Place Names of South Australia - M
Mitcham
Mitcham
Churches and Schools
Nomenclature
The 'Village of Mitcham' was established by the South Australian Company in 1840 on section 248, Hundred of Adelaide. In all the subdivisions undertaken by the Company, it invariably applied names from England, of company directors or eminent persons. On this occasion it opted for an 'old country name', Mitcham in Surrey.
At the time of the village's creation William Giles was the London manager of the SA Company; his home town was "Mitcham" in Surrey.
(See Ken Preiss and Pamela Oborn, The Torrens Park Estate, pages 6-7.)
General Notes
An 1854 sketch of a church is in the Royal Almanac held in the Mortlock Library.
The laying of the foundation stone of the Bible Christian Chapel is reported in the Observer,
18 February 1860, page 5g.
Information on the Primitive Methodist Church is in the Register,
17 December 1884, page 6g.
"Memories of Mitcham" is in The Mail,
26 May 1928, page 11e.
Examinations at Mr Webb's school are reported in the Register,
24 December 1868, page 3f,
29 June 1869, page 3f and
26 December 1871, page 7a; also see
27 December 1869, page 3a for information on the Grammar School and
4 December 1872, page 5b for public school examinations,
Advertiser,
3 December 1872, page 2e and
10 December 1889, page 5g.
Information on a proposed school is in the Register,
26 July 1869, page 2h,
16 August 1869, page 2e.
A proposal for a "National School" is discussed in the Observer,
31 July 1869, page 5d,
21 August 1869, page 4d.
The Register of
15 December 1875, page 5c has information on an old and proposed school; also see
Register,
5 May 1876, page 6f,
Observer,
6 May 1876, page 3g,
Chronicle,
25 August 1877, page 11d,
Register,
20 and 23 October 1877, pages 5a and 1f (supp.),
13, 17 and 21 May 1878, pages 4d-7c, 5c and 5c-7b,
11 July 1879, page 6c.
Information on tenders for the new school is in the Register,
11 July 1879, page 6c.
The laying of the foundation stone of the Catholic Church is reported in the Register,
1 November 1869, page 2e.
The laying of the foundation stone of the new school and institute is reported in the Register,
4 April 1870, page 6c -
for the opening see
12 October 1870, page 5c.
The laying of the foundation stone of St Joseph's Convent is reported in the Register,
12 July 1881 (supp.), page 1e.
The opening of the new Wesleyan Church is reported in the Register,
11 January 1882, page 5b.
The jubilee of Saint Michael's Church is reported on
4 October 1902, page 6g; also see
30 September 1911, page 7g;
The News,
6 December 1927, page 8c.
A history of Saint Michael's Church is in the Register,
1 December 1923, page 5 and
of the Baptist Church on
19 July 1924, page 4 and in
The News,
8 May 1928, page 6f.
Information on the Mitcham Christian Church is in the Register,
5 and 9 March 1895, pages 7f and 6d.
An obituary of Rev J.W. Owen is in the Register,
22 March 1905, page 4i.
The opening of Saint Andrew's College is reported in the Register,
7 June 1928, page 13f,
Observer,
16 June 1928, page 22a.
Mitcham
Minchin Well - Mobilong
M
Place Names
Mitcham
Miscellany
Information on the District Council is in the Observer,
19 and 26 February 1853, pages 3c and 5d,
5 March 1853, page 3a,
11 June 1853, page 5f.
A meeting of ratepayers called to consider dividing the district into wards is in the Register,
20 April 1881, page 5b.
"Local Government Divorce" is in the Register,
7 and 21 February 1911, pages 8d and 15e.
Also see South Australia - Miscellany - Local Government.
A cricket match against Unley is reported in the Register,
7 April 1858, page 3b and
versus Glen Osmond in the Observer,
25 January 1868, page 4c; also see
Express,
13 December 1888, page 4e,
16 September 1890, page 4a.
Also see South Australia - Sport - Cricket - Miscellany.
The sale of public reserves is the subject of
Parliamentary Paper 145/1858; also see
Parliamentary Paper 147/1858.
