The town of Birdwood, originally named Blumberg, is in the Adelaide Hills
area of South Australia, around 44 km from Adelaide city centre.
Birdwood was settled by Prussian settlers originating from the area around Zullichau.
The Peramangk Aboriginal PeopleTHE ABORIGINES OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA.
The following letter is from a German Missionary to South Australia, to a member of the Aborigines' Protection Society in London, — Adelaide, June 12th, 1839. Read
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| As regards the manners of the South Australian Aborigines, they have many in common with other Polynesians, as tattooing, painting themselves with red colour, polygamy, &c. But there seems also to exist, a sort of limited polyandry, inasmuch as the brothers of a husband have a secondary claim to his wife. At first I was much struck, that whenever I got a married native brother (for I have many adoptive brothers and other relatives among the Aborigines), he would say his wife was ours, not knowing the connexion between brotherhood and this kind of polyandry. Hitherto it was generally believed, as also by myself, that there were no chiefs among the natives ; but I recently ascertained, that there is at least something similar to a chieftainship. They call such a man "Burka ;" i. e., a hoary old man, exactly corresponding with the latin, senator ; and his distinction is that the "Unjawaieti" play (corrobbery, the Europeans call it) is his, and that he has the honour of directing it. This dignity is hereditary from father to son. The present Burka of the Adelaide tribe is called "Kua Kartameru" by his countrymen, King John by the Europeans, and has four wives, more than any other native that I know of. The Unjawaieti before alluded to is a play, at which the women sing and beat their hands on their skins, wrapped up like a muff, in a sitting posture, while the men dance, flourishing their weapons and roaring like lions. Besides this, they have another play, at which the men, ornamented with white stripes over their faces, breasts, and knees, and a wreath of green leaves round their legs, stamp alternately with their feet on the ground at such a tremendous rate, that large clouds of dust rise towards the sky. Three are stamping at a time ; when one is tired, he sits down on the ground, which is accompanied by a loud shout of the rest, and another comes forward in his place. When we first came in the colony, they had this play almost every evening, this being always the time of their amusements ; but now never. This is owing to the fact, that this play goes from one tribe to another ; for they tell me, that they laid it down at a distance, from where another man fetched it, but by and by it would come back. To this custom the name of the play appears to refer, as they called it "Kuri," which signifies a ring or anything round. Many of the manners of the Aborigines evidently bear an oriental character, as for instance, circumcision, which they practise in almost all ages ; their lamentations over dead persons, every one repeating the name which the deceased bore as his relative, the one crying, "My father, my father !" another, "My brother, my brother !" &c., &c. (See Jeremiah xxii. 18.)South Australian Colonist and Settlers' Weekly Record of British, Foreign and Colonial Intelligence (London, England : 1840), Tuesday 17 March 1840 |
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| Portraits of Aboriginal Australian men of South Australia, 1847 / George French Angas. |
The designs on Aboriginal shields often signify the artist's clan or family group. There were two main types of shields: broad shields and parrying shields. The narrow but thick parrying shield would deflect blows from
clubs in close combat. While, broad shields are generally, wider and thinner, and intended to stop spears.
Outlines of a grammar, vocabulary, and phraseology, of the aboriginal language of South Australia, by Teichelmann, Chr. G. [from old catalog]; Schürmann, C. W., [from old catalog] joint author Publication date 1840. Read
here
1830s
The first Europeans to explore the Birdwood region were Dr George Imlay and John Hill in January 1838.
Early settlers to South Australia were mostly British. The first large
group of Germans arrived in 1838, with the financial assistance of the Emigration Fund.
1840s
The wool industry was the basis of South Australia's economy, with the first wool auction held in Adelaide in 1840.
George Fife Angas and the South Australian Company had taken up considerable areas of land —later leased or sold to settlers—but no real settlement at Birdwood (Blumberg) before 1848.
The centre of the first settlement appears to have been situated about a mile N.W. of the present town, on the other side.of the Torrens. (
2.)
The town was settled in the mid 1840s by German (Prussian) immigrants, bringing their Lutheran faith. The German settlement was called Blumberg after a region of Prussia. (Some of the settlers were Germans fleeing from the Danish annexation of a part of previous Prussian territory)
The cemetery contains the remains of 10 first German
settlers, with the first burial being of 7 year old Juliane Huebner in 1848.
1850s
Pastor Fritzsche, stated in letters, that he objected to the indiscriminate ring-barking and felling of beautiful gum trees since he was a lover of nature. (
1.)
In 1850, a small Lutheran church was
built.
Mr Bluemel laid out the town in 1853. The original flour mill was built in 1855 by German settler Gottlieb Blumel.
