners had to be chained up in a stable...
An Oddfellows' picnic is reported in the Observer,
25 September 1875, page 17f,
a Catholic school picnic is reported in The Irish Harp,
8 October 1875, page 5c.
A horse race meeting is reported in the Register,
23 March 1874, page 6e,
Advertiser,
8 April 1876, page 3f.
Photographs are in the Chronicle,
13 April 1933, page 38.
Also see South Australia - Sport - Horse Racing.
A cricket match, Narridy versus Georgetown, is reported in the Register,
24 April 1874, page 6e;
versus Port Pirie on
2 April 1875, page 7c.
Also see South Australia - Sport - Cricket - Miscellany.
A local show and ploughing match are reported in the Register,
19 September 1874, page 6e,
Also see South Australia - Agricultural, Floricultural & Horticultural Shows
Observer,
30 October 1875, page 12c; also see
Register,
24 August 1882, page 6f,
15 October 1883, page 6f.
Also see South Australia - Industries - Rural, Primary and Secondary - Ploughing Matches.
A proposed district council is discussed in the Observer,
26 June 1875, page 11e.
Also see South Australia - Miscellany - Local Government.
A mail coach trip from Georgetown to Port Pirie is reported in the Register,
28 September 1874, page 6e.
Also see South Australia - Transport - Horse Coaches.
Its school opened in 1877.
A photograph of students is in the Chronicle,
15 June 1933, page 32.
The laying of the foundation stone of the Institute is reported in the Advertiser,
19 April 1878, page 6d.
Its golden jubilee is reported in the Register,
6 October 1928, page 14e.
A dinner for J.D. Willshire is reported in the Register,
24 June 1878, page 6g.
A flower show is reported in the Register,
23 October 1880, page 6e.
A sports day is reported in the Chronicle,
14 February 1885, page 15c,
26 March 1887, page 6a,
30 March 1895, page 12c.
The laying of the foundation stone of the Anglican Church is reported in the Register,
10 February 1888, page 6f and
the opening of a new Roman Catholic Church on
26 March 1926, page 11b.
Information on coursing is in the Express,
9 July 1991, page 3c,
Chronicle,
16 July 1892, page 14f.
Also see South Australia - Sport - Coursing.
"The Georgetown Burglary" is in the Chronicle,
3 June 1893, page 5b.
Biographical details of D. Gordon are in the Register,
13 March 1905, page 3f.
"A Day With Georgetown Farmers" is in the Register,
4 November 1925, page 14c; also see
21 December 1925, page 7a.
The opening of a new Baptist church is reported in the Register,
16 April 1910, page 3e.
"Four Inches [of Rain] in Four Hours" is in the Register,
6 September 1910, page 7b.
Information on its water supply is in the Observer,
8 June 1912, page 45e.
Also see South Australia - Water Conservation.
A photograph of a football team is in the Observer,
28 September 1912, page 31,
25 September 1926, page 34,
of members of the Smyth family riding to school on horseback in the Chronicle,
20 March 1926, page 39.
A photograph of four generations of the Murrie family is in the Observer,
30 August 1913, page 31.
The diamond wedding of Mr & Mrs Peter Murrie is reported in the Register,
13 November 1914, page 4h,
an obituary of Mrs Mary Murrie is in the Observer,
14 July 1917, page 19a.
Biographical details of Peter Murrie are in the Observer,
21 August 1926, page 38e and
an obituary on 12 March 1927, page 11e.
Also see Register,
19 August 1926, page 8g, 8 March 1927, page 15g (obit.).
The golden wedding of Mr & Mrs George A. Inglis is reported in the Register,
25 March 1927, page 15c.
The opening of the James Darley Memorial is reported upon in the Register,
28 October 1927, page 7e.
Georgetown - Obituaries
An obituary of Hugh Gordon is in the Register,
6 May 1899, page 7a,
of Charles Read on 28 May 1906, page 4a,
of James Thomas on 2 September 1918, page 4g,
of John Fogarty on 22 March 1927, page 8f.
