District Council of Upper Wakefield (MRG8)

The District Council of Upper Wakefield was established in 1854, a proclamation of the 19 October 1854. (1) The District comprised an area severed from the District of Clare. The District Council was constituted in 1856.

In April and May of 1868 portions of the District Council were amalgamated with a portion of the District of Clare to be called the District of Stanley. (2) In 1888 a section of the District Council of Stanley was added to the District Council of Upper Wakefield. (3) A portion of the District Council of Upper Wakefield was annexed to the District Council of Saddleworth in 1907, followed by a further portion in 1908. The District Council of Saddleworth and the District Council of Upper Wakefield was combined to form the new District Council of Saddleworth and Auburn in 1970.
The central town in the former District Council of Upper Wakefield was Auburn, lying on the River Wakefield. The site was originally granted to Thomas Henry Williams ("Piebald Williams") in October, 1849. In association with J.E. Bleechmore, T.H. Williams subdivided the land into township blocks by 1856. By 1857, Auburn consisted of a hotel, a store and blacksmiths shop. Auburn was on the main route from the Burra Mines to Port Wakefield where the mined ore was shipped to other destinations. The township grew rapidly and by 1860 and Institute and Post and Telegraph Office had been erected. In 1866 the foundation stone of the Town Hall was laid by Arthur King on 1st January.

The area had relatively good rainfall and was renowned for the cultivation of grapes, production of dried fruit and wine as well as wheat production.

Same agency as GA2262 - different archival control system.

1. South Australian Government Gazette October 19, 1854, pp.738-729
2. South Australian Government Gazette April 30, 1868, p.564-565 and May 7, 1868, p.601
3. "Civic Record of South Australia" (1986), p.691
4. South Australian Government Gazette, October 17, 1907, p.895
5. South Australian Government Gazette, May 14, 1908, p.874
6. South Australian Government Gazette, June 25, 1970, pp.2186-2190
7. "Civic Record of South Australia" (1936), p.912
8. Ibid, p.912
9. Ibid, p.913
10. Ibid, p.912