{"id":2839,"date":"2022-02-06T15:22:16","date_gmt":"2022-02-06T04:52:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/?page_id=2839"},"modified":"2023-01-18T11:03:14","modified_gmt":"2023-01-18T00:33:14","slug":"crafers-institute-library","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/?page_id=2839","title":{"rendered":"Crafers Institute & Library"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Text: Chris Chardon<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Images: Chris Chardon, SLSA<\/em>, denisbin (Flickr)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It has been a long-held belief that Arthur Hardy, who held significant land holdings in the Mount Lofty region, donated the land on which the Crafers Institute was built. Evidence that Hardy owned any of Section 19 has not been sighted and other documentation suggests this was not the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crafers had a Mechanics Institute, founded in about 1867 and instigated by Arthur Hardy, but it had no building of its own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The land on the northern side of what is now the Main Street was purchased in February 1878 by Alfred Taylor the Elder, of Laura, a butcher. The land, including closed roads, consisted of five acres one rood and twenty perches. This land included where the institute stands, and the service station stands today. Alfred died in September 1878 and his wife, Caroline, became one of the executors of Alfred\u2019s will. Certificate of Title 270\/174 refers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In November 1881 Caroline, a Crafers storekeeper, sold the land on which the service station and caf\u00e9 now stand, and which abuts the Crafers Institute site, to George Rogers of Crafers, a blacksmith. Certificate of Title 376\/72 refers. For many years this site was a bakery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In July 1882 Caroline agreed to the sale of the site of the Institute. The purchasers were Job James of near Crafers, gardener; Frederick John Atkinson of Crafers, butcher; James Blackie of near Crafers, gardener; William McGregor of near Crafers, gardener; George Rogers of Crafers, shoeing smith; William Measday of near Crafers, storekeeper; and James Grimes of near Crafers, gardener. Certificate of Title 400\/150 refers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The transfer was signed on 10th<\/sup> July 1882. The gentlemen, whom it is assumed were the trustees of the Institute, paid \u00a350 for the two perches (approx. half an acre) site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the transfer was a note:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cAppeared before me at Crafers the second day of November one thousand eight hundred and eighty-one Caroline Taylor of Crafers, the party executing the within instrument freely and voluntarily signing same.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arthur Hardy, Notary Public\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So it seems that Hardy did not donate the land but witnessed the vendor signing the Memorandum of Transfer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It did not take very long before construction proceeded. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evening Journal, Adelaide, Friday 13 October 1882<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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South Australian Advertiser, Adelaide, Monday 16 October 1882<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

THE CRAFERS INSTITUTE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[By Telegraph.] Crafers, October 15. The ceremony of laying the foundation-stone of the Crafers Institute was performed by Mrs. Stokes on Saturday afternoon, October 14. About fifty ladies and gentlemen were present, including Mr. Stokes, Sir William Milne, and Mr. Alexander Dowie Apologies for unavoidable absence were received from His Excellency the Governor, Sir Thomas Elder. Mr. Justice Andrews. Mr. Thompson (Mayor of Port Adelaide), and Mr. S. Tomkinson, MP. Mr. James Blackie (chairman of the trustees) opened the proceedings by reading the history of the institute, which was established about twenty years ago by Mr. Arthur Hardy. Not much progress, however, was made till 1870, when Mr. Henry Scott took a great interest in the working of the institution, and it has made good progress since. Three years ago a suitable site for a new building was purchased for \u00a350 near the old Mount Lofty Hotel, the ruins of which may still be seen. A few difficulties arose respecting the boundary, but these were surmounted. The project was warmly taken up, and promise of donations to the amount of \u00a3150 towards the object were received. Mr. Edward Smith (secretary) read the document to be placed under the stone. The present structure is 40 feet long, 23 feet wide, and 18 feet high. The architect is Mr. Evans, and the builder Mr. Thomas Burnett, whose contract amounted to \u00a3375. The trustees are Messrs. Rogers, Atkinson, McGregor, Blakie, James, Grimes. Measday, and Edward Smith (secretary). Mrs. Stokes was presented with a handsome silver bowl, suitably inscribed, and the stone was duly laid. Short addresses of a general and congratulatory character were made by Messrs. Stokes, Smith, and Grimes. The usual cheers having been given the proceedings terminated. The amount laid on the stone was \u00a337 14s, making a total of \u00a3187. 