31 Makin Street
Hamley Bridge SA 5401

Please contact Elesa Wood on 0401 676 684 to organise an inspection time.

A most enticing offering, of two character dwellings. Conveniently on separate titles, there is the opportunity to purchase one, or both.

Offered on an appealing allotment of approx 1,850 sqm in total.

The Rectory, or "The Cottage" as it was affectionately known, has splashes of character with the warmth of floorboards, metal ceilings and touches of leadlight. There are 2 bedrooms, and a spacious area at the rear could be converted into an open plan area with a kitchen. The besser brick extension houses some rudimentary plumbed areas.

The Church, with its Foundation Stone of 1889, sits proudly on the high side of the street, still with its own working bell, which would have summoned the faithful parishioners to its services. With its exterior in feature stone with red brick quoins on the sides as well as the doors and windows, the congregation was clearly proud of their gathering place.The relatively austere leadlight windows offer tributes to locals who contributed to this place, and/or never came home from wars.

At the rear of these properties is some shedding, and also one toilet and sink.

Hamley Bridge is a charming little town, around an hour from Adelaide, nestled in the picturesque valley between the Gilbert and Light Rivers.
It was named by the Government of the day, after the Acting Governor Colonel Francis Hamley, whose wife in 1868 laid the foundation stone of the River Light Railway Bridge.

Other settlements in the area had commenced in the early 1860's, and it was not until 1868 that the junction of the two rivers came under observation as a possibility for a township. The northern railway was extended from Roseworthy to Tarlee during 1868 and a bridge, said to be the highest in the state, was built over the River Light.

A couple of other townships were located nearby, most notably Duffield. In the 1890's, both towns had similar populations but Hamley Bridge had outstripped Duffield by around 1921, when the whole town area was renamed Hamley Bridge.

The Alma Railway Station was established, to service the burgeoning population (which now is a private residence). Along with the signal box and water tanks, as well as two of the bridges over the River Light, they all enjoy heritage listing status as they are excellent examples of the architecture of the era.

In terms of industry, historically there were three chaff mills, a blacksmith and other industries making stump jump ploughs, wheat strippers, and so on. Once the combine which combined seed and superphosphate was developed in the 1890's, the farming population of the district increased as returns and yields improved. This was the heyday of the town. Along with the population, came the requirement for churches to be built. With the congregation worshipping at a number of different temporary venues, it was through the donation of a block of land by a Mrs Finey and her son Marmaduke, that allowed the Anglican Church of St Thomas to be built, its foundation stone dating back to1889. The church itself was rather austere in nature, with one corner partitioned off for the convenience of the Priest. In the early years, St Thomas received wonderful assistance from the Bishop's Home Mission Society. There was a large area for the Mission District to service, which included Mallala, Two Wells, Dublin, Hamley Bridge, Balaklava, and Port Wakefield. It was then extended to include Wild Horse Plains, Wesley's, Freeling as well as Owen churches.

There were plenty of lean times over the years, and with a large mission area to service, the use of buggies belonging to locals was helpful to transport the Bishop/Priest around the district.

During the mid 1950's, there were considerable discussions around the the need for a meeting place due mainly to increased numbers in the Sunday School and the need for the convenience of the now well established Mothers' Union, Ladies' Guild and Rector. Affordability was once again an issue, and after quotes for purchase were deemed too high, a Mrs J. McKenzie announced that she would donate the house on the South side of the Church, as a meeting place from 1/7/56. The donation, of course, was most gratefully accepted. A blessing of "the Cottage" was duly done on 8/6/58. This humble building proved a wonderful asset over the years in the life and work of the Church of St Thomas.

And now, these much loved and revered properties, are offered to the market, for the very first time. The weekends spent here by congregation members, the working bees, the fundraisers, they form part of a precious history of church ownership, and people with great pride working together to maintain their place of worship. But times change, and now, the opportunity presents itself to a new custodian (or custodians?!), ready to roll up their sleeves and to reap the rewards of some hard work. Is it your retirement dream? Is it a first home? Is it a home and some consulting rooms?

Just 58 minutes' drive from Adelaide, and with two character properties on two titles, this will be an exciting offering for the astute purchaser.

Land Size: 1700sqm
LGA: Wakefield
CT: 5799/206 and 5830/27