The Stone Buildings of Gawler

I met a home owner recently who lived in a heritage listed home near the main street. He remarked that every time he walked out his front door, he felt like he was on a film set. The number of stone facades in Gawler is overwhelming. It isn't only one or two relics; the streetscape is a display of historic design.

For architecture buffs, Gawler is paradise. The nickname 'Athens of the South' wasn't given for no reason. It meant the town's intellectual ambitions. Observing the facades, you see a pride that the early builders had. They made these structures to endure, and they did.

The Civic Center

This building is the obvious anchor of Murray Street. Opened in 1878, it dominates the main road with its grand design. Standing beneath its clock tower, you feel the significance. It served as the hub of local politics for over a century.

The details are worth a second look. Check out the stonework. The work involved in cutting and laying that stone is hard to find. Constructed at a time when the town was rich, and the building screams prosperity. It proved that Gawler was a city in the colony.

Currently, it has been renovated and integrated into the Gawler Civic Centre. The build was a model in mixing history and glass. Visitors can walk from the historic hall into a glass atrium seamless. It uses the space rather than leaving it as a relic.

Churches of Gawler

The view is punctuated by steeples. St George's on Church Hill is perhaps the most iconic. Planned in a Gothic style, it sits boldly on the hill, overlooking the town. The blend of local bluestone and sandstone creates a appearance that glows in the afternoon light.

Inside is just as beautiful. Stained glass and timber ceilings create a holy atmosphere. Beyond being a place of worship; it is a historic marker. Generations have been married here, tying their memories to the physical building.

Religious sites like the Congregational Church also feature great stonework. How many of churches in such a small area gave Church Hill its name. The church walk allows you to compare the architectural differences and see how denomination expressed itself in building.

Commercial History: Mills and Foundries

Heritage is not just is polite and civic. Mills are just as important. The flour mill on the southern entry to town is a imposing structure. Made for wheat from the region, it represents the economic engine of the town. The scale reminds us that Gawler was a production center.

Many of these buildings have been changed. Old foundries are now shops. Conversion is great because it maintains the look while giving the building a new life. Shopping in a building that once milled flour is a unique experience.

The architecture here is strong and nice. Stone foundations were built to take a beating. Strength gives them a feel that new factories completely lack. They ground the town to the work that built Gawler.

Saving the Stone

Slate is the signature material of Gawler. Quarried nearby, it is tough and beautiful. Yet, fixing it requires craft. Fixing mortar must be done with lime mortar, not concrete, or the stone will break.

Owners in Gawler are becoming keepers of this knowledge. A return in old crafts. There is pride in saving their front facades to their original glory. Driving down the streets, you can see the results of this effort.

The Council play a big role in saving these streetscapes. Guidelines prevent knock downs of key buildings. Although tricky, these rules keep prices up. If they went, Gawler would lose the very thing that makes it unique.