Blackwood Chronology1840The South East area of Blackwood taken up under Land Grants.

1847Earliest reference to Blackwood when Blackwood Vale Farm was mentioned as the address. It was in present-day Glenalta.

1850Most of Blackwood had been taken up under Land Grants.

1852Daniel Johnson settled in the district and was one of the earliest residents to spend the rest of his days there despite of the enormous changes that took place after the Hills Land Investment Company bought much of his property adjoining the railway for subdivision.

1853Northern part of Blackwood taken up under Land Grants.

1854Shephard’s Hill Road was opened as an alternative route to the hills. Named after Ann Shephard, who owned property at both the top and the bottom of the hill.

1866John Carr MP encouraged a parliamentary inquiry for a road through the district to be constructed and eventually built a two story blue-stone house on Coromandel Parade which he owned from 1883 to 1898.

1879First subdivisions for housing, "Eastview", Gladstone & Brighton Pde areas.

1881Methodist Chapel established in Young Street Blackwood. The wood and iron structure was moved in 1917 by the builder DJ Hewett to Coromandel Parade.

1882Daniel Hewett moved to the district and built "Buffalo" on Coromandel Pde. By 1914 it is thought that his firm had built about half the houses around Blackwood. Most of Hawthorndene became his property until subdivision after his death in 1924.

1883Railway opened and Blackwood Railway Station was the first in the hills. The first stationmaster was Mr McLeish.

1894Daniel Johnson who from 1852 began acquiring his property around Blackwood died. His tombstone stands against the wall of the Coromandel Valley Uniting Church.

1902 Land for Blackwood Oval bought by Coromandel Cricket Club.

“Buffalo” - The Hewett family's first home in the Blackwood area.

Blackwood Railway Station - c1910

1903Blackwood Boys' Club started and developed into today’s Recreation Centre.

1914The telephone exchange opened for continuous service.

Trees planted along Coromandel Parade between Reids Corner and the railway.

Mr & Mrs Shirley W Jeffries settled in Brighton Pde, Blackwood, he was Lawyer, entered parliament in1927, Minister of Education 1933 – 1944

1915 Blackwood church of Christ established.

1919Catholic Church arrived in the form of the Soldiers' Hut from the Mitcham Army Camp.

1921Methodist Church built at Five Ways corner - a stone structure.

1927Fairley family settled in Blackwood and established a shop.

1928New Post Office built.

1929 Blackwood Primary school opened.

Mrs E Davie-Thomas donated property between Edgecombe Parade and Main Road for a reserve which was managed for many years by the Blackwood Tree and Garden Society.

1930-33Blackwood Police Station built. The first policeman was Mr Huxley.

1933Masonic Hall built on Main Road, designed by Perce Culley. in 1984 shops were built across the front of it.

Built in the 1890s this Anglican Parish Hall was moved by bullock team in 1914 to the present location of the All Hallows Anglican Church in Coromandel Parade. It burnt down in 1934 and the present Church

was built by John Henry (Harry) Hewett in 1936.+

Playing & watching tennis at Blackwood House, Coromandel Parade - c1940

Looking south along Coromandel Parade from 'Five Ways' in 1910 – The 'Temperance Hotel' later known as Blackwood (boarding) House

is at right.

1936All Hallows Anglican Church built on Coromandel Parade. It's parish hall was moved from Main Road to Coromandel Parade in 1914.

St Paul of the Cross Catholic Church built by John Henry Hewett completed.

1945The Coromandel newspaper started in a wood and iron building which was later moved.

1947Four allotments No 156-159 of Blackwood Hill donated to Council by the estate of Mrs Mary Anita Wright in memory of her parents, James and Mary Elizabeth Bailey for a 'playground or picnic or

recreation ground.'

1954 Blackwood and District Hospital opened but is located in present-day Belair.

Earthquake causes extensive damage to some buildings in the Hills.

1956Blackwood Memorial Hall foundation stone laid by Robin Millhouse.

1958The roundabout at Five-Ways intersection was installed.

1960 Blackwood district High School opened (in Eden Hills).

1970Rotary Club formed for Blackwood (The Coromandel 3 Sept 1970)

1970sShopping Centres proposed and built.

1973June 3 – Blackwood Squash Club opened at 210 Main Road, Blackwood. (The Coromandel Times 24 May 1973)

Present Post Office opened

Owen K Griffiths with his radio transmitter, March 1923.

The Blackwood Radio Club was the first of many amateur radio clubs formed in South

Australia during the 1920s. Owen Griffiths of Young Street was a foundation member.

Builder Daniel Hewett who was responsible for the construction of

many of the early homes in Blackwood

Panoramic view of 'Five Ways' Blackwood - 1930

1975 “Wittunga”, a living garden of Australian and South African plantings opened to the public having been donated to the Botanic Gardens by the family of Edwin Ashby who established the property at the turn of the century.

1977Blackwood Railway Station extensively damaged by fire.

1981Ivor Symons Library opened on the corner of Carr St & Main Road.

1984Misses Gamble donated their property to the Mitcham Council. The cottage garden is maintained by a Friends Group and the 1902 cottage has been restored for community receptions and meetings by the Coromandel Valley and district National Trust branch.

1986Group R.I.D.E.R. established at Blackwood to provide horse riding opportunities for the disabled.

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

November 2009

Above: Joseph and Harriet Gamble in their buggy and outside their home 'Gamble Cottage', Blackwood.

Joseph, a Council Nurseryman, built the home c1902. Two of his four daughters Clara and Edith lived there until the early 1980s when they donated the cottage and it's garden to the Council.

Last edit: 12/03/2009