South East Family History Group

14 Stuckey Street, Millicent, South Australia 5280

URL: www.sefhg.org

Email: info@sefhg.org

Stones, Plaques & Memorials

BEACHPORT, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA

Researcher/Photographer: Gwen Waters

Place	Inscription	Surname or Organisation
Whaler’s Monument Beachport	This cairn marks the site of the first white settlement, a whaling station that was started about 1843, and was then known as Whaler’s Point. In 1844 July twentyfourth two ships anchored in the Bay, a group of men proposing a whaling station here for the Henty Bros, Portland The first stones used in this cairn came from the fort above one of the first permanent buildings at Beachport. It was built by Mr Foster here in 1843.	HENTY FOSTER
Backlers Lookout Beachport	Southern Ocean Shipwreck Trail Beachport…from Whalers to Wool Beachport had been a destination for south sea whalers from the late 1830’s. The location had been overlooked as a port for many years although pastoralists urgently needed safe trading facilities for the export of their wool. It was not until the Geltwood shipping disaster of 1876, that the government was stirred into establishing a port in 1878. The largest vessel to be wrecked in this area was the 2000 ton steel shop Time. Destined for Melbourne it was carrying a very small cargo of salt and farming machinery. The usual course of the vessel was 8 kilometers off shore, but seeking more sheltered water the captain kept close to land. It was thought at the time that the lack of stabilising cargo allowed the vessel to be more than usual affected by wind and current, as it struck a reef just 2.5 kilometers from shore. It was driven so high on the reef that the propeller could be seen. The crew were rescued by the City of Adelaide lifeboat and another passing vessel. The site is approximately 12 kilometers west of Penguin Island Lighthouse.	BACKLER
Barbara Wallace Memorial Beachport	Barbara Wallace Memorial Beachport Lions Project	WALLACE
Centennial Park Beachport	1878 Centennial Park 1978 RH Somerville Memorial Gates Dedicated 31^st Dec 1978 1878-1978 A time capsule was sealed into this cairn on 8-10-1978 by the Beachport and District Branch National Trust of SA to mark the first 100 years of Beachport. To be opened 2078	SOMERVILLE
Chambers Way Beach front Beachport	Chambers Way dedicated to all Chambers that walk these shores.	CHAMBERS
Customs House Beachport	This plaque commemorates Customs House Beachport Customs occupied this building c1878-1900 The Centenary of Federation The Centenary of Australian Customs
Fish Factory Beachport	This plaque marks the site of the first factory of the South Australian Fisherman’s Co-operative Limited established 7^th February 1945 by Beachport fishermen. Erected by the Beachport and District Branch, National Trust of South Australia November 1982.
Institute Beachport	Presented by Beachport CWA December 1939
Mural Playground Foreshore Beachport	Designed and painted by Jan Harvey With help from Beachport Primary School children and the community January 1998	HARVEY
Jetty Beachport	Beachport Jetty Statistics Construction: Steel Screw Pile Commenced 1878. Completed 1882. Length: Original 4000 feet or 1220 metres Remaining 2563 feet or 772 metres History Stockowners of the district first petitioned the government for a jetty at Rivoli Bay North in August 1875. The urgency for the facility gained impetus from the wrecking of the “Geltwood” on the 14^th June, 1876. All 27 people on board perished. On 22^nd June 1876 the government presented an Appropriation Bill in parliament for a railway and harbour at Rivoli Bay. The bill was passed in 1876. Work on the jetty began in early 1878 following acceptance of the 23,064 pound 3 shilling tender from British firm, Welle Bros. The Rivoli Bay jetty was to be 4000 feet long with a ‘T’ head 122 feet long, 18 feet wide going out 18 feet at the low water mark. In August 1878 the government ordered a stop to work due to construction deficiencies. Following a Royal Commission chaired by Sir Henry Ayers, the jetty contract was revoked and the government undertook completion of the jetty. The iron screw piles were shipped from England, timber from Jarrahdale, Western Australia and local red gum cut at the old Mt Burr Mill was used. In the meantime on 23^rd May 1878, the Beachport township named after (named after Sir Michael Edward Hicks-Beach, First Earl of Aldwyn and Secretary of State for the Colonies) was proclaimed and the Mt Gambier – Beachport Railways was opened by Governor Jervois on the 19^th May 1879. The jetty was not finally completed for use until 1882, but the structure was never entirely satisfactory and the ‘T’ head together with a section of the jetty were some years later removed. The present jetty a mere remnant of the original concept, is 2563 feet or approximately 772 metres long.	WELLE AYERS HICKS-BEACH JERVOIS
Lake George Monument Beachport	South East Drainage Board A Memorial to William Moffat Anderson BE DipCE FSASM AMIE (Australia) 1901-1982 Resident Engineer, Beachport -1936 Chairman South Eastern Drainage Board 1940-1967 Conceived and supervised the comprehensive drainage scheme, eastern and western divisions constructed 1950-1970 and now known as the Anderson Drains This plaque was unveiled by the Honourable JW Slater MP Minister of Water Resources on 23^rd March 1984	ANDERSON SLATER
