Burra Community Town Hall

Burra Community Town Hall Our Community Town Hall

Joined the Burra Town Hall sheep collection is this cast iron ram, painted in the past in gold.Looking for a name for hi...
19/08/2026

Joined the Burra Town Hall sheep collection is this cast iron ram, painted in the past in gold.
Looking for a name for him ...

18/08/2026

On Tuesday 25th August the Town Hall will be hosting:
• at 9am a BBQ breakfast courtesy of the Men’s Shed to accompany a visit to Burra from the judges of the Agricultural Town of the Year, and
• then from 1:30pm to 6:30 pm a Community Drop-in session to seek answers from the IREN 800Mw Bundey AI datacentre people

18/08/2026

Ongoing, not forgotten about:
The Simpson Safe - who can crack it and what, if anything is in it?
Getting Philip Lane's portrait restored
The Union Jack. Where did it come from and what was it used for in Burra?
The photograph of Edward Catchlove Lockyer: I don't think with his signature there's much doubt that he is one of the "missing" mayors
Who is the horseman often photographed with the Burra Cheer-Up girls?
William John Thomas Hempel: The recipes in his cookery notebook from 1918 will be published here. Great for cooking for 100+ people
The Len Bence display cabinet

The Town Hall was given a display cabinet originally from Len Bence’s Drapery & Clothing business in Burra. This cabinet...
18/08/2026

The Town Hall was given a display cabinet originally from Len Bence’s Drapery & Clothing business in Burra.
This cabinet will be used as a display of Len's life.

It was donated by Raelene Waters to the Friends of the Burra Railway Station during the restoration of the building and when open to the public. A larger cabinet was subsequently acquired at the railway station and this cabinet was then donated to the Town Hall.
Unfortunately, during the move the back sheet of glass was broken.
As at July 2026, quotes to restore, or replace the broken 6mm glass with matching boards, are beyond the Town Hall’s financial resources.

Len Bence was born in Burra in 1923. He flew a full operational tour of 30 bombing missions as a Bomber Pilot in a Lancaster bomber. He met his future wife, Muriel, at a dance and they married in 1945.
Back in Australia he worked in the family drapery business, Bence's, and became an artist, painting mostly watercolours, of landscapes and heritage buildings.

In 2016 Len was awarded the Légion d’honneur, which he subsequently donated to the Burra Town Hall.
Also in 2016, Len was a guest of the Australian War Memorial and was introduced to the Memorial's Lancaster bomber.

Len died in Burra aged 99 and at the service in St Mary's church in Burra, "was appropriately farewelled with the reciting of the Ode, the sounding of Last Post, and a minute silence broken with the playing of Rouse"
(source: South Australian Aviation Museum)

Burra used to host horse-racing. The Town Hall has the 1926 Burra Cup, donated by Scott Clark some time back, and the bo...
12/08/2026

Burra used to host horse-racing. The Town Hall has the 1926 Burra Cup, donated by Scott Clark some time back, and the book Harry's Horses, about Harry Gregory, privately printed by Scott Clark which covers horse-racing in the Mid North at the time. Goyder Council has the photo - part-framed, no glass, no mat board - of the finish of the 1920 Burra Cup.
Few people living in this area had any idea of the extent of racing up here then.

Philip Lane was Burra's first Mayor from 1876 to 1878 and again in 1881. His portrait, owned by Goyder Council, is under...
11/08/2026

Philip Lane was Burra's first Mayor from 1876 to 1878 and again in 1881. His portrait, owned by Goyder Council, is under the Town Hall's care. This portrait needs attention sooner rather than later, so it will be going to Artlab in Adelaide once we get a quote and raise the funds.
Love the whiskers. Very popular at the time.
If you look closely at the image you'll see some spotting on his face. Not a good sign, nor a good look

Am looking for help in identifying a Union Jack that had been brooding in a plastic container in the Town Hall for some ...
08/08/2026

Am looking for help in identifying a Union Jack that had been brooding in a plastic container in the Town Hall for some time, uncovered with items earlier this year.
Full size? Approx 1800 x 800.
It's a linen flag with lots of holes (moth rather than shrapnel I'd say).

Made by Flavel & Sons, Adelaide.
Handwritten on reverse of hoist: “KMSS P/C Jack” or “RMSS” ”PVC?”

