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Seated comfortably in a big armchair, and
contentedly puffing a cigar, Mr. Charles Stodden Burnard, a pioneer of
nearly 90 years, recounted to a representative of The Observer last week
an interesting story of his life. Born in Cornwall on May 20, 1838, Mr.
Burnard arrived in South Australia with his parents and five brothers and
sisters when he was about 18 months of age, and excepting for 13 years in
California, has spent the remainder of his life in this State. The vessel
which brought the Burnard family to Australia was the
Java, an old man-o-warman,
which made the voyage around the Horn. On arrival at Holdfast Bay, after a
six months' trip, the family were brought to Adelaide in a bullock dray,
and camped at a spot very near to where Government House now stands. At
that time, most of the dwellings were built of reeds, obtained from the
Torrens, to which "creek" the citizens had to go to obtain water. Soon
after settling, Mr. Burnard's father [Robert
Burnard], who was an artist and portrait
painter, opened a business in conjunction with his eldest son, as a
painter and glazier; and their first shop was in Leigh street. The family
afterwards moved to the old "castle", at Plympton, which still stands. On
the walls of various rooms, paintings may yet be seen that were done by
Mr. Burnard, sen,. and the late Dr. Campbell once stated that if those
pictures had been painted on canvas, instead of the walls of the rooms,
they would have been worth well over £1,000.
Another memorial to the late Mr. Burnard, is the original Black Bull sign,
painted for the hotel of that name.
Mr. Burnard's earliest recollections of his
life in South Australia are, to use his own words, "definetely impressed"
upon him. He had been entrusted to carry his father's dinner, and when
passing through a flock of sheep in a paddock near where the Supreme Court
now stands, a ram rushed him from behind, and butted him into a pond of
water. The boy (as he was then), was afraid to leave the pond and remained
there in discomfort, yelling lustily, until Mrs. T. Tomkins , the
butcher's wife, hurried across, and drove the ram away. Mr. Jacob Abbott,
who kept the local school, was responsible for Mr. Burnard's early
education, but when still quite a boy began he commenced work, minding
cows for 1/ week and board. About 18 months later, the Burnards moved to
Aldinga, where the lad's father commenced a night school, and the boys was
therefore able to work during the day, and to receive instruction at
night. Two years later he returned to Plympton,
where he worked for Mr. Chivell as a market gardener, for 10 years. When
he left he was receiving £1 week. Mr.
Burnard remembers when all the reaping was done with a sickle, and mowing,
with a scythe. Men were then paid £1 acre for the work, which included
tying the sheaves as they were cut. |
When the first
machine reapers and binders were introduced, they were considered
wonderful inventions, and were the means of saving much back aching, and
sore hands. At that time, only three holidays in the year were observed,
Christmas Day, Good Friday, and one day for the Royal Show.
During the erection of the original Pier
Hotel, at Glenelg, Mr. Burnard was employed by Mr. Moseley, the
contractor, as a bullock driver. Trips were made to Hindmarsh for bricks,
to Prospect for lime, and to the hills for scaffold poles. The track to
the hills was through Norwood and Kensington, along what is now known as
the Parade. He also mentions that before the advent of trams, persons
living in the eastern suburbs had to pay 1/ each way for the privilege of
being driven to Adelaide in a bullock dray. "one had to travel that way,"
said Mr. Burnard, "because it was otherwise impossible to cross the
creeks, especially in winter."
At the age of 19, Mr. Burnard left South
Australia and worked his passage to California as a second steward
on a sailing vessel. During his sojourn there, he was employed for two and
a half years in the Californian gold mines, after which he entered into a
partnership with his brother-in-law as a sheep farmer. On one occasion,
while in America, a band of Indians, who had their camp in the hills,
several miles away, attacked three children of a neighbour, as they were
returning from school. The eldest of the three was shot dead, and the
other two were carried into the hills. The track was steep and rocky, and
as the younger girl was not able to hold on satisfactorily, and proved
trouble to her captor, she was taken by the heels and her brains dashed
out. The other girl, 13 years of age, was told to dismount and follow
behind, but after gradually dropping back, she waited until the band had
passed around a big rock, then turned and ran back as hard as she could.
It was some time before she was missed by the Indians, and as darkness had
then descended, she eventually reached a township, and when her story was
made known, an old hunter, accompanied by several other men, tracked the
Indians to their camp and annihilated the whole band.
After 10 years in the sheep business, Mr.
Burnard returned to South Australia, and entered into a butchering venture
with his brother [John], finally building a shop for himself in Gilles street.
Tiring of that work, and in having a liking for the open areas, Mr. Burnard took up 739 acres at Dublin, and remained there until 17 years
ago, when he sold out and retired. "The district was nothing like it is
to-day" he said. "It was all dense scrub, and I had to cut a track through
it and clear a space before I could build my house."
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Reverting back to the early days of the
State's capital, this old pensioner recalled when big gum trees were
growing in Rundle street, and when a big log did duty as the City Bridge
over the Torrens. Wallabies and kangaroos were then no uncommon sight in
the city. Aborigines corroborees were also frequent. He had never been
bothered or pestered by the natives, who the made the space now occupied
by the Adelaide Oval, their favourite camping site. The occasion of the
running of the first train to Port Adelaide was a great event, and a large
number who witnessed the train move off, had never seen a railway engine
before.
Mr. Burnard is a regular worshiper at the
East Parade Methodist Church, and was present there on his ninetieth
birthday. He was also the first to ring the bell at the old Plympton
Methodist church, and when the jubilee of that structure was celebrated,
he officiated in his old position in bellringer.
At the age of 33, Mr. Burnard married Miss
Elizabeth Sarah Fabian (whose brother, the late Mr. Thomas Fabian, was for
many years City Treasurer). His wife predeceased him seven years ago.
There were nine children of the marriage, four of whom are still living.
They are:- William Robert Burnard, of Blackburn street, Adelaide; Charles
Frank Burnard, who has a station at Streaky bay; Mrs. Frank Baker [Edith],
and Mrs. E. Pope [Bessie], both of Halidon. there are 17 grandchildren and
one great grandchild. One brother (Mr.
Richard T Burnard) was headmaster
in the Education Department for many years, and two sisters (Mrs. W. A.
West [Emilie] of Unley, and Mrs. James Fabian [Lucy] of Norwood) survive.
Mrs. Fabian celebrated her eightieth birthday anniversary last week.
Mr. Burnard still enjoys good health, but
his sight has failed, and this is his greatest hardship, as he was a great
reader. He says that while he would like to drive a motor car if his sight
were good, nothing would persuade him to enter an aeroplane. At one time
Mr. Burnar's father owned an acre block in King William street, which he
bought for £5. Among the son's
treasured possessions are life size portrait of his father and mother,
executed in oils, by the late Mr. Burnard, sen., a remodelled gun, the
barrel of which was used in the Battle of Waterloo, and a silver watch,
both the latter were owned by his father. For 60 years this old pioneer
has been a member of Court Australia, A.O.F., and on his ninetieth
birthday anniversary, he received a guinea donation from the lodges. Mr.
Burnard is now living with his niece (Mrs. E. Munt) at 45 Salop street,
Kensington.
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