"Government Reserves at Mitcham" is in the Observer,
13 November 1858, page 3c.
The need for a public park is explored in the Register,
3 February 1881, page 4g.
For information on the "Reserve" see
17 October 1900, page 8h.
A report on banana growing is in the Register,
12 March 1859, page 3e.
Also see South Australia - Industries - Rural, Primary and Secondary - Fruit and Vegetables
A "tongue-in-cheek" description of the village is in the Register,
17 June 1861, page 3b; also see
Observer,
22 June 1861, page 2f (supp.),
27 August 1887, page 35a,
Register,
25 August 1887, page 7c.
Under the heading "Watercourses" the Register of
6 February 1862 has a discussion on the supply of water from Brownhill Creek.
The Register of
9 August 1875, page 6c reports on a meeting in respect of the local water supply -
Parliamentary Paper 45/1875 has a report on the same subject; also see Express,
9 August 1875, page 3c,
Register,
7 March 1877, page 4g,
10 February 1880, page 5b,
6 February 1890, page 6g.
Information on the Mitcham reservoir is in the Chronicle,
21 February 1880, page 8e.
"Water Conservation at Mitcham" is in the Register,
8 December 1902, page 7d.
Also see Adelaide - Water Supply.
An athletic sports' day and fete is reported upon in the Observer,
13 November 1869, page 10e.
Also see South Australia - Sport - Athletics and Gymnastics.
An Adelaide Hunt Club meet is reported in the Observer,
10 September 1870, page 9f.
Also see South Australia - Sport - Fox Hunting.
Reports on the dramatic club are in the Express,
2 August 1871, page 2d,
28 September 1871, page 2f.
Information on the Catholic female refuge is in The Irish Harp,
6 April 1872, page 4c.
Information on a working men's club is in the Register,
17 August 1872, page 5b.
A pigeon shooting match on Mr H.F. Shipster's property is reported in the Chronicle,
14 December 1872, page 4b.
Also see South Australia - Sport - Pigeon Racing and Shooting.
Mr Laffer's strawberry farm is described in the Register,
24 November 1874, page 6d.
Information on Charles Mallen's (Muller's) brewery is in the Register,
1 January 1878, page 7b. Also see South Australia - Industries - Rural, Primary and Secondary - Brewing
An obituary of Mrs Charles Mallen is in the Register,
12 November 1900, page 4i,
of Charles Muller of the Waverley Brewery in the Observer,
30 October 1909, page 41a.
A proposed dairy farm is discussed in the Register,
3 August 1878, page 5b.
The Mitcham Dairy Company is described in the Register,
22 October 1881, page 6d.
Also see Adelaide - Public Health - Milk Supply.
"A Public Park for Mitcham" is in the Observer,
5 February 1881, page 214b.
Information on local quarries is in the Express,
28 October 1881, page 2d.
Register,
19 June 1900, page 7g.
A quarry accident is reported in the Register,
30 November 1881, page 5d.
The first meeting of the Mitcham Railway Quarry Co is reported in the Register,
31 May 1883, page 5a.
"The Mitcham Quarries" is in the Register,
5 November 1904, page 6g. "
"Quarry Catastrophe" is in the Observer,
28 January 1905, pages 26 and 38a.
Mr Prince's garden is described in the Register,
11 November 1884, page 7g.
Also see South Australia - Industries - Rural, Primary and Secondary - Building Stone.
Mr Prince's garden is described in the Register,
11 November 1884, page 7g.
An obituary of George Prince is in the Register,
29 January 1886, page 5c,
12 October 1891, page 4h,
Observer,
17 October 1891, page 31b.
A disgruntled correspondent to the Advertiser on 24 November 1888, page 6g complained that:
-
The neighbourhood of Upper Mitcham swarms with young thieves. Fruit, flowers, vegetables, garden tools, eggs, firewood, fence rails and any loose articles are continually being stolen... The stocks, the whipping post and the pillory, all highly useful means of secular education, [should be introduced here].
20 January 1896, page 6a and concludes that "our village seems to be the nursery for the Stockade".
Information on a new police station is in the Register,
21 January 1892, page 5b.
Proposed swimming baths in Brownhill Creek are discussed in the Register,
31 January 1894, page 5b.
"Water Supply to the Mitcham Blockers" is in the Register,
9 February 1895, page 5c.
Information on T. Barr Smith's private golf links is in the Register,
16 August 1895, page 6f.
Also see South Australia - Sport - Golf.
The laying of the foundations for the Andrews Cottage Homes is reported in the Register,
9 May 1896, page 6c; also see
21 September 1896, page 7g.
Also see Adelaide - Housing, Architecture and Ancillary Matters - Cottage Homes.
