Strathalbyn Museum

The old dry stonewalls which criss-cross fields near Strathalbyn and Macclesfield serve as a constant reminder of the history of this picturesque part of the Adelaide Hills. They were built by people determined to leave a permanent reminder of their presence and where they'd come from. The first Scottish pioneers lead by wealthy pastoralists such as William Rankine arrived here in 1839. Earlier this month their descendants celebrated their ancestry during the recent Scottish Festival at the historic Glenbarr Homestead. The history of the settlement of this area can be uncovered with a quick visit to one of the Adelaide Hills most interesting museums located in the old courthouse and police station at Strathalbyn. For artist and historian Nancy Gemmell, maintaining this National Trust treasure has been a labour of love with its tales of early pioneers including the mysterious and romantic Colonel Dawson. "Well this was Colonel Dawson's sword and he came out here and then his wife came out on the Fairfield with the Rankines and they became very friendly. He was given this when he was in the cavalry and in charge of the Shah of Persia's cavalry guard. When he went there, his wife who was twenty years younger had run away from a convent dressed as his orderly and went on board and went back to Persia with him. She had several children there and when he retired they came here as a pioneer." The museum contains an amazing array of artefacts gathered from the first European settlers and those who lived here for generations before. The meeting of those two cultures is reflected in objects like this bowl made from drift wood washed ashore on the Coorong. Much of the Museum is located next door to the courtroom.

"That was the police station house and this courtroom was added to that in 1867. That's a very old building and that had the old courthouse in it, two cells and a small residence for the corporal. It was remodelled when this courthouse was built." The memorabilia here gives the visitor a real insight into the social attitudes of the time. The old bathing notices for the nearby River Angas are proof that the early settlers certainly believed in covering up and it had more to do with ultra conservatism that the ultra violet. "We have the originals of these on the walls and a big heap of cotton notices they used to stick on trees." "They were a bit severe?" we asked. "Yes they were a bit firm, women weren't allowed to go down there and the girls couldn't swim at all." The Old Courthouse Museum is located on South Terrace at Strathalbyn and is open on weekends and public and school holidays from 2pm until 5pm. Admission is $2 for adults, $1 for concessions and 50cents for children and students. For more information you can email info@postcards-sa.com.au