Mount Gambier located on the slopes of a volcano is about 450 kilometres (280 mi) south-east of the capital Adelaide and is the second most populated city in South Australia.
The Bungandidj Aboriginal People
The Bungandidj Aboriginal Australian
people from the Mount Gambier referred of the volcanic mountain as 'Berrin' and to the peak as 'ereng balam' or 'egree belum', meaning 'home of the eagle hawk.'
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| South Australian Aborigines - very early 1900s, Kaye |
Aboriginal Australians have a long history as hunter-gatherers, which required knowledge and skills passed down generations.
The Bungandidj were divided into two marriage classes: Kumite and Kroke, with children being assigned their mother's class. Within the Kumite class there were five major animal totemsboorte moola: fishhawk
boorte parangal: pelican
boorte wa: crow
boorte willer: black cockatoo
boorte karato: (harmless) snake
The Kroke class had four major totems:boorte wirrmal: owl
boorte wsereoo: teatree scrub
boorte moorna: an edible root
boorte kara-al: white crestless cockatoo.
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| By George French Angas, South Australia Illustrated, 1847 (Aboriginal people camped for days or weeks in one place, sometimes in hollow trees, depending on the availability of food and water) |
1800s
It was on the survey brig, Lady Nelson, that Lieutenant Grant first sighted Mount Gambier in 1800.
In 1839 Stephen Henty led an overland expedition to explore the Mount Gambier.
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| Southern Cross (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1954) |
Conflict
1820s
First contact between the Bungandidj and Europeans occurred in the early 1820s.
1840s
The Henty brothers, a family of seven brothers, are considered to be the first Europeans to establish a permanent agricultural settlement in Victoria, established a sheep station at Mount Gambier in 1842. Soon there was conflict with Aboriginal people.
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| Southern Australian (Adelaide, SA : 1838 - 1844), Tuesday 2 April 1844 |
Disruption to hunting and gathering, led to Aboriginals killing sheep, which led to reprisals by settlers.
In mid-1845, settlers sent a petition to the Attorney-General claiming that if protection was not provided by the Government, they would take “the law into their own hands to protect their lives and their property.” Police was sent to Mount Gambier in December 1845 and a police station established in two bark huts previously occupied by shepherds.
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| South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), Wednesday 15 May 1844 |
OUTRAGES OF THE BLACK.-To our last we briefly noticed the depredations by the blacks, on the sooth eastern boundary of the province. The cattle stated to be Mr Wilkinson's, belonged to a Mr O'reen on the Murray. These cattle were taken away, and the blacks were killed by Mr Hen'yV shepherds.some time ago- The following are the particulars of the robbery of Mr Sco>t*s sheep, which is a more recent event :" On Sunday the 4th August, about noon, the blacks upwards of fifty in number, attacked the shepherd of Messrs Scott, Brothers, on the south eastern border of this colony, and took away 1200 sheep; the ground being too soft to fol-low them on horseback, a party pursued them on foot for two days and a night without overtaking them, but succeeded in recovering 920 sheep, which it is presumed the natives were unable to drive through the swamps. The attack appears to have been preconcerted, as the pursuers found about twenty miles from the station, a bush yard excellently made by the natives, which from the withered state of the boughs must have been made about a fortnight before, in which they had yarded the sheep during the night, and divided them into, three parcels, with which they went off in three different directions. " The natives are in the frequent habit of coming to the yards at night and stealing a few sheep, but have never been seen in the day time, except on the day above refereed to." Mr Scott while on the Glenelg a few days prior to coming here, heard that Mr Leake had been robbed to a considerable, extent—that Mr Arthur's station near Mount Gambier had also been robbed, and Mr Arthur, jun., speared in the back. They murdered a shepherd on the Glenelg, named Patrick Casey, in May last, and are continually committing such depredations, that life and property are very insecure; throughout the district it is not considered safe for a man to go 100 yards from a station without fire arms." The settlers on the Glenelg seriously propose to form hunting parties against the natives, and to shoot them indiscriminately. Southern Australian (Adelaide, SA : 1838 - 1844), Tuesday 20 August 1844
The Henty brothers abandoned the Mount Gambier property in 1844 with significant losses.
In 1844 Evelyn Sturt, the brother of the explorer Charles Sturt, settled at nearby Compton, bringing 500 cattle and 3000 sheep to pasture at Mount Gambier.
