The City of Mount Gambier acknowledges the Boandik Peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land and water our city sits upon today.
Aunty Michelle shares the Mar story as handed down in her family.
Craitbul Story by Aunty Michelle
This video is one of the Boandik people’s Dreaming stories. This legend shows that movement over lands of different language groups did occur. It also shows that groups fiercely protected family, their own people and land.
A slab hut next to the Cave Garden was used as the first Police Station in the area beginning in 1846.
The grant of section 1103 in the Hundred of Blanche, County of Grey. 77 Acres issued to Evelyn Sturt on the 10th May 1847.
The license for John Byng’s Mount Gambier Hotel was granted on September 18th 1847 (the third license granted in the South- East.)
Hastings Cunningham purchases land from Sturt and enganges William Murray a licenced surveyor to create 123 allotments, streets and a public reserve on a portion of the 77 acres surrounding a sinkhole.
In April 1856, the contract for construction of the second Police Station in Mount Gambier was complete, on the current site on Bay Road.
The original single storied hotel, The Farmers Inn opened on 5th August 1856.
The original Telegraph Office was established in 1857. The four-room building was built east of the main corner in Commercial Street.
Operated by Johann Schinckel and Wiliam Milton and situated on the corner of Watson Tce and Bay Road (current day Elders building.)
In 1856 Hastings Cunningham donated a parcel of land on Sturt Street for a purpose built school.
Opened in March 1860 by Robert Long, The South Australian Hotel was the third hotel in the town to receive a license.
The National Bank was the first bank to open in Mount Gambier, temporarily occupying a small office in Krummel Street from the 1st May 1860.
The first edition of The Border Watch was published on 26th April 1861 making it the first and now longest running newspaper in Mount Gambier.
The first hotel licence in Mount Gambier was granted to the Mount Gambier Hotel in 1847. At this time the hotel was operating under the ownership of John Byng in a weatherboard building in Watson Terrace.
On the February 20th 1863, residents of Mount Gambier sent a petition to the State Governor Sir Dominic Daly, requesting the formation of a local Council.
This cemetery was used by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Australia from 1864 to 1907 and is located on the corner of Warren and Griffith Streets Mount Gambier.
In March 1864, Mr. John MacDonald was reported to be converting his home into a public house.
In July, 1864, Adam Lindsay Gordon made his famed leap on horseback over an old post and rail guard fence onto a narrow ledge overlooking the Blue Lake and jumped back again onto the roadway.
Previously a butcher shop of August Pringle, The Globe Inn opened on the 17th September 1864 for licensee Duncan Livingston.
The Government Gazette of December 20 1864 announced the District Council of Mount Gambier would split to form two new Councils.
In January 1865, the first Court House was opened after work for the building had commenced in 1864.
The two storied Telegraph building was constructed in 1865 on land donated by Alexander Mitchell (proprietor of the Gambier Hotel.)
The Anglican Christ Church was consecrated on the 10th December 1865 in front of a crowd of 600 people.
Situated in Margaret Street, the first Mount Gambier Gaol was opened on the 4th of April 1866.
On January 1, 1867, the Post Office opened and started operations occupying the former Telegraph Offices.
In April 1867, Thomas Henry Williams opened his first of many mills in Mount Gambier.
The foundation stone for the single storied Institute Library was laid by John Riddoch MP on January 6th 1868.
In 1868, The Commercial Hotel opened as a single-story building.
The Lake Terrace Cemetery, or the New Cemetery as it was originally known, was first planned in 1861 with a competition held to design its layout. The winning design was submitted by Mr R.H Gardiner.
The Shakespeare hotel was a single story building with just 14 rooms and a cellar.
Building commenced in 1867 and was completed in 1869 to accommodate 20 males and 20 females.
The current Mount Gambier Uniting Church building was erected for the St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church.
Creation of the Town Council of Mount Gambier.
Opened 21st January 1878 by Chief Secretary, Hon. W Morgan.
Costing £1,320, the original limestone Railway Station building was built in 1879.
The Foundation Stone for the Town Hall was laid by Mayoress Mrs T.H. Williams on the 14th of September 1881, with the building completed nine months later in 1882.
On the 7th August 1883, 80 of the towns leading businessmen stood in the street and then went to drink champagne to toast the installation of the Town Hall Clock.
Designed by prominent architect Thomas Hall, the Hotels’ foundation stone was laid on 25th July 1883.
The Gardiner Fountain was first unveiled to the community on the 18th of June 1884.
In June 1880 a poll of local ratepayers decided by 248 votes to 202 that Mount Gambier should have a water scheme. The earliest preference was for water from the Valley Lake, then a little later, Lake Edward near Glencoe was recommended
The Mount Gambier Roller Flour Mills were built in 1885 by Thomas Henry Williams. A design was accepted from William Webber, and was to be built within three to four months.
St Paul’s Roman Catholic Church was opened in Penola Road on 1885, being dedicated on the 19th April the same year.
The new two storied Commercial Banking chamber and residence was opened on the corner of Commercial and Grey Streets on the 7th May 1885.
Photograph of a painting of Mount Gambier with an inset painting of north side of Commercial Street,1886.
The original 14 roomed two storied building of the Park Hotel was opened on the 13th March 1886. Situated on the corner of Bertha Street and Commercial Street West the Park Hotel has undergone many renovations over the years.
The new two storied Post Office was erected on the corner of Bay Road and Commercial Street East in 1877.
Situated in the Cave Garden, the baths were named after Colonel P. J Browne of Moorak Station who donated 500 pounds for their development.