Stockwell

 

Stockwell, about 80 km north of Adelaide, was founded by English migrant Samuel Stockwell in 1853. Samuel had bought the land from George Fife Angas, part of which he sub-divided into townblocks and offered for sale on 4 April 1854. On another part of his land he built a steam flour mill, using the water from the nearby Stockwell Creek. The mill, after several different owners, upgrades and new machinery, was still producing flour a hundred years later. Samuel's stay was not as long. Having settled his family of four children in a neat two-roomed cottage, he died at Pine Hut, near Truro, on 14 December 1870 aged 45

 

The first marriage at Stockwell took place on 16 July 1860 when William Turner, storekeeper of Nuriootpa, married Elizabeth Tobitt.

 

Another well known resident was Dr Bernhard Traugott Zwar. Born in Stockwell in 1876 he completed his education at Prince Alfred College and Adelaide University before going to England and Germany. He was directly involved with the building of the Royal Melbourne Hospital. He died in 1947.

 

The setttlement of Stockwell followed the same traditional pattern as many other settled villages, a Lutheran church and school were opened almost immediately, on land donated by George Fife Angas.

Its first Pastor, Staudenmeyer from Light Pass, conducted services twice a week on Sundays and Wednesdays. The first teacher, Franz Neuvert, used the same building and started work in 1856. A public school was opened in 1881 where twenty-four students were enrolled, their teacher was Mr Carl Krichauff.

 

Being on a busy stock route, pioneered in the late 1830s when cattle was overlanded from New South Wales, the town soon had a number of stores, a blacksmith, bootmakers, a post office and hotel. A.Bamberger, storekeeper and first postmaster served in both from 1857 until 1879. Daily mail deliveries were made by Cobb and Co and Later Rounsevell. In 1877 the town was connected by telegraph to Adelaide but it was not until 1911 that a telephone exchange was installed.

 

The hotel, completed in 1867, had twelve rooms and provided stabling for twenty horses. Its large reception room was used for Lodge meetings, formed on 21 August 1863, dances and most other community activities. With a large number of German migrants living in town, both meetings and entertainment at the hotel often had a distinct German flavour. There was the Bismark Skat Club to play cards, the brass band and hunt club to name just a few.

 

 

 

Sources:

South Australian History Website: http://www.southaustralianhistory.com.au/stockwell.htm