Purchasing Heywood Park: £1 at a time Exhibition

Purchasing Heywood Park: £1 at a time Exhibition

Rediscover the passion of a 1920 mayor, those who fought for a people’s park and the 230 donations made to save this green space.

 

Heywood Park is one of the City of Unley’s largest and best-loved green spaces. What many people may not know is that it almost did not exist. Purchasing Heywood Park: £1 at a time, the current exhibition at the Unley Museum, traces the race during the 1900s to raise funds and secure this valuable open space.

Had it not been for William Harold Langham, Mayor of Unley 1919-1920, Unley residents may have lost this popular picnic spot. It was a widely discussed and debated issue with heated letters appearing in the newspapers and disgruntlement within Council.

Elizabeth Hartnell, Unley Museum Curator says “As it captured the public’s imagination in 1920, the story continues to resonate with local residents today. After rate payers voted against the purchase, Mayor Langham rallied the people of Unley and others around the state to donate to a subscription fund.” Public support was such that £4000 was received in 4 days. Donations ranged from 5 shillings to 500 pounds ($12 to $25,000 in today’s money). As a result, Heywood Park became a “people’s park” opening in 1921 with 9000 people crowded under its gum trees.

Purchasing Heywood Park is an exhibition about the passion of a mayor, those who fought for a people’s park and the 230 donations made. Read through original hand written notes of encouragement and support that accompanied donations. Check the alphabetical list of donors to see if your family was one of them. Follow the heated and at times bitter debate among councilors as reprinted in the daily press. See photographs of Heywood Park as it was in the early 1900s.

Purchasing Heywood Park is on display at the Unley Museum from now until 24 September 2014.

Unley Museum
80 Edmund Avenue, Unley
Open Monday to Wednesday 10.00am - 4.00pm, Sunday 1.30 - 4.30pm.
Closed on public holidays.  Admission is free.
For more information call (08) 8372 5117 or go to www.unley.sa.gov.au/museum