The foundation stone of the original Railway bridge was laid on July 25th 1868 by Lady Edith Hamley, wife of the Acting Governor, Lieutenant Colonel Francis Gilbert Hamley, officer administering the Government from February 20 1868 - February 15 1869, the interregnum between Sir Dominick Daly's death and the arrival of his successor in the vice regal office, Sir James Ferguson.

 

 

This event was regarded as the 'birth' of Hamley Bridge as a township. The Government of the day chose the name to commemorate the stay in South Australia of Lieutenant Colonel Hamley, which was nearly at an end. At the time Lt. Colonel Hamley was the Senior Officer in Command of the Imperial Troops (50th Regiment) in South Australia. He died in London on January 14th, 1876. He had served in Kaffir and Moari Wars, and was described as a brave soldier, and a genial, courteous and kind-hearted gentleman.

 

When the bridge was completed it was formerly opened by His Excellency the Governor, Sir James Ferguson on July 5th 1869. The rail bridge that is there today was built to replace this one in 1925.

The County of Hamley Bridge was proclaimed on 18th February 1869. The railway line from Roseworthy to Tarlee was opened on July 5th 1869. The River Light was named after Colonel William Light, who laid out the city of Adelaide.

 

 

The River Gilbert was named by E J Eyre after Thomas Gilbert, the colony's first storekeeper, who proposed the toast, 'Mrs Hindmarsh and the Ladies' at the Proclamation of South Australia in 1836.

More information on the History of Hamley Bridge is available from the History of Hamley Bridge website (will open a new window) which is maintained by Sharon Norman a local resident with a passion for our history.