Ruth Sabine
Photographic Collection
Blackwood & Environs 1940s - 1990s
(23)
An old paling shed on
Edward Street Blackwood
1995
colour original
(1) Coromandel Parade on a wet day looking north toward Five Ways - 1954
(70)
Demolition of the vestry at the
Blackwood Methodist Church
1972
colour original
(44)
Ken Prime's hardware shop on Main
Road Blackwood
1977
copy of monochrome original by
Ken Prime
(65,75) Old wooden Methodist Church at Five Ways Blackwood
at left circa 1960 and at right during its demolition in 1972.
colour originals
Blackwood 1940s-1990s
Photos of properties that were along the west side of Main Road include Jackson’s Butcher Shop (one wall is still standing as part of
the travel shop) and Mrs. Dunn’s Deli. On the corner of Young Street photographs show the site of what was the E.S. & A. Bank
which merged with the A.N.Z. Bank in 1957. In 1982 a new building replaced the old one.
The next group of photos tells us about the long battle that took place between G.J. Coles and the local people who tried to stop this
supermarket from being built. During the 1970s Coles purchased residential property between Edward and Young Streets, the first of
these photos shows houses for sale which were subsequently demolished. (An agreement was reached that the pine tree on Dutton’s
property was to be retained and it can be seen in later photographs.) In 1981 Mitcham Council granted permission to build. G. J.
Coles started but picket lines made life difficult. Work began, but only after Coles agreed to develop all residential land on the western
side of the site as a public park.
Continuing along Main Road, on the north-west corner of Edward Street used to be Dutton’s Deli. This shop became Andy’s (when
extra shops were added) which closed in 1994. This site then became The Solver Paint Decorator Centre. There is also a photo of
the old Blackwood Motor Garage run by Burt Armstrong, which opened in Cliff Street, but later moved to Main Road where it now
operates as Edenwood Autos.
Along the eastern side of Main Road, there are photos of Retrovision (Edge’s Electrical House) which now is the location of the
Subway group of shops. Then a photo of the shop that was originally Sydney Maag’s – the landmark greengrocer store which was
later used as Ken Prime's T.V. Shop then Maiden’s Land Agents – but the building was demolished in the 1970s. Next in this group of
photos is the Masonic Hall, built by Belair architect Perce Culley. However, by 1948 shops had been built across the front of the site.
The first Armistice Day Service (1920) at the War Memorial and the history of the Methodist Church on this corner are documented in
several steps. The original chapel was moved from the corner of Young Street by bullock team in 1917. Then the Hewett Hall
Kindergarten was built in 1924 and in 1922 the present Uniting Church was built. The Rose Tucker Memorial Window was installed in
1965. In 1972 the original chapel was demolished and other alterations undertaken. Tea Rooms were established in the old
Temperance Hotel in 1916 in an attempt to combat alcohol problems associated with the early days of the railway camps. This
building later became a boarding house. In 1958 the building was purchased by the Methodist Church and called ‘Aldersgate’. A
1968 photograph shows the church “Gift Markette”. However, the life of the building ended in 1972 when it was demolished for the
Magnet Shopping Centre. The Methodist Sunday School Anniversary in the Blackwood Memorial Hall is also featured. As part of the
Methodist Church’s history are photos of the first manse (Adey Road) and the second manse in Coromandel Parade (now
demolished).
Photos then show the Police Station - built by Mr. Tapp in the 1930s - where ration tickets were issued during the depression, as well
as a photo of a section of the original slate guttering in Coromandel Parade. Back at Fiveways, there is a photo of Fred Jones’
Butcher Shop and the Fiveway Café behind Fred’s shop, as well as Fairley’s Shoe Store some of which were incorporated into the
Magnet Shopping Centre.
The final photo is taken from Fiveways along Cliff Street (now Shephards Hill Road) showing Blythman’s Fish & Chip Shop,
Marsland’s Hardware and Shalis’ Drapery looking towards the modern day Woolworths.