FLAVEL & SONS (The Advertiser, 12 July 1933)
"The business of Flavel & Sons, Limited, hardware merchants and tent and tarpaulin manufacturers, of Rundle street east, was established in 1885 by Mr. and Mrs. John Flavel at 281, Rundle street. In 1907 they moved to the present premises.
In 1914 the present company was formed, with. Mr. John Flavel as governing director, with Mrs. Flavel and their two sons, H. J. and E. J. Flavel, as directors, and Mr. S. A. Hunt as secretary. .....
In December 1931, a disastrous fire destroyed more than half its premises and 75 per cent of its stock. (It then) discontinued its wholesale business.... "
So this puts it at the time of WW1

In nineteenth-century Australian newspapers, K.M.S.S. appears before the names of mail steamships -for example K.M.S.S. Mikado, Nubia, Madras and Tanjore. However, these ships are elsewhere described as R.M.S.S., meaning Royal Mail Steam Ship. The K could be a recurrent typesetting or transcription variant rather than a separate official designation. (source Trove)

The final word “Jack.” On a ship, writing “Jack” was not pointless: stores could contain national jacks, ensigns, house flags, signal flags and pennants, all needing identification. Easy to spot “Jack” from a distance. But a shipboard origin would require an explanation of how it reached Burra Town Hall.

And Burra has celebrated events such as Federation (1901), Empire Day, the Coronation of George V (1911), George VI (1937), Elizabeth II (1953), VE Day and VJ Day. Flags were often purchased specifically for these occasions. Or they could have used one from a ship?

Congratulations Burra. Congratulations from ICOMOS to Burra:"The Australia ICOMOS Back to Burra Planning Committee would...
08/08/2026

Congratulations Burra. Congratulations from ICOMOS to Burra:

"The Australia ICOMOS Back to Burra Planning Committee would like to take a moment to thank you properly for your generosity of spirit in making our 50th birthday celebration such a success.

To quote AICOMOS President, Caitlin Allen:

What a gathering it was. The depth of our history and the promise of our future were both present in the extraordinary group of members who travelled from across Australia to mark this milestone. It was genuinely humbling to be among them.

We were joined by founding members of Australia ICOMOS alongside our inspiring emerging and mid-career professionals. There were 12 former Presidents, current and past Executive Committee members, contributors to drafting and revising the Burra Charter, and current and former members of the ICOMOS International Board. Among us were authors of international charters, practice notes and guidances; World Heritage advisors; and expert members of scientific committees and working groups. Just as importantly, there were many who have organised events, contributed to advocacy, and who continually show up—quietly and consistently—to support the work of the organisation. Together, the group represented countless hours of professional and voluntary effort dedicated to caring for cultural heritage and supporting its critical role in communities.

We took time to reflect on our past, present and future—to celebrate achievements, consider the importance of action in the present, and reaffirm our collective commitment to the challenges and opportunities ahead. And of course, there was a birthday celebration at the historic Redruth Gaol and the chance to explore the Australian Cornish Mining Sites, currently progressing through the processes of nomination to the World Heritage List.

We were so warmly welcomed and supported by the local community, who provided venues and organised tours. Each meal was catered by a different local business or organisation, and even the CEO of the local council was driving shuttle buses to ensure we all got where we needed to be. This spirit of collaboration with passionate, energetic and resourceful communities is, for me, one of the very best parts of what we do.

Yours with much appreciation

Stephanie Johnston, on behalf of co-convenor Michael Queale and the Australia ICOMOS Back to Burra 50th Birthday Celebrations Planning Committee

Stephanie Johnston B Arch St MURP MPIA M.ICOMOS Member State Planning Commission
Stephanie Johnston & Associates ABN 94 094 221 003
Urban + Rural + Heritage Planning
2/7 Sydney Place Adelaide SA 5000

07/08/2026

Someone stole the Town Australia flag along with the one hanging at the Town Hall. They don't seem to like the Jacks because the other flags in town were left alone. Tom Venning, Federal Member, has bought the Town Hall a new one, as has Goyder Council

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4 Market Street
Burra, SA
5417

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Tuesday 11am - 3pm
Wednesday 11am - 3pm
Thursday 11am - 3pm
Friday 11am - 3pm
Saturday 11am - 3pm
Sunday 11am - 3pm

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