Ward Belt, South Australia Explained

Type:town
Ward Belt
State:sa
Postcode:5118
Dist1:7
Dir1:W
Location1:Gawler
Lga:Light Regional Council
Stategov:Light
Fedgov:Grey[1]
Fedgov2:Spence
Coordinates:-34.58°N 138.67°W
Near-N:Kangaroo Flat
Near-Ne:Gawler Belt
Near-E:Reid
Near-Se:Buchfelde
Near-S:Gawler River
Near-Sw:Lewiston
Near-Nw:Reeves Plains

Ward Belt (originally known as Ward's Belt) is a locality to the west of Gawler in South Australia.[2] The area was NOT named after James Ward and his wife, who arrived in South Australia in the Olivia in 1853.[3] The area is predominantly used for grain, beef and sheep farming.

When the Max Fatchen Expressway was completed in 2011, it divided Buchfelde so the portion north of the expressway was reassigned to Ward Belt.[2] This included the area of the Gawler Aerodrome which was formerly in Buchfelde but is now in Ward Belt.

Primitive Methodist Chapel

The foundation stone for the Primitive Methodist chapel at Ward's Belt was laid on 26 February 1874. The land and building materials for the chapel were donated by Mr James Sparshott J.P.[4] The chapel opened on 26 April the same year.[5] The chapel was renovated in 1894.[6] The chapel was pulled down in 1926.[7] Sparshott is buried in the small cemetery that is all that remains of the chapel.[8]

Hotel

There had also been a hotel at Ward Belt, although it was very run down in 1912.[9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Federal electoral division of Grey, boundary gazetted 20 July 2018. Australian Electoral Commission. 12 April 2019.
  2. Web site: Placename Details: Ward Belt . Land Services, Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure, Government of South Australia . 2 June 2011 . SA0017275 . 24 August 2015 .
  3. Web site: https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20110705140100/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/127874/20110706-0001/www.slsa.sa.gov.au/manning/pn/w/w2.html . 5 July 2011 . Place Names of South Australia - W . The Manning Index of South Australian History . State Library of South Australia .
  4. News: BUCHSFELDE, MARCH 4. . . Adelaide, SA . 7 March 1874 . 24 August 2015 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  5. News: COUNTRY NEWS. . . Adelaide, SA . 2 May 1874 . 24 August 2015 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
  6. News: Country Correspondence. . . Gawler, SA . 12 October 1894 . 24 August 2015 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  7. Diaries of Fanny Rosina Atyeo (1926), Entry for July 16, 1926. Accessed 27 December 2015.
  8. Web site: Gawler Ward Belt Primitive Methodist Cemetery . 2013 . Faithe Jones . 24 August 2015.
  9. News: DILAPIDATED HOTEL. . . Adelaide, SA . 27 January 1912 . 24 August 2015 . 9 . National Library of Australia.