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| Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904), Saturday 28 October 1854, |
George Fife Angas sold a portion of land in 1856 to J.C. Handell, a blacksmith, and J.G. Cloke, a wheelwright. Bluemel's mill stood on this land and the adjacent wheelwright and blacksmith shops were the centre of the town, which he named Blumberg.
The Napoleon Bonaparte Hotel was built about 1856. (now The Blumberg Hotel)
Responsible government was granted to South Australia in 1857.
By 1858 the district had a considerable population. The Lutheran congregation numbered about
500. Failure of the harvest caused many to leave. (
3.)
1860s
Holy Cross Lutheran church 1860 built to replace an earlier 1850 church.
The opening of the bridge is reported in the
Register, 23 May 1861.
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| Adelaider Deutsche Zeitung (SA : 1851 - 1862), Friday 31 May 1861 |
The first mill burned down in 1865 and was rebuilt in 1868 by William Beavis Randell, of Gumeracha, and his son Samuel.
The laying of the
foundation stone of the Catholic Church is detailed in the
Register, 12 June 1867.
1870s
A gold discovery in the district is reported in the Register, 5 February 1870.
1880s
The laying of the foundation stone of the Institute is reported in the
Register, 14 March 1884.
1900s
A wattle bark industry is described in the Register, 29 January 1902. (wattle bark as well as providing work, provided tannin the tannery industry)
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| Mr. Diedrich Haeveker, who died at Blumberg, was born on Christmas Day, 182S. and he had lived in South Australia for 50 years. He was formerly landlord of the Napoleon Hotel, King William-street.Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1965), Saturday 5 March 1904 |
A telephone office, on the condenser system, was
opened ai Blumberg on -December 19. 1905.
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| Main Street of Blumberg, SA, Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 - 1931), Saturday 19 May 1906, |
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THE SIENNA MINE AT BLUMBERG, S.A. The inspecting party grouped around the mam shaft.Critic (Adelaide, SA : 1897-1924), Wednesday 20 June 1906 |
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| The Blumberg Hotel, SA (Birdwood), horse drawn vehicles, which include the Royal Mail Passenger Coach and an early make motor car wait outside, c1906. SLSA |
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| MR. G. SHEPHERDSON'S SLEEPER-CUTTING MILLS NEAR BLUMBERG, SA (Birdwood) Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 - 1931), Saturday 17 August 1907 |
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| 1. Main Street of Blumberg, SA, (birdwood) Showing the Old Institute on the left in Foreground. 2. VIEW IN RECREATION GROUND. Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1965), Saturday 6 January 1906 |
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| A NEW SOUTH AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY.THE MOUNT SIENNA T1UMENT AND TAINT MINE AT EDUMBEKG. THE ONLY MINE OF ITS KIND IN .AUSTRALIA.1. Shaft and Engine Crushing Room. 2. Shaft, Crushing Boom, and Settling Pitts. Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 - 1931), Saturday 6 July 1907 |
The insolvency case of Benjamin Adolph Stein and Alexander Albert Stein (trading as Stein Brothers). ' butter manufacturers, of Blumberg. Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), Wednesday 22 July 1908)
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| ARBOR DAY AT BLUMBERG: FRIDAY, JULY 31. WHERE THE TREE-PLANTING TOOK PLACE. Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1965), Saturday 8 August 1908 |
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| Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), Monday 1 February 1909 |
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| Blumberg (Birdwood) bridge on the road to Gawler, SA, Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 - 1931), Saturday 20 August 1910 |
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| Blumberg (Birdwood) SA, people who want a railway and Main Street of the township. Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 - 1931), Saturday 20 August 1910 |
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| Bullock team standing west of Rathjen's home, Birdwood, SA, 1910, SLSA |
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| BLUMBERG LADIES' CLUB. Standing— Misses L. Crane, a Promnit?, S. Macrschel, B. Promnitz, and A. Fewster. Seated— Misses L. Verall, A. Klose ?ifcaptain), L- Ptevcus, and N1. McGlowh. RceJining— Misses I. Kaddin and G. Pflar.m (serretary). siadjin, photo. C- r- ? Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1965), Saturday 24 August 1912, |
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| SOME RESIDENTS OF BLUMBERG AND SURROUNDING DISTRICT. (Birdwood, SA) Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 - 1931), Saturday 6 April 1912 |
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| Residents of Blumberg, South Australia, 1914, State Library of South Australia |
The opening of Angas Bridge on 17 April 1915.
