Explore Jamestown’s fascinating history while in town. Spend some time at the museum or history centre, or learn as you walk along the cemetery and mural walks.
National Trust Museum Jaemstown’s Railway Station Museum has many stories to tell, with themed rooms covering sport, home activities, and social stories. Featured are some of the people who worked toward making Jamestown what it is today: MS McLeod; Dr James Cockburn; the Gordon family; Sir Hubert Wilkins and inventors Both and Trilling. Learn about the The Emu Factory (known for its cordial, chutney and butter); the South Australia Farmers Union, a farmer co-operative formed in Jamestown in 1888 which went on to employ 1000 people in the 1970s. See 19th century farm machinery, medical equipment, railway items and machinery from Jamestown’s Flour Mill, and JJ Christie’s paintings. Resident caretaker Liz Bentley-Stevens cherishes the opportunity to help you make the most of your visit. Open: Mon-Sat 10am-1pm & 3pm-6pm Sundays: 2pm-6pm. 0416 165 298 Admission: Adults $5,17 and under $1 Enter northern end of Irvine St
Local History Centre
Jamestown Mural Walk
If geneaology has brought you to Jamestown, then the local history centre is for you. Friendly volunteers will help you source information about your family members.
Murals on the walls of many Jamestown businesses tell the story of Jamestown’s early days. See Ayr St as it was in 1876, an image of the town’s first motor car, and the butcher shop which has been in the longest continuous use in Australia.
Look through heritage photos, local newspapers (from 1878 to present) and cemetery and school records. The centre has a comprehensive collection of general business and community history, including club minutes, business accounts and ledgers. If time is on your side, listen to a collection of taped reminiscences or watch an audio visual history of the local flour mill and Bundaleer Forest. Open: last Sunday in the month 1.30pm–4.30pm or by appointment 08 8664 1380or 08 8664 1099 Admission: donation Doon Tce, Jamestown
Dr John Cockburn’s Bust See the bust of Jamestown’s first mayor and doctor, Dr John Cockburn at the eastern end of Ayr St, in the centre of the annual mural festival exhibits. Dr Cockburn went on to become Premier of SA and prepared the enabling legislation in 1897 that paved the way for Federation in 1901.
A brief history of each mural has been prepared by Jamestown’s National Trust branch and can be downloaded from www.visitjamestown.com.au Ian Walker painted the mural on the eastern wall of Glasgow House to mark the town’s centenary in 1971 and repainted it in 2013. The other murals were originally painted in the early 1990s, by former Jamestown art teacher John Whitney with the help of local school students. They have been given a fresh lick of paint in recent years by local sign-writers.
A Walk in the Cemetery Take a walk through Jamestown’s wellmaintained cemetery to visit the graves of your ancestors. You’ll also find the headstones of many pioneers of Jamestown and district. A self-guided cemetery walk has been prepared by members of the Jamestown National Trust and can be downloaded from www.visitjamestown.com.au
Jamestown Today
www.visitjamestown.com.au
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