An obituary of Joseph King is in the Observer,
11 February 1911, page 41a,
of Thomas Hynes on 26 August 1911, page 41a.
An obituary of Mrs Fanny Piper is in the Observer,
28 June 1913, page 41a,
of Joseph White on 5 July 1913, page 41b,
of Mrs Marion King on 1 November 1913, page 41b,
of Mrs Ellen Myatt on 16 January 1915, page 42a,
of John Noonan on 13 February 1915, page 40b,
of Patrick Higgins on 9 July 1927, page 28c.
An obituary of Michael J. Hynes is in the Register,
29 March 1928, page 8f.
Georgetown - Gilbert
G
Place Names
Gepps Cross
Nomenclature
Isaac Gepp (c.1811-1891), the owner of the local hotel, who arrived in the Fairlie in 1840. The area was originally laid out into farmlets in 1842 and known as 'Montague Farm', after Sir Montague Lowther Chapman, who obtained the land grant on 14 June 1842.
General Notes
Its school opened in 1861;
examinations are reported in the Observer,
13 December 1862, page 7h,
Express,
3 July 1873, page 3e.
An obituary of George Brandis is in the Register,
17 August 1892, page 5a,
Observer,
20 August 1892, page 30a;
also see 27 August 1892, page 20d.
A sports day conducted by the North Field Athletics Club is reported in the Chronicle,
29 December 1894, page 21,
Observer,
29 December 1894, page 21c:
-
Sports in connection with the North Field Athletic Club were held on Christmas afternoon on Mr. L. Conrad's paddock. It was the first attempt at anything of the sort in the district and the committee deserve credit for their energy... A concert was held in the evening in the club's assembly rooms. A dance followed.
The laying of the foundation stone of the abattoirs is reported in the Observer,
25 February 1911, page 40a.
Also see Place Names - Abattoirs.
The opening of a playground is reported in the Advertiser,
21 April 1923, page 19h.
Also see Adelaide - Entertainment and the Arts - Miscellany - Playgrounds.
Georgetown - Gilbert
G
Place Names
Geranium
Nomenclature
The town 32 km west of Lameroo was proclaimed on 24 March 1910 and takes its name from the native plant, Pelargonium australe which once grew profusely in the district; today it is rarely seen due to the cultivation of the land. 'Children of the day called it "knives and forks'' because of its unusual seed pod which was three inches long and very pointed.'
General Notes
Its school opened in 1913.
The opening of an Institute is reported in the Register,
28 May 1909, page 3e,
Observer,
5 June 1909, page 18a:
-
The opening ceremony of the Institute was performed by Councillor W. Mitchell on 26 May 1909...
A photograph of field trials is in the Observer,
14 october 1911, page 31,
of the opening of a hall in the Chronicle,
21 October 1922, page 29.
Georgetown - Gilbert
G
Place Names
Geranium Plains
Its school opened in 1894 and closed in 1947.
Georgetown - Gilbert
G
Place Names
Gerard
Near Winkie. Its school opened in 1947 and closed circa 1956.
Georgetown - Gilbert
G
Place Names
German Creek
Nomenclature
In the Hundred of Benara; changed to 'Benara Creek' in 1918. The replacement name suggested by the Nomenclature Committee was 'Wodliparri Creek', Aboriginal for the 'Milky Way' which they believed to be a river. Walter Mitchell held the lease of the German Creek run (No. 189 of 1851) until 1860 when it came into the hands of Messrs W.J. and J.H. Browne.
The name was restored on 13 November 1986. SeePlace Names - Benara and the Register of 15 December 1923 at page 11g says the run was so named because a "German was shepherding there".
