GAWLER needs to figure out what it wants to do with its old, historic walls.
For a town that wants to promote itself as a destination for history buffs and build its tourist draw around that, the condition of some of these walls really leaves a lot to be desired.
Take Church Hill for example.
We love to tout it as one of South Australia’s hidden jewels, and so we should.
Its historical significance to the state is seriously underappreciated by the vast majority.
But if its heritage listed buildings were decrepit and falling down it would be a great shame.
It might work for ancient Rome or Athens, but it wouldn’t draw tourists here.
So why should our walls be any different?
They aren’t just walls after all, they are part of the character and charm of Gawler.
To the credit of Gawler Council, a Heritage Wall scheme does exist, allowing ratepayers with old walls on their property to tap into a fund and help restore them.
However, it seems clear that there is some sort of disconnect with the general public and the knowledge of the scheme if our walls are still being left to ruin.
Last week a section of a wall on Dundas St collapsed, causing Councillor Jim Vallelonga to take action.
He fears that one day, someone may be walking past a slanted wall when the unthinkable might happen.
Judging by the condition of some of the walls around Gawler, those fears aren’t unfounded.
This isn’t the first time that this issue has come up in the Chamber, and it may not be the last either.
In 2021, then-councillor Ian Tooley submitted a motion which called for a stonemason to be employed on a 12-month contract to fix Gawler’s old and crumbling walls, and a group of apprentices to be trained too.
Controversial at the time, the motion still managed to pass before a stunning backflip just two months later.
And yet our walls continue to decay.
If we want to position ourselves as a tourist destination, this issue needs to be addressed and fast.