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| The opening of Angas Bridge, Blumberg, SA, (Birdwood). Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1965), Saturday 17 April 1915 |
WWI (1914-1918)
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THE LATE PRIVATE R. PFLAUM. Mr. and Mrs. Pflaum, of Blumberg, have been advised that their son, Private Ray Pflaum, has died of wounds, a prisoner of war in Germany. Private Pflaum, who had just attained his 19th birthday, was educated at the Blumberg Primary and High Schools and Prince Alfred College. He was a fine all-round athlete, and was an active member of the tennis, cricket, football and rifle clubs. He enlisted for active service in July, 1915, and sailed in November for Egypt, where his battalion was stationed on the canal defences until June of this year, when it was transferred to France. He was wounded in the big push in July and taken prisoner. He was greatly esteemed, and his death is much felt through the district. Two of his brothers, Private Elliot Pflaum and Sergeant Theo. Pflaum, are still at the front. The latter was mentioned in dispatches for gallant work in the attack in which Ray fell. He came across Ray lying on the battlefield, but the latter, though severely wounded, would not let him remain behind, telling him to go forward, and saying he would be quite all right. Later on the company was outflanked and had to retire leaving the wounded on the field.Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1965), Saturday 30 December 1916 |
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LATE PTE.F. S. JEFFERY. BLUMBERG August 2l;-On, Tuesday it was learned that Pte. F. S. Jeffery had been killed in France. He was formerly the high school teacher, and was highly esteemed by. all who knew him. His is _ the first death in the ranks of local soldiers. He was. for some time .at 'Gallipoli and in the Suez Canal zone before goi iz with his battalion to France. While in this town Mr. Jeffery was the Secretary:7 and promotor of the literary society, and he started the Blumberg Rifle Club just' before he enlisted. He was also also Secretary of the football dub, and a member of the institute committee.Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), Thursday 24 August 1916 |
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| Pflaum and Co. 's Peerless Roller Mills. The original building on the right was built by the Randalls but was used later for the storage of bran and pollard. The extension on the left was built by P. Flaun in 1877. Birdwood, SA, (1916) SLSA |
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| Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA : 1880 - 1960), Friday 19 April 1918 |
The German town name was anglicised to 'Birdwood' during World War I (1918, along with many others in the region). (there was a lot of anti-German sentiment in World War I). The town was named in honour of Sir William Birdwood, the general who led the ANZACs at Gallipoli during World War I.
1920s
The discovery of an extensive deposit of ochre and sienna at no great distance from the surface and within 30 miles of Adelaide, (Blumberg). New York Times (1920) Ochre and Sienna used in painting pigments since prehistoric times)
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| Main Street, Birdwood, SA, in 1924. This photograph was reproduced in the Observer on 5th July 1924. It depicts F. Pflaum and Company, millers and chaff merchants. Over the road from the millers is possibly the Bank of Adelaide building. The main road is a dirt road and bullocks or horses and carts can be seen in the distance, SLSA |
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BIRDWOOD AND MANNUM PEOPLE WANT TO KEEP THEIR STUDEBAKER SERVICEThere has been a great deal of discussion lately regarding the retention of Birdseye & Son's passenger service on the Birdwood and Mannum routes. It was stated at a deputation that waited on the Premier last Friday morning that the people at these towns, also those along the route, were quite satisfied with the service which they had received from Birdseye & Sons during the.last six years, and the Premier was asked to withdraw the railway buses from this particular route. The above photograph shows a Studebaker 15-passenger bus and three Studebaker Big Six 7-passenger ears that Messrs. Birdseye &;Son run on their service. The fact that the people in these districts are so keen to keep this service proves that Messrs. Birdseye & Son made a wise choice in purchasing Studebakers.News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 - 1954), Monday 1 March 1926 |
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| Birdwood District Schools, Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1965), Saturday 20 April 1929, |
1930s
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BIRDWOOD EN FETE. The main street at Birdwood on Saturday, when the picturesque hills town held a ' Back-to-Birdwood' celebration. His Excellency the Governor and Lady Dugan were present MEMORIAL GATES OPENED. His Excellency the Governor (Sir Winston Dugan) opening the Elliott Theel memorial gates at Birdwood Park on Saturday, on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the town.Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1965), Thursday 10 November 1938 |
1940s and WWI
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Mr. Neumann, Mrs. Neumann There, Mr. Morphett says, one gets an insight into the grit, and persistence of the men who originally brought that countrvside into production. Mr. Neumann is a son of Gottfried Neumann, who left Brcslau. in search ; of religious freedom and tolerance, in j company with the Silcsian migrants. : gathered under Pastor Kavel. : They arrived at Holdfast Bay in ? Captain Hahn's Zebra on December 23. 1838, in the charge of Charles Flax- ; man. Pastor Kave] and many other ; religious refugees, had previously | landed from the Prince George. i Charles Flaxman was Mrs. George ! Morphett's grandfather ; Real Pioneering T-TERE is a story of real pioneering. After a brief sojourn at Hahndorf, Gottfried Neumann secured a section i of land at Blumberg (Birdwood). and ; erected a wattle and daub hut on the i site of the present high school. There, after strenuous work in clear ing the honeysuckle scrub and grub bing the mighty gum trees, sawn and ' split into fence posts. Gottfried died at i the age of 47. leaving his widow to support a family, ranging from 19 years to 18 months. : The widow toiled on. walking to Adelaide weekly, with a heavy burden of farm produce. .lust 'lien her five- ;year-old son -G.W.) started to help the family by milking the cow, collect ing bones, to be sold at 2/6 a bag; gath ering firewood, and starting on a useful lile. Today the veteran's main relaxation is to help with the feeding and milk ing on what Mr. Morphett describes as one of the cleanest and neatest | farms he has seen. i Mr. and Mrs. Neumann wall celebrate the golden anniversary of their wed ding on May 25. j Y.P. Pioneer 90 Today On Saturday Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), Monday 29 April 1940 |
