Julia South Australia. Old barn on wheat farm on Tarnma Road.
Julia. Settled 1865.
The district creek which flows into the Light River was named by early explorer John Hill in 1838 after the daughter of Governor Gawler (1838-41). To the north of Julia Smith Hill the highest peak in this region at 615 metres high (Mt Lofty is 720 metres high). The Hundred of Julia was declared in 1851 when some of the Anlaby leasehold land was resumed but most was only surveyed around 1865 when the Duttons of Anlaby purchased most of sections in the Hundred to add to their growing freehold estate. The district was only opened up to closer settlement when the expansive Anlaby estates were resumed by the government for closer settlement. This began in 1895 when Duttons sold 2,000 acres for closer settlement. In 1905 a further 24,000 acres was surveyed for sale by the government followed by a further 7,000 acres in 1911. Thus most of the district was settled by farmers from 1906 onwards. This land stretched from the Anlaby homestead across the hills to Hampden (subdivided from Anlaby estate in 1910 with a railway station from 1912), Julia, Point Pass, and Robertstown. A Lutheran Church opened in 1911 with additions made in 1928 when a further 19 pews were added to it. The church closed in 1996. It is now a private homestead. The cemetery opened around 1910 with the earliest burials in 1913. The main family names listed for the cemetery are Obst, Schutz, Henschke, Schubert, Schultz and Thiele. The school at Julia opened in 1910 and closed in 1950. The parents of noted author Colin Thiele are buried in Julia cemetery and Colin Thiele attended this primary school at Julia from 1926 to 1933. He then attended Kapunda High School and caught morning train at 7 am to school from Hampden station returning on the evening train at 8:00 pm. It was a long day for a school boy. Colin Thiele became an author and educator. Thiele wrote more than 80 books and several of them have been made into successful films like Storm Boy. Thiele was born at Julia in 1920 to German speaking parents. He did not speak English until he went to school. His books relate his childhood experiences in the Eudunda district including Sun on the Stubble, The Valley Between and The Shadow of the Hills. Thiele went on to become the principal of Wattle Park Teachers College as well as an author.
The District Council of Julia was formed in 1874 with the first council meetings being held in Anlaby homestead. Eventually a Council Camber was built in Hampden in 1920. That chamber became the Hampden state school in 1925 as well. Hampden School closed in 1951. The settlement of Julia had a timber and iron hall completed in 1909 until replaced in 1926. After World War Two it became known as the Julia District Memorial Hall. In 1958 this second hall was replaced with a new Besser brick hall. It still remains the social centre of the district.
Julia South Australia. Old barn on wheat farm on Tarnma Road.
Julia. Settled 1865.
The district creek which flows into the Light River was named by early explorer John Hill in 1838 after the daughter of Governor Gawler (1838-41). To the north of Julia Smith Hill the highest peak in this region at 615 metres high (Mt Lofty is 720 metres high). The Hundred of Julia was declared in 1851 when some of the Anlaby leasehold land was resumed but most was only surveyed around 1865 when the Duttons of Anlaby purchased most of sections in the Hundred to add to their growing freehold estate. The district was only opened up to closer settlement when the expansive Anlaby estates were resumed by the government for closer settlement. This began in 1895 when Duttons sold 2,000 acres for closer settlement. In 1905 a further 24,000 acres was surveyed for sale by the government followed by a further 7,000 acres in 1911. Thus most of the district was settled by farmers from 1906 onwards. This land stretched from the Anlaby homestead across the hills to Hampden (subdivided from Anlaby estate in 1910 with a railway station from 1912), Julia, Point Pass, and Robertstown. A Lutheran Church opened in 1911 with additions made in 1928 when a further 19 pews were added to it. The church closed in 1996. It is now a private homestead. The cemetery opened around 1910 with the earliest burials in 1913. The main family names listed for the cemetery are Obst, Schutz, Henschke, Schubert, Schultz and Thiele. The school at Julia opened in 1910 and closed in 1950. The parents of noted author Colin Thiele are buried in Julia cemetery and Colin Thiele attended this primary school at Julia from 1926 to 1933. He then attended Kapunda High School and caught morning train at 7 am to school from Hampden station returning on the evening train at 8:00 pm. It was a long day for a school boy. Colin Thiele became an author and educator. Thiele wrote more than 80 books and several of them have been made into successful films like Storm Boy. Thiele was born at Julia in 1920 to German speaking parents. He did not speak English until he went to school. His books relate his childhood experiences in the Eudunda district including Sun on the Stubble, The Valley Between and The Shadow of the Hills. Thiele went on to become the principal of Wattle Park Teachers College as well as an author.
The District Council of Julia was formed in 1874 with the first council meetings being held in Anlaby homestead. Eventually a Council Camber was built in Hampden in 1920. That chamber became the Hampden state school in 1925 as well. Hampden School closed in 1951. The settlement of Julia had a timber and iron hall completed in 1909 until replaced in 1926. After World War Two it became known as the Julia District Memorial Hall. In 1958 this second hall was replaced with a new Besser brick hall. It still remains the social centre of the district.