The Border Watch, 13 June 1862, carries an advertisement inserted by "German Jack"of Benaira [sic] stating that he wished to correct an erroneous report that he had killed 16 kangaroos in one shot, but said that he did kill "on Monday last about sunrise 16 kangaroos at nine shots, distance 300 to 850 yards, and challenged the district , for £50, to produce a man that will do the same, Samuel Leate, not excepted."
A few months later Mr Leate met with a serious accident while "partially intoxicated" and galloping a horse along Commercial Road, when he fell off striking his head violently on the ground. Apparently, he recovered for a few months later he brought in to the office of the Border Watch an enormous specimen of "those ferocious animals known as the tiger cat" which he had killed in the stringy bark country on the Benaira [sic] run.
General Notes
A kangaroo hunt on Mr W.J. Browne's property is reported in the Chronicle, 16 September 1865, page 2g:
-
A preliminary kangaroo hunt was held on the German Creek station, the property of W.J. Browne, Esq., on Tuesday last. A large yard had been made of wire, so closely arranged and tightly drawn that a man's fist could scarcely be thrust though it, and it was deemed impossible for any but the smallest kangaroo to force its way out of it. Two large wings of brush fencing extended for some distance leading into the yard and it was hoped on starting that a good haul would reward the efforts which had been made.
The party out consisted of eighteen, and so well arranged was everything that about 1,000 kangaroos were enclosed in the cordon made by them. However, before the kangaroos were got into the race nearly one half escaped on account of the numerical weakness of the party; the rest were successfully driven up and yarded. No sooner were they in the yard when, to the astonishment of everyone, they commenced leaping through the wire just as if it had been so much paper and out of the 500 enclosed only about 70 were killed...
Georgetown - Gilbert
G
Place Names
German Flat
Parliamentary Paper 73/1872 shows it as a school in the Hundred of Mingbool conducted by James Harris with 22 enrolled pupils.It opened in 1871 and had its name changed to "Benara Flat" in 1918;
it closed in 1959.
Georgetown - Gilbert
G
Place Names
German Town
An unofficial name given to a a place about three kilometres from Redbanks; "in the 1880s several families of Germans settled [there]... but after many years when a town did not develop, it became known as Germantown Road..." - this quotation is taken from Life Around the Light, page 5 but see under "Sichem Well" in Manning's Place Names of South Australia for a variation in respect of the date of its christening and location.
Georgetown - Gilbert
G
Place Names
German Town Hill
It is described in the Register, 8 May 1871, page 5d in respect of an accident and in Parliamentary Paper 166/1873:-
Early on Saturday morning a number of gentlemen set out from Adelaide to visit the Balhannah Mine. All went smoothly until in descending the long incline known as German Hill, leading to the junction of the Mount Barker and Woodside roads, an accident occurred which cast a gloom on the day's proceedings. Shortly after commencing the descent of the hill Mr. J.P. Stow, who was driving a light four-wheeled buggy obtained from the Globe Hotel stables, noticed the block of the drag had broken away and, consequently, there was no brake upon the wheel. The horses finding there was nothing to check them except the reins, to which they refused to answer, broke into a gallop and raced at full speed down the hill... The buggy turned completely over, throwing its inmate to the side of the road.
At the time of the upset there were in the trap Dr Phillips and Messrs Robert Stuckey, J.P. Stow and J.H. Finlayson...
Georgetown - Gilbert
G
Place Names
Germein, Port
Nomenclature
It honours John Germein who discovered it while transporting provisions to E.J. Eyre in July 1840.
The Germein Family
An 1836 letter from George Fife Angas to John Germein is reproduced in the Advertiser,
31 December 1912, page 8g.
Information on the Germein brothers is in the Register, 2 May 1907, page 6f - "They came out to the colony under engagement to the SA Company to establish a trawling station..."