"A Terrible Thunderstorm - Fatality at Mitcham" is in the Chronicle,
20 February 1897, page 17a,
"Terrible Drowning Accident" on
9 April 1898, page 15a.
"Health Matters at Mitcham" is in the Observer,
15 January 1898, page 31d.
Information on a cycling club is in the Express,
27 March 1899, page 4c.
Also see South Australia - Sport - Cycling.
The diamond wedding of Mr & Mrs Charles Mallen is reported in the Observer,
7 and 14 July 1900, pages 29a and 51c,
of Mrs Mallen on 17 November 1900, page 22e.
Biographical details of Thomas Dodd are in the Register,
27 August 1907, page 5a and
an obituary in the Register, 31 December 1907, page 7a,
Observer, 4 January 1908, page 38a.
The opening of the Boys' Club is reported in the Register,
1 October 1900, page 3f and
the rotunda on
23 April 1906, page 7f.
A photograph is in the Observer,
15 May 1906, page 30.
"Lovely Works of Art - A Private Collection" is in the Register,
19 March 1903, page 6f.
"A Generous Citizen [George Wilcox]" is in the Register,
29 July 1905, page 7b.
"Mitcham District Hall" is in the Register,
23 November 1907, page 6f.
Biographical details of James Page are in the Register,
10 October 1910, page 4f.
The golden wedding of Mr & Mrs W.R. Softley is reported in the Register,
24 September 1914, page 6g;
biographical details of Mrs W.R. Softley are in the Register,
11 September 1916, page 4g.
Photographs are in The Critic,
3 February 1909, page 13.
A bulldog show is reported in the Register,
1 May 1911, page 8h.
Information on the girls' orphanage is in the Advertiser,
16 August 1909, page 7a-b,
Advertiser,
16 August 1909, page 8c,
Chronicle,
21 August 1909 (photos),
Observer,
20 August 1910, page 30 (photos); also see
Register,
13 July 1911, page 6d (8d?),
Express,
14 August 1911, page 4e,
Register,
15 August 1914, page 14c,
8 November 1920, page 6h,
15 August 1921, page 6h,
The News,
24 May 1927, page 8c.
Photographs are in the Observer,
18 August 1928, page 37.
"Mitcham Lad's [Douglas Thorn] Plucky Deed" is in the Observer,
3 June 1911, page 41d; also see
9 September 1911, page 47b.
Photographs of local homes are in The Critic,
29 January 1913, page 16.
"Slums at Mitcham" is in the Register,
24 December 1914, page 8c.
"A Mitcham 'Goldfield'" is in the Register,
17 September 1915, page 4f.
Information on the military camp is in the Register,
14 February 1916, page 6c,
7 April 1917, page 6h,
24 August 1918, page 8d.
A proposed sale of the land appears in the Observer,
19 July 1919, page 39e,
Register,
16 and 24 July 1919, pages 6i and 5c.
Photographs are in the Observer,
19 February 1916, pages 26-27,
Chronicle,
11 March 1916, page 27; also see
29 April 1916, page 42e.
A proposed memorial is discussed in the Chronicle,
20 August 1927, page 55;
a photograph is in the Chronicle,
20 April 1929, page 39,
Observer,
4 September 1930, page 34.
The unveiling of the soldiers' memorial rotunda is reported in the Observer,
20 April 1929, page 50c.
Also see South Australia - World War I - Memorials to the Fallen.
Photographs of a rifle range are in the Chronicle,
14 October 1916, page 29.
Biographical details of Mrs John Tremelling are in the Register,
23 July 1918, page 4d,
of John Gee on 18 October 1921, page 9a,
of William Page on 29 December 1924, page 9g.
The purchase of "Grange Farm" by the government is reported in the Register,
28 February 1918, page 6h.
A photograph of the Mitcham Brass Band is in the Observer,
15 May 1906, page 30,
18 December 1926, page 32,
of a member, J. Hilditch, on
15 November 1924, page 34;
information on the band is in The Mail,
1 July 1922, page 2g,
The News,
5 March 1925, page 12e.
"William Townsend's Old Home [Waverley]" is in the Register,
1 May 1919, page 4c.
Also see Place Names - Townsend, Hundred of.
