Coromandel Valley Chronology

Winn's ford on the Sturt River 1906 – Chronicle photo

1837 Some sailors from the ship ‘ Coromandel ‘ escaped to the hills near where Coromandel Valley is now.

1840First Land grant issued . Section 863 was granted to Samuel Gill.

Peter Cumming began buying land which later became ‘Craigburn Farm’.

1843Rev Samuel Gill began a school for local children in his own home .

1843 - 1844The Murray Family bought a farm at Coromandel and named it ‘Craiglee’.

1848Thomas Turner and the Shepley family arrived in South Australia and settled in Coromandel Valley.

C1857(1) Biscuit factory was established by Alexander Murray.

1859The first church in the valley, the Methodist Church was built. It is now a private residence.

1861Enoch Shepley opened a store by the ford.

1862Coromandel Valley Cricket Club founded by Adam Whitehill and is one of the oldest cricket clubs in SA.

1866Hills Road Inquiry Horners Bridge on Murrays Hill Road built. It was named after Nathan Horner one of the contractors involved in its construction.

1872Carrs Bridge built over the Sturt Creek. It was named after the prominent politician and resident of the district Mr John Carr.

1873(6) St Johns Anglican Church was opened.Robert Dall died and was buried in the cemetery of the Coromandel Methodist Church.

1877(7) Coromandel Valley Public School opened with an enrollment of 74.Carl Scherer and Jahann Heinrich Baust arrived from Hamburg, Germany on the ship 'Papa'.

1881(8) The Coromandel Institute was built on land given by the widow of the Reverend Samuel Gill.

1882The South Australian Company subdivided Section 866 but there were no sales of allotments until 1891.

Murray's biscuit factory c1880

Enoch & Lucy Shepley

c1887Richard Winn took over Shepley’s store and passed it on to his son, Walter Winn in 1904.

1888(2) Oliver Winn began butchering on property near Winn’s Bakehouse.

1894(5) The Baptist Church was built - previously the services were held in the Institute. This building is now part of the Uniting Church complex.

1897(4) Jacob Smith built his house 'The Knoll'.

1899Alexander George Downer bought 'Craigburn Farm'.

1903 The Murray Biscuit was closed.

1914(9) The Magarey orchard was established.

1919Winn’s store was closed.

1921(10) The World War One Monument was dedicated.

1934Johann Baust died having lived in Coromandel Valley since 1891.

1945'The Coromandel' local weekly newspaper started.

1966Coromandel Valley and Districts National Trust Branch formed.

1970National Trust Museum established in the Winn’s Bakehouse building.

1993Opening of Stage One of the Sturt River Linear Park.

Coromandel Cricket Club - 23 January 1897 PRG 11/13 Murray Papers, State Library SA

Above: Winn's Bakehouse with the general store behind - 1914.

Above: On the opposite side of the Sturt River – Oliver Winn's butcher's shop at the rear, and a footbridge over the river in front - c1900.

State Library No. 23969

Coromandel Valley Map

Prepared by Mitcham Local History Service and Heritage Research Centre 103b Princes Rd, Mitcham SA 5062. Ph 8372 8261May 2005

Produce from Jacob (Jack) Maag's market garden at Coromandel Valley - 1920 - State Library No. 28525

Note: The above map shows only the part of Coromandel Valley within the Mitcham Council boundary.

Last Edit: 3/12/09

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