The reminiscences of Mrs Draper (nee Germein) are in the Advertiser,
15 October 1936, page 22c.
A report of the death of John Germein, senior, and an obituary are in the Register,
26 April 1869, page 2f and 22 May 1869 (supp.), page 4e;
the latter says, inter alia:
-
Soon after he arrived in the Java [he] took possession of some land forming the extremity of Lefevre Peninsula and has ever since lived in a state bordering on that of a hermit... occupying himself with pastoral pursuits, much after the style of Robinson Crusoe... [He] was at the battle of the Nile under Lord Nelson in 1798, as a carpenter's mate.
(Also see Advertiser, 20 February 1917, page 9d.)
4 April 1879, page 6c.
His obituary appears on
25 October 1879, page 5b.
Samuel Germein's obituary is in the Register,
16 August 1886, page 5b;
also see 20 September 1893, page 7g for a report of finding the body of a Samuel (sic) Germein in the Port River and
Advertiser,
20, 21 and 26 September 1893, pages 6e, 7e and 7g in respect of "Pilot Ben Germein".
"Pilot Germein Missing" is in the Register,
12 and 13 February 1892, pages 7c and 7a.
A poem titled "Ben Germein" is in the Observer,
30 September 1893, page 36c.
Information on the Germein family is in the Observer,
10 January 1903, page 24.
"The Ceres and Her Commander" is in the Register,
6 January 1903, page 3h; also see
Observer,
10 January 1903, pages 24-26a.
Biographical details of C.G. Germein are in the Register,
29 October 1907, page 3f.
Biographical details of John Germein are in the Register,
9 August 1928, page 8g,
14 September 1928, page 18d (obit.).
Port Germein - Miscellany
Also see South Australia - Maritime Affairs.
For its naming see GRG 35/1, docket no. 1155 of 1878 in the State Records Office.
See Register, 22 March 1851, page 3d for a report from Captain Lipson.
An 1836 letter from George Fife Angas to John Germein is reproduced in the Advertiser,
31 December 1912, page 8g.
A sale of town allotments is reported in the Chronicle,
25 January 1879, page 9b.
Historical information is in the Register,
12 August 1926, page 7h.
Information on the Port is in the Register,
17 November 1879, page 6c,
while the town and district are described on
23 December 1879, page 6b; also see
27 December 1879, page 7d,
Chronicle,
22 May 1880, page 11d,
12 August 1882, page 21d,
10 February 1883, page 16d,
The Lantern,
4 September 1880, page 11,
Register,
2 and 9 November 1880, pages 6c and 6d,
12 December 1880, page 5b,
1 October 1883, page 5f,
30 November 1883, page 6a,
1 December 1883, page 5f:
-
The tradesmen give one the idea that they are living by faith. Even the resident clergyman seems to be "holding on". But the faith of the people in the future of their town is unwavering and assured.
12 January 1885, pages 5a-6e.
Also seeObserver,
4 April 1885, page 30e,
4 February 1888, page 33d,
Register,
2 February 1888, page 7g,
25 September 1894, page 6b,
24 August 1904, page 6e,
Observer,
28 September 1907, page 32 (photos),
Register,
14 December 1926, page 12a,
Parliamentary Paper 67/1888.
"Port Germein Steamship Service" is in the Register,
23 October 1912, page 8f.
Also see South Australia - Maritime Affairs.
A local sports day is reported in the Register,
31 May 1880 (supp.), page 1f,
Chronicle,
3 April 1897, page 14a.
The opening of the Baroota bridge is reported in the Register,
15 June 1880 (supp.), page 2e.
Information on the town's water supply is in the Register,
7 September 1882, page 3b and
12 December 1882 (supp.), page 2c,
Observer,
7 January 1888, page 31a.
Also see South Australia - Water Conservation.
Information on the jetty and exports is reported in the Chronicle,
11 September 1880, page 16a,
11 June 1881, page 12a,
Register,
12 and 23 May 1883, pages 2c (supp.) and 6f,
26 July 1883, page 7d.
"Germein Bay and Sharks [in the 1880s]" is in the Register, 13 October 1926, page 15f:
-
The ship, Bellona, 1,123 tons, Captain Ben Warren, cleared from Port Pirie on 14 January 1884 and an hour afterwards the pilot left her outside the eastern shoal. The captain's only daughter, aged 16, was playing with a dog and a ball on the deckhouse and, when jumping in the passage between the deckhouse and the ship's rail, fell into the sea. Her father saw her fall, but could do nothing, for he saw two sharks seize her as soon as she was in the water... The girl was never seen again...
