History & heritage

A plan that sets out to protect, conserve and enhance The Bluff has been adopted by the City of Victor Harbor. The Bluff Master Plan was developed in collaboration with community over the past 18 months.

The Vietnam war was Australia's longest war of the 20th century. More than 60,000 Australians served, 3,000 were wounded, and 523 died. In the early 1970s, more than 200,000 people marched in the streets of Australia’s major cities in protest of the war.

Restoration of the Riverina’s largest woolshed and its conversion into a museum and major tourist attraction is gaining momentum, with locals hopeful they will officially own five acres of land containing old shearers’ quarters and sheds within weeks. Toganmain Station, located between Darlington Point and Carrathool, was established in 1867 as one of the first grazing properties in the region.

John Williams. Not Houdini, but another escapologist Ray Mondel performed a "thrilling feat" off the side of the gleaming 6-year-old Noske silo in October 1925. Before a gasping crowd of 200, Mondel, known as the "Manacled Miracle" was tightly secured into a straight-jacket with four large straps and hauled feet first up some 100 feet to the top of the silo.

Last Friday night, at the Yanac Public Hall, about 50 past and present locals joined to celebrate the 80 years of community service of the Yanac CFA ... The brigade started as the Yanac Bush Fire Brigade, which was formed in 1942. The only equipment they had were fire beaters and knapsacks, until 1949 when they were able to borrow an engine-driven pump kept at the Yanac Railway Station.

James Lister. On Friday, in my capacity as Shadow Assistant Minister for Veterans, I attended the Brisbane Vietnam Veterans Day service in ANZAC Square and laid a wreath in honour of the fallen. Vietnam Veterans Day is a unique post on our calendar of military remembrances.

Members of the Charlton RSL Sub-Branch marked Vietnam Veterans’ Day last Friday – August 18 – with a dinner and commemoration service to honour and recognize the contribution of those who served and fell in Australia’s longest military engagement (1962-1972/3) of the 20th Century.

Alyssa Walker. A group of over 50 archers descended upon Dunolly on August 4, preparing to defend the realm for the annual medieval shoot. With no one too old or too young to join the ranks, archers seized their cloaks, bows, and quivers (and in some cases, their armour) and took to the shooting range for the two-day competition.

Port Pirie Regional Council is thrilled to announce a captivating commemorative project that will breathe life into the military history of the region. South Australian artist Sam Brooks, renowned for his extensive portfolio of public art, has partnered with his assistant Mark Harding to create a stunning mural on the side of the last remaining WW2 Belmont Hangar at Port Pirie Aerodrome.

The historic Kaniva Shire Hall can now offer increased comfort and functionality with the installation of a new heating and cooling system. This marks a significant milestone for the building ... The Kaniva Shire Hall was officially opened in 1929 and is renowned for its unique architectural features, including a rare cameo ceiling.

John Williams. Digby Ian Harris OAM was Nhill ’s sturdy, warm-hearted family doctor for over 4 decades, a man of professional skill, enthusiasm, intelligence and humanity. He was known by everyone and had gained great respect, esteem and love. And he knew his people even better than they knew themselves.

Whyalla City Council has released a new book showcasing its historic art collection to the public in its entirety for the first time. ‘City of Whyalla Art Collection ... the history of Whyalla’s Art Collection starting from the 19th Century to the more recent pieces created in the 2020s.

This year’s 100th anniversary of the launching of the paddleboat Alexander Arbuthnot at Koondrook will be celebrated at a community event at the Koondrook Wharf and Apex Park on Friday, October 27 from 4pm – 7.30pm ... During the event, interpretive signage will be unveiled showcasing the extensive research from the Barham Koondrook Historical Society and volunteers on the local paddleboat history.

David Prestipino, NIT. A prominent First Nations leader in the Kimberley has called for an independent panel chaired by an industry leader and Indigenous expert to re-draft WA's doomed Aboriginal Cultural Heritage legislation. Nyikina man and former Kimberley Land Council CEO Wayne Bergmann said a roundtable of industry, pastoralists, farmers, native title holders and land councils should be involved in drafting the new laws.

John O'Donnell identifies the multiple contributory factors that influenced fuels, forest fire resilience, bushfire attack, safety, impact, cost, bushfire extent and intensity of the 2019/ 2020 major bushfires across south eastern Australia ... Are we better prepared now?

The dusty outback town of Tennant Creek came alive with vibrant colours, captivating melodies, and infectious energy during the 2023 Desert Harmony Festival - Kunjuku, Anyinginyi Jangarlki Kapi Kaminya Palpuru (Respect, Identity and Healing).

When Maldon resident Kim Brownbill was a young boy, his family car was a Hupmobile – an American model automobile built in the early to mid-1900s ... the spectacular classic and vintage automobile collection that’s currently under the hammer with Donington Auctions and available to view at Kim’s private shed in Maldon.

Nadia. Last term 17 students and six staff participated in a major excursion to Uluru and the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands in the Far North of South Australia ... The group was lucky to experience some rarely seen events; waterfalls on Uluru and it shrouded in cloud and mist.

In the next two episodes, [Lord Howe Island] Signal readers are privileged to look inside the life of Islander, Rosemary Sinclair (nee Fenton), "Miss Australia" in 1960. Rosie’s description of her early life on Lord Howe from the 1940s takes us back to World War II, which cast a dark shadow over her early life on the Island. Her later success as "Miss Australia" was symptomatic of the post-war optimism which pervaded the Island in the 1950s and 60’s, making her an important Island voice from "the flying boat days" up to the present.

Viv Markham. Maldon Bakery owner Rebecca Barnett is pretty chuffed that her business has been selected as the National Bakery Industry of Australia’s bakery of the month for July. Her business has only been open for nine months, but under her guidance, it has been going from strength to strength.

WAFarmers met with the Western Australian Minister for Heritage recently. We had an interesting discussion on the roll out of the State's new Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Laws. The Minister clearly believes that the new laws won't impact farmers the way our lawyers tell us it will; in his view the roll out is smooth and all it needs is some tweaking ... Minister, some more advice.