Birdwood Institute - formerly Blumberg Institute, Adelaide Hills South Australia
Blumberg was a locality named early in 1848. Johann Blumel was one of the earliest settlers there and is believed to have named the place for the town of Blumberg, in the province of Brandenburg, Germany, from where he and other settlers had emigrated. The name was changed to Birdwood in 1918 in honour of Sir William R Birdwood, an English General of World War One who commanded Australian Troops.
An extract from the South Australian Advertiser of 15 March 1884 describes the following –
The foundation stone of the Blumberg Institute was laid by the Hon. R. D. Ross, M.P., on Thursday. March 13, in the presence of a good attendance. Mr. Ross, who was accompanied by the Hon. J.L. Parsons, M.P., was met on the arrival of the coach from Adelaide and escorted to the site of the institute by the committtee.
Mr. A. Hall jun. prepared the plans for the building. The size of the main hall according to the plan was 40 feet by 20 feet, and there were to be three side rooms, measuring 14 feet by 12 feet each. A galvanised open tank capable of holding 1,000 gallons of water, and a horse shed would be provided in the rear. Mr. C. Sturm was the successful tenderer for building the institute, the amount of the contract being £476 18s. with £58 15s. fee extras. The building, furniture, &c., would cost £600. The Government subsidy would be £300.
Mr P. Hynes, on behalf of the committee, presented to the Hon. R. D. Ross a silver trowel, suitably inscribed, with which to lay the stone. Mr. Ross then went through the usual ceremony, and declared the stone well and truly laid. He thanked the committee for having asked him to lay the stone of the institute and congratulated the residents of Blumberg on having taken the necessary steps to erect the building.
The Advertiser of 16 March 1906 reported –
For over a score of years the unpretentious but prosperous town of Blumberg has possessed an institute hall and library; but latterly the accommodation has not been in keeping with the growing requirements of this progressive place. On Wednesday the foundation-stone of a new and spacious hall, which is to be erected immediately at the rear of and adjoining the old structure, was laid. The new edifice, which will be of local bluestone with brick dressings, will be a handsome addition to the town. The outside measurements show a length of 60 ft by a breadth of 40 feet, and a height of 16 ft 6 in.; the stage is to be 16 ft. deep, and it will leave the interior of the hall 45 ft. in length by 37 ft. wide. On each side of the hall will be an escape-door; the floor will be of kauri pine and the ceiling of the "Wunderlich" type. Acetylene gas will be the illuminant used.
Mr. S. Gent said it was exactly 22 years and one day since the foundation-stone of the old hall was laid, and during that period the building, with its accessories, had been a great benefit to Blumberg. For over 20 years the institute had served as town hall, theatre, church, and Sunday-school. With the assistance of Mr. H. J. Cowell, as architect, and Messrs. Sando & Slade as builders, they were assured of a well-constructed edifice.
The President then asked Mr. T. Pflaum, M.P., to perform the ceremony of laying the stone. He said that Mr. Pflaum alone remained of the three trustees present when Sir Robert Ross laid the foundation stone of the old building on March 13, 1884. Mr. Pflaum, in acceding to the request, said he had always taken a great interest in institutes, and especially in country ones, because rural life was so different from that in the city, where there were so many educational institutions and facilities for social intercourse. In the country the institute was not only for social amusement, but for mental recreation. He looked upon it as a place of secondary education, and he hoped it would be utilised especially in this manner. (Hear, hear.) He then declared the stone "well and truly laid."
In this picture the added hall of 1906 can be seen at the rear of the original building.
Birdwood Institute - formerly Blumberg Institute, Adelaide Hills South Australia
Blumberg was a locality named early in 1848. Johann Blumel was one of the earliest settlers there and is believed to have named the place for the town of Blumberg, in the province of Brandenburg, Germany, from where he and other settlers had emigrated. The name was changed to Birdwood in 1918 in honour of Sir William R Birdwood, an English General of World War One who commanded Australian Troops.
An extract from the South Australian Advertiser of 15 March 1884 describes the following –
The foundation stone of the Blumberg Institute was laid by the Hon. R. D. Ross, M.P., on Thursday. March 13, in the presence of a good attendance. Mr. Ross, who was accompanied by the Hon. J.L. Parsons, M.P., was met on the arrival of the coach from Adelaide and escorted to the site of the institute by the committtee.
Mr. A. Hall jun. prepared the plans for the building. The size of the main hall according to the plan was 40 feet by 20 feet, and there were to be three side rooms, measuring 14 feet by 12 feet each. A galvanised open tank capable of holding 1,000 gallons of water, and a horse shed would be provided in the rear. Mr. C. Sturm was the successful tenderer for building the institute, the amount of the contract being £476 18s. with £58 15s. fee extras. The building, furniture, &c., would cost £600. The Government subsidy would be £300.
Mr P. Hynes, on behalf of the committee, presented to the Hon. R. D. Ross a silver trowel, suitably inscribed, with which to lay the stone. Mr. Ross then went through the usual ceremony, and declared the stone well and truly laid. He thanked the committee for having asked him to lay the stone of the institute and congratulated the residents of Blumberg on having taken the necessary steps to erect the building.
The Advertiser of 16 March 1906 reported –
For over a score of years the unpretentious but prosperous town of Blumberg has possessed an institute hall and library; but latterly the accommodation has not been in keeping with the growing requirements of this progressive place. On Wednesday the foundation-stone of a new and spacious hall, which is to be erected immediately at the rear of and adjoining the old structure, was laid. The new edifice, which will be of local bluestone with brick dressings, will be a handsome addition to the town. The outside measurements show a length of 60 ft by a breadth of 40 feet, and a height of 16 ft 6 in.; the stage is to be 16 ft. deep, and it will leave the interior of the hall 45 ft. in length by 37 ft. wide. On each side of the hall will be an escape-door; the floor will be of kauri pine and the ceiling of the "Wunderlich" type. Acetylene gas will be the illuminant used.
Mr. S. Gent said it was exactly 22 years and one day since the foundation-stone of the old hall was laid, and during that period the building, with its accessories, had been a great benefit to Blumberg. For over 20 years the institute had served as town hall, theatre, church, and Sunday-school. With the assistance of Mr. H. J. Cowell, as architect, and Messrs. Sando & Slade as builders, they were assured of a well-constructed edifice.
The President then asked Mr. T. Pflaum, M.P., to perform the ceremony of laying the stone. He said that Mr. Pflaum alone remained of the three trustees present when Sir Robert Ross laid the foundation stone of the old building on March 13, 1884. Mr. Pflaum, in acceding to the request, said he had always taken a great interest in institutes, and especially in country ones, because rural life was so different from that in the city, where there were so many educational institutions and facilities for social intercourse. In the country the institute was not only for social amusement, but for mental recreation. He looked upon it as a place of secondary education, and he hoped it would be utilised especially in this manner. (Hear, hear.) He then declared the stone "well and truly laid."
In this picture the added hall of 1906 can be seen at the rear of the original building.