Town saddles up for celebration

Patrick Goldsmith, Yorke Peninsula Country Times

They came in their thousands to celebrate 150 years of the Edithburgh jetty across Saturday and Sunday, October 7-8.

Those who had wandered down the street, or driven from further away, to join the celebrations were met with a hive of activity, including shearing and diving demonstrations, museum open days and market stalls offering an array of food and drink options.

Centrepiece of the weekend was the unveiling of a life-sized clydesdale horse sculpture and jetty truck installation at the end of Edith Street on Saturday.

The sculpture, appropriately named Edith, pays homage to the way salt, lime and gypsum were hauled to awaiting ships at what was once the state’s third busiest sea port.

An emotional Edithburgh jetty 150th anniversary committee chairperson Nola O’Connell said it had been a long journey to see the sculpture finally erected.

“After two years of fundraising, writing endless grants with a few knockbacks, gaining sponsorship through community events and fundraisers, getting permission from council, the project came to fruition,” she said.

“The Edithburgh jetty was significant in South Australia’s maritime history, before its closure as a port in 1973.

“The Clydesdale horses played a large part in transportation of goods to and from the jetty.”

Mrs O’Connell thanked those who had helped in any way to develop and finalise the project.

The weekend also featured a gala dinner at the Edithburgh Institute on Saturday night, as well as the launch of a new book chronicling the history of the jetty. 

See all the pictures in the issue.

This article appeared in Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 10 October 2023.