The Post Office opened on 22 September 1846.
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Evelyn S. Sturt, who superseded Stephen Henty in 1844, said "The natives were very inimical when we first arrived. Our neighbour (Mr Leake) suffered many losses from them, some thousands, I believe, but we escaped any attack, which I attribute to the astonishment they evinced at seeing the effects of a good rifle aimed by a correct eye, for not a crow would dare to caw on the highest tree near our camp but a rifle ball reached him, or a kangaroo bound through the forest within shot, but the sharp ring of the rifle saw him stretched on the sward. I have always thought this gained us their respect. They gave me the name of a chief who had fallen in battle, and affirmed that I had again come among them as a white fellow. We gained their respect, but it was through fear, and subsequently their confidence through kindness." As Mr. Sturt affirmed, the Leakes at Mount Gambier suffered much through the attacks of the natives upon their sheep. Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929) |
A police station was established at Mount Gambier in 1845.
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| Melbourne Argus (Vic. : 1846 - 1848), Tuesday 16 March 1847 |
Aboriginal people spear cattle and threaten to spear Sturt. in 1847.
Also in 1847 near Mount Gambier, seven armed colonists pursued Aboriginal groups following the theft of livestock, resulting in violent skirmishes.
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| Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904), Saturday 7 August 1847 |
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MOUNT GAMBIER. A letter from Mount Gtunbier, dated 30th ultimo, from a parly who was present at the scuffle lis describes, gives the following account of a skirmish that took. place there between the blacks and tlie police : — About a fortnight previous the blacks took away 300 sheen from tho Company's station at the Mount. Corporal M'Cn'loch, aud a police-constable, oil receiving information, immediately accompanied the Company's Manager and two of lt'is men in pursuit. Thev came lit) with the blacks on the sea-eotLst.antl found 47 of thesheep alive, end the remainder dead, ill their possession. On seeing the police, the blacks ran into a dense scrub, in their immediate neighbourhood : hut the pursuing party were too quick for them to Allow them all to escape. Four, men and five children were brou, hi to bay. Police-constable Guy dismounted according to the corporal's orders, to make them prisoners, but w as soon - put on his guard by three spears being thrown at him, which fortunately missed their aim. The corporal immediately dismounted, aud during his endeavours to handcuff one of tliem, was assailed in the same manner. A sharp and close skirmish ensiled, iu which the police aud their assistants narrowly escaped, their opponents being almost within a spear's length. The four blacks were ! killed on the spot, having fought, so desperately that none of tuem could be; taken alive. Tho same corespondent says, that. the country there is Jin a dreadful state of inundation from the late floods, the settlers finding the greatest difficulty in visiting even their next neighbour— Gazette.Britannia and Trades' Advocate (Hobart Town, Tas. : 1846 - 1851), Thursday 18 November 1847 |
John Byng, from Nova Scotia, the son of a South Carolina slave, turned up in Melbourne in 1840. He opened the first hotel at Mount Gambier in 1847.
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| Launceston Examiner (Tas. : 1842 - 1899), Saturday 29 August 1846 |
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| Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904), Saturday 7 August 1847 |
In November 1847, two police and three men tracked a group of Aboriginal people who had taken about 300 sheep to the coast. In their attempt to handcuff them, spears were thrown at them, and during the ensuring fight, four were shot dead. (
2.)
Dr Edward Wehl began a flour mill in 1849.
1850s
The discovery of gold in Victoria in 1851.
The town was established in 1854 as a private town by Hastings Cunningham, with the name of 'Gambierton' Though the post office was called Gambierton from 1861 to 1878, the name did not persist, and reverted to Mount Gambler.
Christina Smith (1809–1893), generally referred to as Mrs James Smith, was a teacher and Christian missionary who documented the lives, customs, legends, and language of the Buandig Indigenous Australians (historically spelled Booandik), published in 1880, who live in south-eastern South Australia and western Victoria.
The Booandik Tribe of South Australian Aborigines: A Sketch of Their Habits, Customs, Legends ...by
Christina Smith (read
here)Mt Gambier was a small
collection of buildings surrounding the Cave Garden, where there was a water source.
Christina Smith and her son Duncan Stewart learnt the Bungandidj language and Duncan was appointed as an interpreter for this language in 1853.
Hastings Cunningham founded 'Gambierton' in 1854.