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MONEY FOR AMBULANCE. Mr. A. V. Bawden handing to the Premier (Mr. Playford) on Saturday a cheque for £500 which the residents of Birdwood — many of them of German descent — sub-scribed for an ambulance.Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1965), Thursday 15 August 1940 |
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| Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA : 1880 - 1960), Thursday 8 October 1942 |
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| Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), Tuesday 21 December 1943 |
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| First Prize Pair Of A.M.&. Cows, A. J. Mueller and Son, Birdwoo, SA. .Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1965), Thursday 3 April 1947 |
1950s
The Birdwood Mill finally closed in 1953. (now the site of the motor museum
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THEY'RE a versatile lot at Birdwood. In the field of farming and in the field of. sport they rank high with any other town in the State. Versatility is the keynote of the farms around the township, in the rolling country 28 miles east of Adelaide. With the good roads and fast transport these days, the townspeople say they are almost suburban. Department of Agriculture experts who keep advocating diversified farming must look kindly on Birdwood. Milk, eggs, wool, meat, potatoes, bacon and honey are among the primary products of the town. News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 - 1954), Wednesday 23 September 1953 |
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| CITY MOTORS PTY. LTD. o BIRDWOOD, SA. News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 - 1954), Wednesday 23 September 1953 |
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| News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 - 1954), Wednesday 23 September 1953 |
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| Coach driver likes -modern car He's just the man to draw comparisons between old and new methods of getting places. 'In the old days I used to drive the coach- - it had a three-horse team -between here and Mannuma," he said. "'We had up to 12 passengers on board in the holiday times. "Another coach, run was Birdwooti to Woodside, about· 12 miles over a metal road." Mr. Neumann thinks the cars of today do a great job." He followed the Redex trial keenly and barracked. for '"Possum" Kipling all the way. Mr. Neumann was born at Birdwood in a thatched roof cottage, and helped his father reap wheat with a sickle. He was 18 when the foundation stone was laid at the Birdwood Institute. He attended the one-room school. Birdwood Institute is 70 years old next March. One of its proud tiossesslons is the £500 full portrait of Lord .Birdwood, ....News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 - 1954), Wednesday 23 September 1953, |
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| Leader (Angaston, SA : 1918 - 1960), Thursday 27 August 1953 |
1960s
The National Motor Museum in Birdwood was started by Jack Kaines and Len Vigar after they purchased the old mill buildings in 1964, and opened as a museum the following year in 1965.
Around Birdwood
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| The Blumberg Hotel, Birdwood, SA, Originally built in 1856 as the Napoleon Bonaparte Inn, it was a single-story structure. It was later renamed the Blumberg Hotel in 1890. During World War I, due to anti-German sentiment, the town was renamed Birdwood and the hotel briefly became the Napoleon Hotel. However, it eventually reverted to its original name, the Blumberg Hotel. |
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| The Blumberg Hotel, Birdwood, SA, Originally built in 1856 as the Napoleon Bonaparte Inn, |
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| At National MotorMuseum in Birdwood, South Australia |
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| The National Motor Museum, formerly also known as The Old Mill and Birdwood Mill (The original mill was built in 1855 by German settler Gottlieb Blumel) |
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| The Birdwood Roller Mill in South Australia was built in the 1850s as the Randell Mill and later expanded with the adjoining Peerless Roller Mill in 1888 |
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| Birdwood, SA, dates from the 1850s |
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| Birdwood, SA, (Blumberg). Holy Cross Lutheran church 1860, built to replace an earlier 1850 church. Near Birdwood. |
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| Birdwood Primary School, SA. The state school opened in 1878 cross the street. This bulding was the former home of the local four mill owner |
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| Stone cottage at Birdwood (Blumberg), SA, c1900 |
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| Stone cottage at Birdwood (Blumberg), SA, c1910 |
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| Birdwood Institute, SA, built in 1884 |
Things To Do and Places To Go
National Motor Museum -history of motoring in Australia and collection of vintage cars.
The Adelaide almanack town and country directory, and guide to South Australia ...
(1871) Directory District of Talunga here