Information on an Aged Women's Retreat is in the Register,
6 August 1925, page 11e.
Information on the Institute is in The News,
14 July 1927, page 6d and
on the Adelaide Quarries Ltd on
1 August 1927, page 8d.
Information on a university college is in the Register,
7 June 1928, page 13f.
"Mitcham's Growth" is in the Register,
7 September 1928, page 13c.
Information on the Dogs' Home is in The Mail,
11 September 1926, page 1d,
Register,
29 July 1927, page 10d,
Observer,
6 August 1927, page 16c,
The News,
1 November 1928, page 16a,
Advertiser,
1 January 1934, page 12e,
28 July 1934, page 18d.
Photographs are in the Chronicle,
30 March 1933, page 36.
Also see Adelaide - Public Nuisances - Dogs.
Information on the house "Corega" is in The Mail,
1 December 1928, page 10c.
Also see Place Names - Brownhill Creek.
Mitcham
Minchin Well - Mobilong
M
Place Names
Mitcham
Transport
Also see South Australia - Transport - Railways - Miscellany and Adelaide - transport - Motor Buses.
A report on a proposed railway to Mitcham is in the Register,
25 September 1854, page 2f.
- A public meeting was held at the Brownhill Creek Inn to consider the propriety of memoralising the government for a railway to the town... The whole property at Mitcham would be enhanced in value. The carters also would be benefited, as they had been in England, by the increased cross-country traffic. There would be a supply of water; there would be a main line to the south... Mr Galbraith asked how it was that a railway to Glen Osmond had been so much more urged than one to Mitcham?...
16 May 1876, page 7; also see
20 May 1876, page 6f.
A proposed tramway is discussed in the Express,
27 September 1876, page 3c.
6 October 1876, page 7e.
A prospectus is in the Register,
23 January 1877, page 2.
The Register of
30 May 1877, page 5b has interesting information on the Adelaide to Unley and Mitcham Tramway;
Parliamentary Paper 176/1877 has a petition for a tramway Bill;
also see Register,
23 and 30 May 1877, pages 6c and 5b,
3 September 1878, page 1c (supp.),
Express,
19 July 1877, page 3b,
3 September 1878, page 3b,
7 and 8 February 1879, pages 2c and 3d,
Observer,
7 September 1878, page 23c and
Register,
13 and 22 January 1879, pages 4g and 6d.
Its opening is reported in the Register,
13 February 1879, page 6b,
while a meeting called to consider the use of steam motors is reported on
30 September 1879, page 5a; also see
29 November 1879 (supp.), page 2b.
Also see Register,
6 July 1880, page 5b,
Express,
26 May 1880, page 2d,
Register,
27 May 1880, page 5a,
27 and 30 November 1880, pages 7c and 6b,
24 May 1881, page 5f,
29 July 1881, page 5c,
29 September 1881, page 6e,
3 October 1881 (supp.), page 1e,
28 October 1882 (supp.), page 1e,
28 November 1882, page 5b,
29 May 1884, page 6h,
26 February 1885, page 5c,
30 November 1885, page 7c,
30 November 1886, page 6a,
31 May 1887, page 5b,
29 November 1888, page 5a,
24 May 1889, page 5d,
28 November 1889, page 5d,
29 November 1890, page 6f,
30 May 1891, page 6g.
Also see Register,
1 December 1891, page 5c,
12 April 1893, page 5d,
1 June 1893, page 3f,
7 September 1893, page 7f,
22 November 1893, page 5b,
16 and 19 February 1895, pages 5b and 6e,
31 May 1895, page 3f,
14 December 1895, page 5c,
29 May 1896, page 7f,
1 December 1896, page 3f,
28 May 1897, page 7a,
23 March 1899, page 7h,
20 December 1899, page 4h.
Also see Register,
3 April 1900, page 3d (proposed sale),
11 April 1900, page 4g,
31 May 1901, page 3h,
28 November 1902, page 3c,
27 May 1904, page 3b,
1 December 1905, page 6e,
13 February 1907, page 7c,
27 May 1908, page 9c,
27 June 1911, page 6g.
Information on the train service is in the Express,
24 March 1899, page 2g.
"A Paper Tramway [in 1883]" is in the Register,
17 February 1917, page 12e.
Mitcham
Obituaries
An obituary of John Sauebier is in the Register,
19 September 1882, page 5c,
of William Finlayson on 21 October 1884, page 5b,
of Henry Taylor and S. Saunders on 3 March 1885, page 5b,
of Mrs D.W. Melvin on 8 January 1896, page 6b.