In 1854, the Smith's moved to a small farm near Mount Gambier, where Christina opened a night school teaching Aboriginal orphans and adults until her husband's death in 1860.
Christina opened a day school in 1864, in Mount Gambier teaching scripture and the rudiments of a basic education to Aboriginal children. After a viral epidemic and loss of support for her school and with student numbers reduced to 4, the school closed in 1868, although it continued as a home for Buandig orphan children.
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| Christina Smith (c. 1865). She wrote a treatise entitled 'The Booandik Tribe of South Australian Aborigines' recording the tribe's rites, songs and language and including biographies of converts. |
One of the earliest known photographic plates of Mount Gambier was taken on Watson Terrace in 1856.
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| Early view of Mount Gambier, showing Mitchell's Hotel, SA |
1860s
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| First National Bank, Mt Gambier, SA |
In 1864 work began on the pink dolomite stone Courthouse and was completed in 1878.
Mt Gambier Post office was built 1865 as a Telegraph Station.
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| 1860s Mount Gambier Telegraph Office, SA |
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| Mt Gambier, SA, 1866 |
The Mt Gambier gaol was completed on 8 January 1866.
The railway connecting Mount Gambier to Naracoorte was initially approved by the Parliament of South Australia in 1867.
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| Crouch's store, Mount Gambier. William Allen Crouch arrived in South Australia on the 'Templar' in 1845 and became a pastoralist. He arrived in Mount Gambier in 1849 and in 1852 he took over H. Crouch's store which he ran until he sold the business in 1870. 1867, SLSA |
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| Commercial Street, Mt Gambier, SA, 1868 |
Mount Gambier’s first major
public hospital was built with community fundraising in the 1860s. It was demolished in 1971.
1870s |
Photograph of the first Mount Gambier Hospital, which was established in 1869 and demolished in 1971. The building was designed by Government Architect Robert George Thomas between 1867-69. The hospital was built of stone in the Italian gothic style featuring towers and cloistered verandahs. The two storey stately building had two wings and was typical of the Victorian era with decorative dressings around the doors, windows, cupolas, large ornate chimneys and even featured a widow's walk. The foundation stone was laid in February 1867 by James C Lyon. 1870, SLSA
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By 1871 the population was 5519.
The forest
reserves near Mount Gambier were sown with more than 200,000 trees in the late 1870s. Mostly, eucalyptus, pine, catalpa, planes, elms and oaks.
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| First store operated by R Woodruff, Mount Gambier, SA, 1870, SLSA |
1880s
Mount Gambier Institute, SA, 1880
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| CORROBOREE.—A second corroboree by the members of the Booandik tribe of aborigines at present at Mount Gambier was given in the show ground on Wednesday evening. Nine only took part. The corroboree commenced at half past seven, and concluded at about half past eight. The night being dark a good fire was lit, and the display was managed somewhat better than the first one. About 150 persons witnessed the scene. Border Watch (Mount Gambier, SA : 1861 - 1954), Saturday 26 February 1881 |
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| Barrett's Temperance Hotel, Mount Gambier, 1882 |
An epidemic of scarlet fever swept the
town in June, 1875. (
1.)
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| Commercial Street, Mount Gambier. SA, 1890 |
Commercial Street, Mount Gambier. SA, 1890
Flour mill, which dates back to 1885, in 1892, SLSA
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| Express and Telegraph (Adelaide, SA : 1867 - 1922), Saturday 29 April 1893 |
1900sBasil Watson visits Mount Gambier in a homemade aircraft similar to a Sopwith Pup.
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| THE MOUNT GAM BIER WINTER STEEPLECHASE, SA, Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904), Saturday 4 July 1903 |
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| Mt Gambier, SA, Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946), Saturday 2 July 1904 |
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| Mt Gambier, Post Office, SA, 1904, SLSA |
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| The Savings Bank of South Australia at Mt Gambier was built from 1906, SA |
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| JUBILEE OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, MOUNT GAIMBIER. Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 - 1931), Saturday 25 April 1908 |
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| Pioneer's House, Mount Gambier, SA (B 37350), 1910, SLSA |
WWI
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| Walter Patrick Winterfield #394 Although 'Bob Winterfield' is written on the reverse, there are only 3 soldiers named Winterfield from Mount Gambier area in WW1 and none are named Bob. One is aged 19, one is 18 and the other is 42, which would describe this man. Kaye |
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| Australia Day, 1917, Mount Gambier, SA, SLSA |
Commercial Street, Mount Gambier, SA, 1910
1920s |
| Mt Gambier High School football team, South Australia - 1923, Kaye |
1920s |
| Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), Tuesday 25 October 1927 |
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| Haig's Gragage, Mount Gambier, SA, 1928 |
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| Mt, Gambier's Last Cab, SA, Register News-Pictorial (Adelaide, SA : 1929 - 1931), Thursday 25 July 1929 |
1930sRAAF making constant use of Mount Gambier Aerodrome.
