11 heritage living | south australia 5 8 10 13 - National Trust of ...

places
Clare’s Old Courthouse &
Police Station Museum
deborah Morgan | NTSA Councillor
This rather stylish building currently houses a museum
containing numerous items of interest and is certainly worth
a visit.
It was constructed in the early
1850s and is situated on the
corner of Neagles Rock Road
and Hill Cemetery Road, Clare. It
is claimed to be the only police
station of its design in South
Australia. Early records describe
it as: “a large stone masonry
building with solid conveniences
… a large gaol comprised the
set up with four continental
diamond-shaped paned glass
windows in front” and also as “ a
quaint courthouse nestling in the
hills. ” A morgue and stables were
included on the site.
The building has an interesting
if somewhat chequered history.
It began its life as the first
permanent police headquarters
in Clare - previously, police
were stationed at Bungaree and
White’s Stations.
A Local Court commenced
operations soon after
construction was completed.
Minor offences, mostly petty
thefts and drunkenness were
most commonly heard. Edward
Burton Gleeson, the founder of
Clare, was the first stipendiary
magistrate to hear cases in the
courthouse.
Between 1878 and 1924 the
building was converted to a
Casualty Hospital because a
“cottage hospital was required
as many accident cases had to
be taken to Adelaide, and some
did not survive the long journey.”
– the “Northern Argus” 28
December, 1875.
For a brief time the building
housed an Infectious Diseases
Hospital but its distance from
the Clare Hospital proved
unworkable.
In 1927 an attempt to sell the
building was made but failed.
The Clare Hospital Board
announced its intention to
demolish the building in 1942. To
prevent its demolition, a former
resident of Clare, Mr J.J. Simons,
offered one hundred pounds
towards a fund to conserve the
building and so it was preserved.
Other records show that the Clare
Corporation used the building to
house some of its employees and
that the building was also used
for church services.
In 1964 the Clare Branch of the
National Trust of SA was formed.
Five years later the building and
two acres of land were leased to
the Trust for development as a
museum.
Today the museum’s exhibits
include photographs of early
Clare, furniture and clothing
from Victorian times,
examples of early agricultural
machinery, horse drawn
vehicles and a blacksmith’s
shop.
It is open on weekends, during
school holidays and on public
holidays. The NTSA website
has a link providing more
information about opening
times.
above Clare Old Police Station & Courthouse Museum. Photo: Nick Kidman
PEACE
& GOODWILL
TO ALL…
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,
yes it’s that time of year again.
Would you like to give Flowers to
everyone at Christmas but find it just
too difficult and way too costly
With all the proceeds going to the
National Trust of SA, you can now give
the gift of flowers to all your friends,
loved ones and even acquaintances this
Christmas.
How would you like to give the ‘Gift of
Flowers’ this year, and do it almost as
cost efficiently and easily as sticking a
postage stamp on an envelope
For as little as $ 2.00* per
‘Christmas Tree’ you can give
a Living Gift and a Lasting Gift…
Seed Embedded Christmas Trees are
available from the National Trust for
Christmas 2012, but you will need to
act quickly. Your orders must be in by
the 15th November, to ensure delivery
in time, for when you want to post out
your 2012 Christmas cards.
That’s right, you can now send your usual
favorite Christmas cards and simply
enclose a magical ‘Seed Embedded
Christmas Tree’ from the National Trust.
Each tree is made from seed-embedded
recycled paper. The paper can be
planted and will grow a Native Australian
flower, Australian Swan River Daisies
(Brachycome iberidifolia). The Swan River
Daisy is an annual plant that can grow
throughout Australia. It grows to around
30cm high and is spectacular in hanging
baskets, pots and rockeries. It can tolerate
a wide range of soils including sandy,
saline or clay.
To order your ‘Living and
lasting Gift’ simply contact the
National Trust of SA on 8202 9200 or
Email admin@nationaltrustsa.org.au
*Seed-Embedded
Christmas Trees are sold
in minimum packets of
20 for $40.00, includes
Postage & Handling.
Remember order NOW
to save disappointment
The seeded paper is
permitted in all Australian
states and territories. We
recommend checking
quarantine restrictions for
the destination country if
sending overseas.
Heritage living | 7 | south Australia