14s., received towards the object.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Crafers Institute 1933 SLSA B8897<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Do you have memories of this building and the community it served? Contact us at mldhsgateways@mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au<\/a> or drop into the History Centre at the Coventry Library, 63 Mount Barker Road, Stirling.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Text: Chris Chardon Images: Chris Chardon, SLSA, denisbin (Flickr) It has been a long-held belief that Arthur Hardy, who held significant land holdings in the Mount Lofty region, donated the land on which the Crafers Institute was built. Evidence that Hardy owned any of Section 19 has not been sighted and other documentation suggests this was … Continue reading “Crafers Institute & Library”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"spay_email":""},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/PaNLq6-JN","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2347,"url":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/?page_id=2347","url_meta":{"origin":2839,"position":0},"title":"Mount Lofty (Crafers Summit) Railway Station","date":"October 8, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Text : Chris Chardon Images: MLDHS and as described THE MOUNT LOFTY RAILWAY STATION The Mount Lofty Railway Station was originally named the Crafers Summit Railway Station. The Act of Parliament, to provide a line of railway from Adelaide to Nairne, was assented to on 30th November 1878. Below is\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/crafers-summit.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3331,"url":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/?page_id=3331","url_meta":{"origin":2839,"position":1},"title":"Local Road Names","date":"April 2, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Text: John McGregor Images:SLSA, MLDHS \u00a0 Some local roads were named after people with some connection with the area : i e\u00a0 Hardy Road named after the businessman of fluctuating fortunes who built Mount Lofty House, Arthur\u00a0 Hardy, and Wright Road named after\u00a0 the Wright family who had property along\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/B-20825.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2100,"url":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/?page_id=2100","url_meta":{"origin":2839,"position":2},"title":"Recollections of Sport in past times","date":"July 5, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Text: John McGregorImages: SLSA, MLDHS My grandfather, William McGregor, and his two brothers, Jack and Davie, all played cricket for Crafers in the late 19th century. Their home ground was Atkinson\u2019s paddock, behind the butcher\u2018s shop, and which was grandly called the Crafers Oval. To me the term \u201cOval\u201d suggests\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/015-Atkinsons-Paddock-C1890a.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2913,"url":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/?page_id=2913","url_meta":{"origin":2839,"position":3},"title":"Crafers Girls’ Club","date":"April 3, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Text: John McGregor and Janet Chambers Image: Janet Chambers Crafers Girls Club badge In the early 1950s, Peggy Cossick (whose husband Arthur owned and operated the Crafers grocery store) convened a committee of women whose daughters attended Crafers School with a view to forming a club to give the girls\u00a0\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/20220314_185457a.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2432,"url":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/?page_id=2432","url_meta":{"origin":2839,"position":4},"title":"\u201cDINA~FRIDGE\u201d AND THE CRAFERS REFRIGERATION FACTORY","date":"January 7, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Text: Chris Chardon Images: MLDHS, Trove Airflow Refrigeration Ltd. (refrigeration engineers) had premises situated on the disused Glenelg-North terrace railway line and facing South Road at Mile End South. The property was purchased in 1938. The manager of Airflow Ltd. was Mr. Benno Henry Rohde, known as Ben. However in\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Dina-Fridge-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":682,"url":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/?page_id=682","url_meta":{"origin":2839,"position":5},"title":"Church and Community","date":"March 13, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Return to Gateways Topics Anglican Church Uraidla St Matthew's Catholic Church, Bridgewater Crafers Girls' Club Mt Lofty Uniting Church Wattle Day 1st day of September Stirling Nativity Re-enactment CrafersInstitute Our Lady of the RosaryStirling East Sunset Rock Pipe Organ Read about Fr. Frank Manak, Czech Refugee, Aldgate Resident and Chaplain\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/a.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2839"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2839"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2839\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3261,"href":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2839\/revisions\/3261"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2839"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}