Miss Cicelv Jane Bourke, a long-time resident of Mount Gambier and
founder of a prvate school she ran for over-sixty years, passed away Saturday 1934.
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| Border Watch (Mount Gambier, SA : 1861 - 1954), Thursday 1 July 1937 |
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| Neway Stores in Commercial Street, Mt Gambier, South Australia - 1938, Kaye |
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| Commercial Stret, Mt. Gambier, S.A. - 1930s, Kaye |
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| VISIT TO DINGLEY DELL. About 1,500 people made a pilgrimage to Dingley Dell, once the home of the poet Gordon, in connection with the Centenary of Mt. Gambier. Visitors being welcomed outside Gordon's cottage by the president of the A.N.A. Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), Thursday 4 March 1937 |
1940s and WWII |
| Mt. Gambier War Workers, Mrs E. 0. Kirby (Commandant 1 , Sister F. Schinckel Sister in Charge), Mrs C.Fairhead i Assist. Commandant), and VAD personnel.Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Wednesday 30 September 1942 |
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Instruction on a cloth model by Lieut. W. J. White to the N.C.O.'s school of the VDC (Mt Gambier). Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Wednesday 30 September 1942 |
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| Mt. Gambier Airman Killed In Action. Mr and Mrs. A. M. Watson, of Mt. Gambier, have received a telegram from the Air Force Board, announcing the death in action.of their son,. Malcolm. They were informed^ that the 'remains "were buried near Sollum. Flying-Officer Malcolm Hector Wktson was born in Mount Gambier in Il9 j'6. He joined the firm of Eider, Smith and Co, and was attached to thfe Mt. Gambler- branch for several months. From Mount Pleasant he was transferred to Broken Hill, and thence to Angaston as manager. When war broke out In 1939 he enlisted in-the Air- Force and went to the Middle East. He took part in a battle-in Libya on November 22, after which he was-reported missing. Narracoorte Herald (SA : 1875 - 1954), Friday 13 February 1942 |
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Cpl. Jack Hopgood, who was officially welcomed home last night, after having been a PQW in Java
for nearly four years. Cpl. Hopgood returned to Mt. Gambier yesterday accompanied by hiswife. Border Watch (Mount Gambier, SA : 1861 - 1954), Saturday 13 October 1945 |
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| Border Watch (Mount Gambier, SA : 1861 - 1954), Saturday 21 April 1945 |
 | | At the Mt Gambier Show, SA, Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), Thursday 6 November 1947 |
 | AFTERNOON OFF, INDIA V SOUTH AUSTRALIA COUNTRY TEAM Shops arid business houses in the town of Mount Gambier will close at 1 pm on Tuesday and Wednesday next for the public of the town to join with the expected crowds of thousands of visitors to witness the India v. S A, Country cricket match at Vansittart Park. Entrance to the ground will be 2/7, and to the grandstand 2/- extra. Special provision is being made for invalid's cars, and these may enter through the Victoria Terrace gates and will be directed to their positions. 17 January 1948 The Border Watch |
 | | The Mount Gambier premises of Elder, Smith & Co. Ltd, with a Kain and Shelton stock transport loaded with sheep driving past. Vehicle is a Ford Jailbar articulated truck. 1948. State Library of SA |
1950s
 | THESE are members of Mount Gambier's East and West teams who took part in a recent club match at
Vansittart Park oval — (front row, from left) Messrs. L. Weston, R. Marks, F. Zanker, K. Duigan; (second row) Messrs. P. Brookes, J. Eliis, D. Webster, A. Banks, J. Shepherdson; (third row) Messrs. S. Seebohn, J. Guest, F. Williams, C. O'Neil; (at back) Messrs. M. Matthews, T. Hall, C. Carlson, I. Dow, B. Little, W. Battye, R. Higgs. Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), Thursday 23 March 1950 |