Also see South Australia - Flora and Fauna - Fish and Other Sea Creatures.
Information on the Port Germein Land and Investment Company is in the Register,
18 July 1882, page 1c (supp.),
Observer,
22 July 1882, page 33e.
"The Wants of Port Germein" is in the Register,
28 May 1884, page 7g.
Its first Show is reported in the Register,
27 September 1884, page 7d; also see
12 September 1885, page 7c,
Observer,
21 September 1889, page 13c.
Also see South Australia - Agricultural, Floricultural & Horticultural Shows.
"Port Pirie and Port Germein" is in the Chronicle,
17 January 1885, page 4e.
A dinner to Mr W.C. Mullighan is reported in the Register,
20 April 1885, page 3h.
A report of a rifle match is in the Register,
4 April 1887, page 6f.
Also see South Australia - Sport - Rifle Shooting.
A proposed corporation is reported in the Observer,
28 May 1887, page 30e.
A history of local government appears is in the Register
29 January 1925, page 9a.
"Local Government at Port Germein" is in the Observer,
7 February 1925, page 17.
Also see South Australia - Miscellany - Local Government.
The burning of the barque, Saturn, is reported in the Register,
10 January 1888, page 6g.
A lacrosse match is reported in the Observer,
1 September 1888, page 18c.
Also see South Australia - Sport - Lacrosse.
Information on the Institute is in the Chronicle,
15 April 1893, page 12f.
The withdrawal of the lightship is reported in the Register,
6 July 1894, page 5b.
"The Port Germein Light" is in the Express,
24 February 1899, page 4a.
Also see South Australia - Maritime Affairs - Lighthouses and Lightships.
"A Letter from Rudyard Kipling" is in the Chronicle,
20 November 1897, page 16a.
Larrikinism in the town is the cause for complaint in the Register,
23 February 1900, page 3i,
Advertiser,
24 February 1900, page 9h.
Also see Adelaide - Larrikinism.
The golden wedding of Mr & Mrs S. Miller is reported in the Register,
27 September 1902, page 4c.
An obituary of Samuel Miller is in the Observer,
27 June 1908, page 40b.
"Port Germein and the Gorge" is in the Observer,
2 November 1901, page 33a.
A photograph of council members is in the Chronicle,
5 November 1904, page 30 and
of a bridge over Baroota Creek on
17 July 1909, page 32,
of wheat stacks in the Observer,
3 March 1906, page 30.
"On the Wallaby Track - A Trip to Port Germein" from Murray-Town is in the Register,
21 January 1905, page 7e.
A photograph of the committee of the Combined Schools' Picnic Society is in the Chronicle,
17 October 1908, page 32.
The school's museum is described in the Register,
15 December 1914, page 4f,
Observer,
19 December 1914, page 31a.
"Birds About Port Germein" is in the Register,
29 August 1912, page 9d.
Also see South Australia - Flora and Fauna - Birds.
"Memories of an Old Police Officer" is in the Register,
17 September 1925, page 4a,
Observer,
3 October 1925, page 19a.
Port Germein - Obituaries
An obituary of T.S. Marshall is in the Observer,
10 September 1898, page 16d,
of Captain William Hoy on 24 August 1907, page 40e.
An obituary of T.S. Marshall is in the Register,
5 and 7 September 1898, pages 4h and 7c.
An obituary of Captain W. Mortess is in the Register,
8 December 1903, page 8f,
of Samuel Miller on 19 June 1908, page 4h,
of P.J. Madigan, hotelier, on 23 December 1908, page 7c,
of Mrs Elizabeth Hanna on 25 October 1917, page 6h,
of William C. Gill on 6 February 1918, page 6g.
