Trowel returns to Adelaide

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33037, 3 October 1972, Page 1

Trowel returns to Adelaide

A silver trowel used in laying the foundation stone of the first Town Hall in Port Adelaide, on June 10, 1865, was presented to the Lord Mayor of Adelaide (Mr W. H. Hayes) yesterday by Mrs J. R. Palmer, of Office Road, Christchurch.

The picture shows Mrs Palmer making the presentation at the City Council Chambers. The Mayor of Christchurch (Mr N. G. Pickering) is on the right. Mrs Pickering is in the background; Mrs Hayes is partly obscured.

Mrs Palmer’s husband, the late Mr George Palmer, was a grandson of Sir James Hurtle Fisher, the first Mayor of Adelaide. Sir Hurtle Fisher was Mayor from 1840 to 1842, and from 1852 to 1854. He was also a member of the State Government of South Australia.

The presentation was made at a buffet luncheon for Mr Hayes and his wife, attended by the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr N. G. Pickering) and Mrs Pickering, city councillors and' their wives, and senior members of the council staff. “Mrs Palmer considers that the trowel has more historical value in Adelaide than in Christchurch and for that reason has decided it should be returned there," said Mr Pickering. “It has come to light only

recently, after lying in the dark in her solicitor’s vault,” he added. Mrs Palmer, who is aged more than 90, caused a burst of laughter when she commented, in handing the trowel to Mr Hayes: “I am wondering what else there is in that vault.” Mrs Palmer was accompanied by her daughter, Miss Joan Palmer.

Mr Hayes said that the engraved trowel would be treasured by the City of Adelaide. A square in the city was named Hurtle Square in honour of the first Mayor. A great-great grandson of Sir Hurtle Fisher was a Queen’s Counsel in Adelaide today and was a legal adviser to the Adelaide City Council.

Mr Hayes presented Mr Pickering with an inscribed

silver salver, a decanter and bottles of port (1947 vintage, one of the best South Australian vintages) for the city and city councillors “I hope that you, sir, and your city councillors will toast the health of the City of Adelaide,” Mr Hayes said to Mr Pickering. Mr Pickering presented Mr Hayes with two carafes and glasses, all inscribed with the Christchurch City Coat of Arms, and a wooden tray with inscribed silver plaque, to mark the occasion of the Lord Mayor’s visit to Christchurch.

He later presented Mrs Hayes with a reversible brooch, paua shell on one side and greenstone on the other, and gave Mr Hayes a suitably inscribed cigarette box.