 | | THE MBHA (Mothers’ and Babies’ Health Association) at Mount Gambier, with Sister M. Harrison in charge of and her mother, Mrs. J. D. F. Harbison, president of the local branch of the association. Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), Thursday 23 March 1950 |
 | | Mac's Hotel in Mt. Gambier, S.A. - circa 1950s, Kaye |
 | | Commercial Street, Mt Gambier, South Australia - 1950s, Kaye |
 | POPULAR Saturday night rendezvous for Mount Gambier's younger set is The Barn Palais,
five miles south of the town on the 500-acre property of grazier Mr. A. P. Spehr. Resting
between dances are (clockwise) Heather Millowich, Kevin Aston, Lorna Dowman, Max Jane
way, Betty Cook, Eric Spring, Barbara Holow ay, Peter Matters, Mrs. and Mr. R. K. Millard,
Mr. and Mrs. J. Baldwin. Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), Thursday 23 March 1950 |
 | IN less than 18 months the Mount Gambier Aquatic Club's 150 members have cleared land
and raised enough money to build boat landings, diving platforms, and a smart clubhouse on
the picturesque shore of Valley Lake. Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), Thursday 23 March 1950 |
 | | THE 100-bed, 88 year-old Mount Gambier Hospital is charmingly situated on a wooded hill overlooking the town. Matron A. J. Mower (extreme right in white veil) is pictured here with the hospital's nursing staff. Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), Thursday 23 March 1950 |
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 | | Mt Gambier Show scenes, SA, Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), Thursday 2 November 1950 |
 | | Mt Gambier Show scenes, SA, Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), Thursday 2 November 1950 |
 | | The Mount Gambier unit. E Companv of the 27th Infantry Battalion. S.A. Border Watch (Mount Gambier, SA : 1861 - 1954), Tuesday 4 March 1952 |
 | | Two-Day Race Meeting at Mt.Gambier, SA, Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), Thursday 18 June 1953 |
 | | The Royal Progress at Mt. Gambier, SA, News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 - 1954), Thursday 18 March 1954, |
 | | Corner of Commercial St & Penola Rd, Mount Gambier in South Australia. 1955. SLSA |
 | | Photograph of tobacconist, hairdresser, and 'Allan Dowdell' cycle and radio business taken on 17th May 1958, Mount Gambier. Cars are parked along the street. This image has no known copyright restrictions. |
1960s
On 9 December 1954, Mount Gambier was officially declared a city.
2020s
In 2020, the railway station building was restored to original condition by the City of Mount Gambier Council.
The Mitre 10 site in Mount Gambier with its heritage-listed flour mill, which dates back to 1885, has a proposal to redevelop the area, which may involve demolishing parts of the historic structure.
Around Mount Gambier
 | | The Mount Gambier Court House is a landmark building, designed by George Thomas Light, the assistant colonial architect, and constructed of local pink dolomite. Built in 1865,SA |
 | | Heritage building, Mt Gambier, SA |
 | | Mt Gambier Town Hall and clock built in 1882. Tower 1883 |
 | | In 2020, the Mt Gambier railway station building was restored to original condition by the City of Mount Gambier Council. Now used as a community space |
 | | The Centenary Tower built from 1900 to mark Captain Grant naming of the Mount in 1800. It opened in 1904, Mt Gambier, SA |
 | | The Caledonian Society of Mount Gambier was established in 1884. The foundation of the Mount Gambier Caledonian Society Hall, situated in Penola Road, was laid by Mr. George Riddoch on August 9th 1913 |
 | | The Capitol Theatre opened on 4th April 1928. Seating was provided in orchestra and balcony levels. By 1951, it was operated by the Clifford Theatres circuit. By 1956, it had been re-named Odeon Theatre |
 | | Former 1866 Mt Gambier Gaol, SA. Now accomodation |
Thing To Do and Places To Go
MOUNT GAMBIER AVIATION MUSEUM
Historic Hotels of Mt Gambier
City Heritage Walk (Mt Gambier)
Mount Gambier Court House Museum
Arts and Cultural Centre
Mt Gambier Places To Visit |
Books To Read
THE MOUNT GAMBIER MURDERS,
Maxwell Stuart Sims
The Limestone Road, Nicole Alexander
