Boom. A cannon blast echoes across Gawler. That’s how Dr WH Popham announced the arrival of the mail from England. From his front garden at Craiglea. That’s Craiglea 25 High Street in Gawler.
Craiglea a grand old building. Ten main rooms plus kitchen and bathroom facilities on both floors. It boasted a sprawling terraced garden. A separate caretaker’s residence. A huge barn. Even a coach house. All part of Craiglea. Imagine life there in the 1800s.
Built in 1858 Craiglea had a fascinating history. Dr Popham the original owner. He fired that cannon. Announcing the mail’s arrival. Quite a spectacle for the town. He’s buried in St George’s Anglican Cemetery. His two wives are buried there too. After Dr Popham’s death his son Dr Francis William Home Popham lived at Craiglea. Until his death in 1903. Craiglea passed through several hands. Its stories passed down.
Picture this. The cannon’s roar. The townsfolk gathering. The anticipation of news from faraway England. All centered around Craiglea. A symbol of wealth and status. A landmark in Gawler.
Craiglea stands as a testament to a bygone era. A reminder of a time when life was simpler. When the arrival of the mail was a cause for celebration. When one man’s booming cannon could announce important news. The story of Craiglea is more than bricks and mortar. It is a story of family history. A story of community. A story still echoed in the old walls of Craiglea. A truly remarkable place.