ELLOUISE CRAWFORD
TAKING a stroll down Murray
Street 100 years ago will soon
be as easy as a click of a button
thanks to one Gawler researcher’s
“lockdown project”.
Helen Wilmore is in the process
of creating a public database of
Gawler’s maps and has so far gathered
information and links to about
150 maps and plans relevant to the
district.
From Gawler’s original survey
and plan in 1839 and various original
hand-drawn maps from the
1800s, to online interactive maps,
self-guided walking trails and aerial
photographs, the database is a novice
researcher’s dream.
Dr Wilmore, who is a member of
the Gawler Environment and Heritage
Association (GEHA), said the
whole concept was born from when
she herself had difficulty finding
and accessing the maps several
years ago, for a separate project.
Then “lockdown 2020” provided
the ideal time to bring her idea to
life.
“The State Library does have
maps in its records, but say if you
didn’t know Bassett Town was once
part of Gawler, you wouldn’t find
that map, or if you’re just looking
up your house and you’re not an
expert, it’s really really hard,” Dr
Wilmore said.
“So I thought I would look into
this and see what I can find, and it
just grew to 150 maps.”
Dr Wilmore said the database
was all about making the historical
documents more readily and easily
accessible.
In many cases, it will provide direct
hyperlinks to the maps, alongside
descriptions and instructions
on how to view an original.
The SA History Festival has also
provided the opportunity to share
her finds with the public and help
spread the word about the database.
On Monday, a special event – A
Journey With Maps – will launch a
two-week exhibition of some of Dr
Wilmore’s most interesting finds,
including several original maps
from the Gawler Cultural Heritage
Collection, at the Gawler Civic
Centre.
The maps have diverse subjects
and purposes, including rainfall, geology,
settlement and growth, world
wars and military planning, as well
as cemeteries and stone walls.
“There are some really special
ones that are originals and people
can come and see them,” she said.
“I would just like ordinary people
who don’t know much about history
to just get excited by them, to think
‘this map is showing something I
know about nowadays – but I didn’t
know it was like that then’.”
Booking are required for the
opening launch only (via festival.
history.sa.gov.au), which will be
held from 3.30pm to 5pm on Monday,
May 10, at the Gawler Civic
Centre.
The exhibition can then be
viewed during civic centre opening
hours from May 10 to 24.