Leonard Sutherland Memorial Beachport	National Trust South Australia Memorial donated by Ben Sutherland Dedicated to the memory of his late father Leonard Bruce Sutherland Drowned in Rivoli Bay 1937 And to all other fishermen of Beachport who lost their lives at sea. Beachport and District Branch of NTSA	SUTHERLAND
Lookout Beachport	Able Seaman WLE Danswan and TW Todd lost their lives on the adjacent beach when a German mine they were destroying exploded. 14 July 1941 These men were the first casualties due to enemy action on Australian soil in World War II. Erected by Beachport National Trust 1991 Royal Australian Naval Reserve Non Sibi Sed Patriae	DANSWAN TODD
Museum Beachport	Charlie Heuzenroader Gates Designed, constructed, donated in 1972 By the late Charles Heuzenroader Jnr Millicent “Confidence” Scenes for the film ‘Confidence’ Were taken in the museum April 1989 Stars of the film were Bryan Brown and Karen Allen	HEUZENROADER BROWN ALLEN
Navigation Light Beachport	This navigation light was erected on the end of the jetty in 1912, powered by kerosene. It was converted to acetylene gas 1948-49. Erected on this site 1980. Beachport and District Branch, National Trust SA
Playground & White’s Fountain Beachport	Susan Wilson Memorial Playground This playground block was previously part of the old Railway reserve. It was named after a lady who ran a local shop which was constructed from galvanized iron, she supplied holidays makers with hot water (which was not available elsewhere in town) and children with sweets. The waters was supplied from Whites Fountain (the well at the centre of the present roundabout) this fountain was paid for by Captain White, the then chairman of the Council. The hot water came from two portable boilers (coppers), which Susan Wilson tended outside her shop which was on the block at the corner of Railway Terrace and Lagoon Road (near Bompas lawn). The children always received more sweets for their penny and this generosity towards the children prompted the Council to name this playground after her. The upgrading of this playground has been a community project and only completed due to a much appreciated effort by many people, too numerous to mention by name. In keeping with the line of generosity the Beachport Community would like to thank the following for their assistance in the upgrading and beautification of this playground. Jan Harvey (Mural Artist) Drews Workshop (Naracoorte) G&A Sanders (Mt Gambier) P&K Gulbin (Millicent) R Nunn (Mt Gambier) The Paint Place (Millicent & Mt Gambier) District Council of Beachport Beachport Trawl Fisheries Beachport Seniors Group Beachport District Development Association Coca Cola Amatil Dulux Australia Eric Lock (Moorak) DW & CA Bennier (Naracoorte) PF & NL Reilly (Millicent) Beachport Primary School Beachport School Children Wattle Range Council SA Country Arts Trust Group 4 Correction Services	WILSON WHITE HARVEY DREW SANDERS GULBIN NUNN LOCK BENNIER REILLY
Beachport Primary School Beachport	Jarrod David Stehbens B.SC.MAR, BIOL,B.ENV.SC.(HONS) Went to Beachport Primary School 1988-1993 His love of the sea was nurtured here at Beachport. This led him to becoming a marine biologist and fulfilling his dream of working in and around the water all over the world. In his 23 years he achieved so much, and we hope he inspires the students at Beachport Primary to follow and fulfill their dreams.	STEHBENS
Church of St Brigid Beachport	This church of St Brigid Was blessed and opened by Most Reverend JW Gleeson DDCMC 30^th April 1967 Rev. J MacSweeney PP	GLEESON MACSWEENEY
St Nicholas Anglican Church	St Nicholas Anglican Church Beachport Rector Fr Stephen Gray To the Glory of God And in honour of Saint Nicholas This stone was laid by Captain Richard Solly January 10^th 1923	GRAY SOLLY
Original Saint Nicholas Church Beachport	Beachport National Trust Original Saint Nicholas Church 1822-1926
War Memorial Beachport	This plaque is a memorial to Able Seamen WLE Danswan and TW Todd Who lost their lives at Beachport on 14^th July 1941 when a German mine they were destroying, exploded. These men were the first casualties due to enemy action on Australian soil in WWII. Lest we forget Beachport Rivoli Bay Lions Restoration Project Andy Crawford In recognition of services to the Beachport Community 1914-1918 In Everlasting Memory Beachport Soldiers War Memorial Pte H Anderson Sgt C Hendry Pte R Bosisto Pte A Hately Sgt H Brimage Pte R Mason Pte FV Burchell Pte VS Madex Pte M Corigliano Pte C Mounce L’Cpr R Crowe L’Cpr CJ Pretty Pte F Clinch Pte C Weir 1914-1918 Beachport Soldiers War Memorial In everlasting memory of Anderson H Hendry G’ Bobisto R Hately A Brimage H Mason R Burchell FV Madex VS Corigliano M Mounce C Crowe R Pretty CJ Clinch F Weir C 1939-1945 Ball F Crowe E Giddings K Australia Remembers 1945-1995	DANSWAN TODD CRAWFORD ANDERSON HENDRY BOSISTO HATELY BRIMAGE MASON BURCHELL MADEX CORIGLIANO MOUNCE CROWE CLINCH BALL CROWE GIDDINGS
SAR Water Column Beachport	SAR Water Column Used to fill steam engines on the Rivoli Bay to Mt Gambier Railway Line. 1879-1956