If you worry that Gawler is just a retirement town, look closer at the foundations of the place. The massive stone walls tell a different story. The place was built on sweat and engineering. This was the factory center of the north. This history explains the spirit of the community. We build things, not just consumers.
Shifting from heavy industry to a retail hasn't erased that past. It is visible in the renovation of the mills and the pride people place on work. A life here is living in the footprint of giants who built the state's infrastructure.
Labor History
It didn't grow on scenery alone. Established on the back of laborers who worked hard days. The beginning were exhausting. Blacksmiths toiled in hot conditions to produce goods.
Blue collar history gives Gawler a honest vibe. There is respect for hard work here. Pretentiousness doesn't fly. It creates a egalitarian community where the worker is as respected as the professional.
Labor movement were strong here. Fair work movement had followers in Gawler. These events shaped the mindset of the town. A tough community that looks after its own.
The Phoenix Foundry
Mr. Martin is the giant of Gawler industry. Coming with almost nothing, he built the works into a major firm. Situated right in the main area, it employed masses of men.
Manufactured trains that crossed the Australian continent. Imagine huge steam trains rolling out of a factory on Calton Road. The noise must have been huge, but it was the sound of jobs.
His work is everywhere. The monument of him stands watching near the park. Gawler was put on the map as an industrial hub. Even today, engineering firms exist here, tracing their lineage back to that boom.
Wheat and Flour
Also, Gawler was a wheat town. Next to prime wheat country, it made sense to turn the grain here. The mills were landmarks.
Several mills operated at the peak. Powered by steam and water power. Grain was exported to Europe. Commerce made Gawler rich.
The Union Mill complex still stands as a icon. used for other uses, but the walls is unmistakable. It reminds us the link between the town and the country.
Train Arrives
The train reaching Gawler in 1857 changed everything. Overnight we were connected to the sea. Goods could be moved efficiently. Let the industry to explode.
The stop became a center. Passengers and cargo mixed. Tram was even built to connect the station to the shops, which was far.
This link is a interesting part of history. Gawler had a public transport system in the old days! Demonstrates how advanced the town was.
The May Foundry
The May Bros was the other competitor. Focused in ploughs. Harvesters revolutionized crops.
Found near the railway, they could export machines all over the country. Design kept Gawler at the forefront of technology. It was the Silicon Valley of farm tech in the 1890s.
The land is now mostly gone, but the reputation lives on. Collectors still value May Brothers machinery. Good gear.
Modern Economy
Global trends, Gawler deindustrialized in the 20th century. Mills stopped. Difficult. Jobs were lost.
The town changed. Morphed into a service center. The factories became malls. The skills moved into defense elsewhere.
Currently, the economy is retail based. Toughness learned in the industrial era is here. We cope change.
Remembering Our Industrial Roots
Don't forget the work. Common to just see the pretty cottages. But the grit is what paid for them.
Plaques help us remember. Pause to read the details. Explain to kids that Gawler built stuff.
Gives meaning to living here. Member of a lineage of builders. This is to be proud of.
reference page online