The City of Enfield South Australia 1853 - 1953

r "Oii'eti iDider my haud and the public seal of the Province, at Adelaide, this fifteenth tiay of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, and in the sixteenth year of Her Majesty's reign. Bv connuand, B. T. Finniss, Colonial Secretary. GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!" The new council held its first meeting at 2 p.m., on Saturday. July 9. 1853. according to the original minute book, at the office in King William Street and all the members nominated in the Commission were present. Councillor John Chamberlain was appointed chairman and Mr. W. A. Hughes. District Clerk. The District Councils Act specified that the annual rate be adopted by public vote—a throwback to the old English custom of having public matters decided at a villagers" meeting by popular vote-and accordingly a public meet ing was held at the Northern Hotel, Enfield. A motion for a farthing rate was carried and later accepted by the council, but as the assessment at that time was only about £18.000, the council had a scanty revenue in its first year. The old minute book records many interesting things. In the first year, for instance, Mr. J. W. Higginson was paid £3 for a "map of the district, with the central district roads coloured"; there were financial windfalls such as £60 in one month from fees at the Salisbury pound (an outcome of the absence of fences in the district); Walkerville residents were told that it was the council's policy to spend money in the \inages according to what each contributed in rates. In 1854 renewals of publicans" licences were granted for nineteen hotels, of which the Windmill, Cepps Cross. Bird in Hand. Grand Junction. Cross Keys, and Northern, were on the Main North Road and the O.G. at Gilles Plains. Old Spot at Para, Tam OShanter at Freshwater Springs and Heart and Hand at Prospect. Walkerville and Gilberton had another four. Most of them still flourish. Fur fle\v at a meeting of ratepayers at Gepps Cross on April 17. 1854, when thev pledged themselves not to grant a rate until the chairman had resigned page seventeen