Terowie, South Australia
Encyclopedia
Terowie is a small town in the mid-north of South Australia
located 220 kilometres (137 mi) north of Adelaide
. It is located in the Regional Council of Goyder
. Terowie retains a number of authentic and well preserved 1880s buildings, and has been declared a "historic town". It also remains a town of interest to those interested in rail history. Although now a very small town with few facilities, Terowie remains a popular destination for photographers, historians, and rail buffs.
At the 2006 census
, Terowie had a population of 145.
The town was founded as a private venture around 1875 by John A. Mitchell (died ca. May 1879), who built a public house
(highly profitable due to its proximity to the Inkermann mine) on the main road, and sections were taken up by a blacksmith, a medical practitioner (a Dr. Carter), a store and others. This was in flagrant contravention of the terms of Mitchell's lease, but received an imprimatur
when he facilitated building of a Wesleyan chapel. By the end of 1875 it consisted of seven houses in a row. In 1877 an area of "wasteland" to the east across the road was nominated by the Government as the site of a town named "Shebbear". (perhaps named after Shebbear, Devon). This was objected to by interests in Terowie and nearby Yarcowie, which was anxious for any development to be there. Eventually lots were offered for sale at "Shebbear", but the name was scarcely used outside the context of proposed land sales, and all references to the future railway used "Terowie". By 1880 there were two stores, two butchers', a bakery, a saddlery, a bootmaker, three blacksmiths', the hotel (now run by Eglington) and another under construction, two chapels, an Institute (but as yet no Post Office or Police Station) and the Railway Station. The line south was completed on 11 October 1880.
Terowie's initial raison d'être was to serve as a transport hub for the late 19th Century pastoral settlement of the north-east of the State. The broad gauge
line from the south (via Burra
) ended at Terowie. Soon a narrow gauge line continued 20 km north to Peterborough
, where lines from Perth, Western Australia
, Alice Springs, Broken Hill and later Sydney
met. Thus Terowie functioned for decades as the transshipment point at the railway break-of-gauge
.
The broad gauge line was extended from Terowie to Peterborough in the 1970s, and Terowie went from a thriving township into something of a perfectly preserved ghost-town. The railway line was closed and removed in the early 1990s; many relics remain and have been well preserved in the Museum and the Walking Trail.
The town was home to a busy staging camp during World War II
, due to the break-of-gauge for the busy railway traffic going to Alice Springs and thus much of northern Australia.
The pioneering Hollywood filmmaker J.P. McGowan was born in Terowie in 1880, his father's occupation being shown on the birth registration as engineman. It has been speculated that McGowan's decades-long film interest in steam rail would have stemmed from early exposure in the then-bustling rail terminus.
made his famous speech regarding the Battle of the Philippines in which he said: "I came out of Bataan
and I shall return". He subsequently repeated the line "I shall return" in a number of other speeches, in a number of other places. The event is commemmorated by a plaque on the now disused railway platform.
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
located 220 kilometres (137 mi) north of Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
. It is located in the Regional Council of Goyder
Regional Council of Goyder
The Regional Council of Goyder is a local government area located in the Mid North region of South Australia. The district is reliant on agriculture as a mainstay of its economy, with manufacturing and tourism also becoming prominent.-History:...
. Terowie retains a number of authentic and well preserved 1880s buildings, and has been declared a "historic town". It also remains a town of interest to those interested in rail history. Although now a very small town with few facilities, Terowie remains a popular destination for photographers, historians, and rail buffs.
At the 2006 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, Terowie had a population of 145.
Origins and history
Terowie is an aboriginal word meaning hidden waterhole, and was first applied to Terowie Creek and the Hundred of Terowie.The town was founded as a private venture around 1875 by John A. Mitchell (died ca. May 1879), who built a public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
(highly profitable due to its proximity to the Inkermann mine) on the main road, and sections were taken up by a blacksmith, a medical practitioner (a Dr. Carter), a store and others. This was in flagrant contravention of the terms of Mitchell's lease, but received an imprimatur
Imprimatur
An imprimatur is, in the proper sense, a declaration authorizing publication of a book. The term is also applied loosely to any mark of approval or endorsement.-Catholic Church:...
when he facilitated building of a Wesleyan chapel. By the end of 1875 it consisted of seven houses in a row. In 1877 an area of "wasteland" to the east across the road was nominated by the Government as the site of a town named "Shebbear". (perhaps named after Shebbear, Devon). This was objected to by interests in Terowie and nearby Yarcowie, which was anxious for any development to be there. Eventually lots were offered for sale at "Shebbear", but the name was scarcely used outside the context of proposed land sales, and all references to the future railway used "Terowie". By 1880 there were two stores, two butchers', a bakery, a saddlery, a bootmaker, three blacksmiths', the hotel (now run by Eglington) and another under construction, two chapels, an Institute (but as yet no Post Office or Police Station) and the Railway Station. The line south was completed on 11 October 1880.
Terowie's initial raison d'être was to serve as a transport hub for the late 19th Century pastoral settlement of the north-east of the State. The broad gauge
Broad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
line from the south (via Burra
Burra, South Australia
Burra is a pastoral centre and historic tourist town in the mid-north of South Australia. It lies east of the Clare Valley in the Bald Hills range, part of the northern Mount Lofty Ranges, and on Burra Creek. The town began as a single company mining township that, by 1851, was a set of townships ...
) ended at Terowie. Soon a narrow gauge line continued 20 km north to Peterborough
Peterborough, South Australia
Peterborough is a town in the mid north of South Australia, in wheat country, just off the Barrier Highway. At the 2006 census, Peterborough had a population of 1,689....
, where lines from Perth, Western Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Alice Springs, Broken Hill and later Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
met. Thus Terowie functioned for decades as the transshipment point at the railway break-of-gauge
Break-of-gauge
With railways, a break-of-gauge occurs where a line of one gauge meets a line of a different gauge. Trains and rolling stock cannot run through without some form of conversion between gauges, and freight and passengers must otherwise be transloaded...
.
The broad gauge line was extended from Terowie to Peterborough in the 1970s, and Terowie went from a thriving township into something of a perfectly preserved ghost-town. The railway line was closed and removed in the early 1990s; many relics remain and have been well preserved in the Museum and the Walking Trail.
The town was home to a busy staging camp during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, due to the break-of-gauge for the busy railway traffic going to Alice Springs and thus much of northern Australia.
The pioneering Hollywood filmmaker J.P. McGowan was born in Terowie in 1880, his father's occupation being shown on the birth registration as engineman. It has been speculated that McGowan's decades-long film interest in steam rail would have stemmed from early exposure in the then-bustling rail terminus.
General Douglas MacArthur
Whilst transferring trains in Terowie on 20 March 1942, U.S. General Douglas MacArthurDouglas MacArthur
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was an American general and field marshal of the Philippine Army. He was a Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the...
made his famous speech regarding the Battle of the Philippines in which he said: "I came out of Bataan
Bataan
Bataan is a province of the Philippines occupying the whole of the Bataan Peninsula on Luzon. The province is part of the Central Luzon region. The capital of Bataan is Balanga City and it is bordered by the provinces of Zambales and Pampanga to the north...
and I shall return". He subsequently repeated the line "I shall return" in a number of other speeches, in a number of other places. The event is commemmorated by a plaque on the now disused railway platform.