Ruth Sabine
Ruth was born in 1915 and was one of three children. Although her mother was a dressmaker she also had a great
interest in photography and as a little girl Ruth felt it was a privilege to take a photo with her mother's help. When she
was 10 or 11, her mother passed her camera, a Kodak Box Brownie 2A, over to her, which she used for the next 15
years until it was given to her brother leaving for World War 11.
Ruth has taken thousands of' photographs and collected a great selection of shots from the old streets of Adelaide to the
buildings and faces of Blackwood. She moved to Blackwood from Frewville with her husband in the late 1940s when
Blackwood was a little village and has since recorded many of the changes as it became a bustling, busy suburban
centre. ”Photography is a way of seeing" says Ruth. At this time she was using her husband Reg's folding Kodak
camera.
Ruth was an early member of' the Unley Camera Club from the mid 1950s. Over the next forty years she held every
office at some time or another. She became well known for capturing the unusual in her photos and in 1977 was
honoured with Life Membership. Ruth entered inter-club and state competitions gaining points and Merit Certificates.
Changes in the Blackwood neighbourhood during the 1970s awakened her sense of history. Ruth believes, “it's important
to remember the past, it gives us a sense of perspective" and her membership of' the Coromandel Valley and Districts
branch of the National Trust, Blackwood Uniting Church and the Mitcham Hills Combined Probus Club has encouraged
her to regularly give talks through her slides on the history of the area.
Her photographic experience was appreciated. at the newly formed Bellevue Heights Baptist Camera Club during the
1990s and she became the "official" photographer for the local Probus Club.
Ruth's advice, "when photographing, it's important to sit down, take a deep breath, and still yourself' for a few minutes
before you start rambling around with the camera. I try to clean out my mind and let the images come it. Look for
simplicity so that the photography portrays a rather vital mood or dominant element. Photographs capture a unique
moment." Over the years she has used a number of' cameras, some being a “Practicka", "Pentax Spotmatic" and since
1980 a very versatile light-weight "Pentax" with a wide angle lens.
Ruth thinks nothing of giving her time to others, and it is, easy to forget what she has done for people. "You just go on
doing what comes naturally, helping as you're needed." This attitude to life contributed to Ruth receiving an Inaugural
Commonwealth Recognition Award for Senior Australians in the International Year of' Older Persons in 1999 and her
sharing these photographs with the community.
Location Map
Gulfview Rd
Luther
an
Mobil
T yre
s
Churc
h Vet
Rd
Milk D
epot
Lion's
Mart
Ph ysio
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lto
Co
Banner
S
ll
wi
od
Go swift
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ot
Ph
Century 21 Real Estate
S ims
Blkwd. Village Shoppping
Cntr.
Waite
Motor Garage 1932
Young St
Mobil
ains
Dry Cln
r.
S hops
St
Dutton
Saunder
s
Martins
on
Coles
Art C
urt
Hains
Hunkin
Libra
ry
Solver
Deli
Shed
Edward St
Av
1st Motor Grge.
Edenwood
Mtrs.
Penno's
Gdn. C
ntr.
Skinne
rs
Plants
Plus
Russell Clinic
Chemist
Carr S
t
Flaxwel
l Court
Yangtse
Station
Chapman St
Penno's Grain Store &
Blackwood Garden store
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Fo
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Ma
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Masonic
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Jone
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C
nd
S ou
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W
Hill Rd
(Cliff St)
Blackwood
Station
v
oti
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Au
Annie Dunn's shop - 1950
Yar
Colebrook
Ashby's dam
Wittunga
Eden Hills
pe's
Thor
Legend
Brigalow Av
Brighton Pd. Station,
Griffiths Tea Sign
Coromandel
Station
●
●
●
Present Building
Past Building
Street Name
ch
Ch ur
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ist
entr
Bapt
ion C
reat
Rd
Adey
Johnson Pd
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PdR
del
Hall
man
Club
Coro
Boys
Jones' Butcher Shop
Prepared by Mitcham Local History Service and Heritage Research Centre
103b Princes Rd, Mitcham, SA 5062
Ph: 8372 8261
May 2006