An obituary of P.J. Madigan, hotelier, is in the Observer,
26 December 1908, page 38d,
of Richard Hanna on 23 September 1911, page 39b,
of Mrs W. Head on 5 February 1916, page 46b,
of W.C. Gill on 9 February 1918, page 13e.
An obituary of John Turner is in the Register,
29 December 1920, page 4h,
of William C. Mullighan on 9 June 1928, page 11a.
Georgetown - Gilbert
G
Place Names
Gibbon, Port
Nomenclature
South-west of Franklin Harbor; formerly known as Point Price. J.H. Gibbon (1836-1925), senior nautical warden of the Marine Board.
General Notes
For the naming of "Point Gibbon" see Advertiser,
21 January 1910, page 6e.
Biographical details of Captain J.H. Gibbon are in the Register,
30 April 1895, page 5c, 9 July 1919, pages 9d-10f,
Observer,
12 July 1919, page 21c,
Register,
24 and 26 November 1925, pages 12c and 12g (obit.).
An obituary of Mrs Jane W. Gibbon is in the Register,
26 December 1923, page 6g.
Information on a proposed jetty is in the Observer,
26 December 1914, page 14c,
19 June 1915, page 16a,
Chronicle,
26 June 1915;
Register,
12 November 1915, page 9c;
photographs and information on its opening appear on
20 November 1915, pages 15b-30.
"Is Port Gibbon Dangerous" is in the Advertiser,
11 October 1924, page 11d; also see
Observer,
4 October 1924, page 48e:
-
Prior to the jetty being built two wheat merchants used to shoot their grain down the cliff into an open boat and then lighter it to vessels anchored further out. Hundreds of thousands of bags of wheat were shipped from the port in this manner without any trouble from the elements. Years previously the mail used to be landed at the spot where the Lily Hawkins came to her end. Captain Gibbon was master of the vessel of call and Port Gibbon was named in his honour...
Photographs of a sports day are in the Chronicle,
5 January 1933, page 31.
Georgetown - Gilbert
G
Place Names
Gibraltar Rocks
They were named by Messrs MacFarlane and J.B. Bull circa 1865 -see Register, 20 September 1879, page 6f.
Georgetown - Gilbert
G
Place Names
Gibson Camp
Nomenclature
A former coaching station:56 miles north-west of Port Augusta, at the junction of the roads to the far north-west and to Whittata South... so named after Thomas McTurk Gibson... who at one time held the lease of the country...
General Notes
A former coaching station north-west of Port Augusta.
It is described in the Register,
23 July 1885, page 6b:
-
There is an hotel - the only one west of Lake Torrens - and here we stopped to feed our horses and refresh the inner man... There are two wells here - a Government one 80 feet deep and yielding fresh water, the other a private one, sunk by the lessee of the square held under miscellaneous lease on which the hotel stands... The hotel is a substantial structure of 14 rooms and has been licensed for three years...
Also see
10 June 1899, page 8b,
3 November 1904, page 6d,
27 April 1918, page 10f.
A photograph of the hotel is in the Observer,
24 June 1905, page 27,
Register,
12 November 1924, page 12.
A photograph of voting day is in the Observer,
24 June 1905, page 28.
An amusing story about the hotel-keeper's pet cockatoo appears in the Register, 4 September 1906, page 8h:
-
[It] knows as well as anyone in the district at what time [the mailman] is due, for it regularly flies out to meet him and comes home perched on his shoulder.
G
Place Names
Gilbert
Nomenclature
Thomas Gilbert, who arrived in South Australia in the Cygnet on 11 September 1836 was Colonial Storekeeper until 31 December 1854, when he retired on a pension of £200 per annum.
General Notes
Mr Andrew Brakenridge's farm in the Gilbert Valley is described in the Register,
23 April 1863, page 3h.