An obituary of Mrs S. Gill is in theRegister, 9 December 1886, page 5b,
of Goddfried Bucholz on 18 October 1889, page 5c,
of Joseph Hague, builder, on 6 December 1889, page 5c.
An obituary of William Easther is in the Register, 2 and 8 July 1889, pages 4g and 2f (supp.),
of Amos Armour on 19 September 1889, page 5b,
of F.W. Temme on 13 and 15 March 1894, pages 5d and 3d,
of Mrs Robert Thornber on 16 May 1894, page 6e.
An obituary of George Scott is in the Register, 30 October 1891, page 5b,
of Edward Gartrell on 29 March 1892, page 4a,
of Mrs Janet Gardiner on 10 April 1893, page 7h,
of Eliza Baker on 14 December 1897, page 4i,
of Mrs William Harris on 1 January 1898, page 5b,
of W.N. Crowder on 3 February 1898, page 4h,
of J.T. Manton on 9 June 1899, page 4h
An obituary of Mrs Janet Gardiner is in the Observer, 15 April 1893, page 29c,
of John Rayner, quarryman, on 9 February 1895, page 30d,
of George Mugg on 6 June 1896, page 44e,
of Eliza Baker on 18 December 1897, page 27d.
An obituary of J.L.R. Fiveash is in the Register, 22 July 1895, page 6g,
of Joseph Orchard on 13 March 1901, page 4h,
of Henry Taylor on 13 April 1901, page 7c,
of William Arthur on 6 November 1901, page 5a,
of Wilfred Heath on 19 August 1902, page 5a.
An obituary of John Love is in the Register, 5 September 1905, page 5b,
of John Maslin on 18 and 20 May 1908, pages 4h and 7e,
of George Viney on 30 June 1910, page 6g,
of James Page on 2 and 3 October 1913, pages 8a and 8f,
of Mrs H.J. Parkinson on 3 October 1913, page 8a.
An obituary of of Mrs Charlotte Tune is in the Observer, 26 July 1913, page 41b,
of Mrs H.J. Parkinson on 11 October 1913, page 41a,
of Frank Rymill on 29 May 1915, page 32d,
of T.P. Welbourn on 17 April 1915, page 32a.
An obituary of Isaac S. Coombs is in the Register, 19 June 1915, page 8h,
of William Heggaton on 2 August 1916, page 5c,
of Dr A.H. Gault on 29 August 1917, page 6g,
of Miss Emily Townsend on 5 September 1917, page 6g,
of George Wilcox on 6 September 1917, page 4g,
of C.A. Ring on 5 July 1918, page 4f,
of W.J. Peterson on 16 December 1918, page 6g.
An obituary of A.H. Huish is in the Observer, 22 January 1916, page 34a,
of M.P. Tregonning on 30 December 1916, page 34d,
of Mrs W. Heggaton on 23 March 1918, page 18a,
of F.C. Howard on 26 April 1919, page 38b,
of Mrs A.M. Softley on 31 May 1919, page 14a,
of John Playford on 12 June 1920, page 12d,
of G.K. Harrison on 30 December 1922, page 37e,
of Mrs Dorcas Tremelling on 9 February 1924, page 45b,
of Mrs Elizabeth M. Mugg on 8 August 1925, page 28c.
An obituary of Mrs A.M. Softley is in the Register, 27 May 1919, page 4h,
of John Playford on 8 June 1920, page 7b,
of William Bradley on 1 January 1921, page 6h,
of James C. Torr on 26 March 1921, page 6h,
of Mrs Emily Playford on 11 December 1922, page 9g,
of Mrs Dorcas Tremelling on 2 February 1924, page 8h.
An obituary of Mrs Mary A. Coombe is in the Register, 15 July 1925, page 8g,
of Thomas H. Lamshed on 11 August 1925, page 8h,
of David Lithgow on 30 June 1926, page 8i,
of William J. Kekwick on 9 October 1926, page 18a,
of John S. Knox on 28 October 1926, page 8g,
of W.J.L. Close on 16 May 1927, page 11g,
of David Smith on 10 June 1927, page 8h,
of Mrs Annie T. Uffindell on 30 August 1927, page 13c,
of Thomas H. Fraser on 15 October 1929, page 5c.
