Terowie Lubritorium, South Australia
Former lubritorium in Terowie South Australia
Terowie is an historic town in the mid-north of South Australia, between Burra and Peterborough. We paid a short visit to the town recently after visiting family in Peterborough. One of the old buildings which caught my attention is shown in the photo above.
I can’t find any reference to who C.B. Nourse was, but in the heyday of the town when it was a thriving service centre for the surrounding rural district, this business must have also done very well.
Times change and the town is now a quiet backwater, with very few businesses still open. Many old buildings have been abandoned and are deteriorating and the population has dwindled.
The wording on the fascia board is of interest to me. A “lubritorium” is obviously an establishment where motor vehicles are lubricated, maintained and repaired. While the term is in common use in the United States it is less so these days in Australia, though I seem to remember when growing up in the 1950s that it was far more widespread in usage here in Australia too. These days we tend to use “service centre” or even “garage” instead.
Historic Terowie, South Australia
Main street of the mid-north town of Terowie
On out way home from a recent visit to family in Peterborough we called into the historic town of Terowie in the mid-north of South Australia. This old town is about a 20 minute drive south of Peterborough and normally we take the by-pass route. On this occasion we went into the town in order to take some photos of the old bank building there. A friend asked us to take a few photos because her camera failed to download the photos she had taken on a visit last year.
Terowie was surveyed in 1877 and was soon settled and became a thriving town. The growing network of railways in South Australia ensured that the town would – for a time – thrive. It soon became a bustling town and served the growing rural community in which it was based. Now it is a sleepy, quiet town, far removed from the hustle of former days. Here you can read more about its history, and some of the people who lived and worked there.
I will post more photos in coming days.
Advertising on the side of the local store in Terowie
Map of the town on a sign in the main street
Old Town Hall in Peterborough
Old Town Hall in Peterborough, South Australia
The magnificent building shown in today’s photograph was the original town hall in Peterborough in the mid-north of South Australia. It was built in 1884 as a private building. From 1889 it was used as the Town Hall until the new, current Town Hall was opened in 1927 – you can see the current town hall to the left of the old building.
This building, in addition to serving as the town hall, has been variously used as a museum, library, courthouse and even a skating rink. It is now a private residence. You can read more about this building here.
Federation Quilt Peterborough
Federation Quilt, Peterborough Town Hall
The Federation Quilt is on display in the entrance foyer of the Peterborough Town Hall in the mid-north of South Australia. It was made by the local Peterborough Patchwork Quilters group, who also put on special displays of quilts during the annual Arts and Cultural Festival every Easter.
Federation Quilt, Peterborough Town Hall
Peterborough Town Hall, South Australia
Peterborough Town Hall
Over recent days I have been sharing some photos of various aspects of Peterborough in the mid-north of South Australia. We often go there to visit family. My wife grew up and went to school in the local school, and her sister and brother-in-law still live there.
One of the more prominent buildings in the main street is the Town Hall, featured in today’s photos. According to the date on the top of the façade it was completed in 1926, but the fact sheet put out by the council says 1927.
Marvel at one of the largest heritage listed Town Halls in country South Australia.
Commissioned by a very proud outgoing council in 1926, the Town Hall was
completed in 1927. The original five shop fronts are now converted into council
offices and the Mayoral chambers are situated up the ornate stair-cases. The
left hand foyer is known as the Federation Foyer and is where you can see and
hear about the magnificent Federation quilt, donated to the community from the
Peterborough Patchworkers. The right hand foyer is the Memorial Foyer where you
will find Keith Payne’s Victoria Cross display and the Citizen of the Year honour roll.
Please pop your head in to witness the grandeur of the beautiful building.
The town hall is used for many functions throughout the year. Every Easter we attempt to visit Peterborough for the annual Art and Cultural Festival, held around Easter time. Included in the festival is a huge art and photographic exhibition and competition. Every time I go I comment that I must enter some of my photos; the family is still waiting.
Peterborough Town Hall