MORE than 2500 history buffs inspected the Lowan historic homestead at Kalangadoo over the weekend to raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Among them was the Adelaide Lord Mayor Martin Haese and Mayoress Genevieve Theseira-Haese.
Mr Haese is a great, great grandson of pioneer William Allen Crouch who built the two-storied brick structure 150 years ago in 1868.
While wearing the mayoral chains of office for one of his last official duties before his weekend retirement from civic affairs, Mr Haese was given the honour of unveiling a commemorative bronze plaque on an outer wall to mark the anniversary.
The Lord Mayor commended current Lowan owners Gary and Wendy Kilsby for their restoration work on the property and for having its first-ever public opening.
“It was a herculean effort to preserve this history,” Mr Haese told The South Eastern Times.
“The sheer volume of people here shows that history has a strong hold.
“My great, great grandfather William Allen Crouch arrived in South Australia in 1845.
“He came to the South East and was prominent as a banker and road builder.”
Ms Kilsby said she heard many favourable comments about the event and the homestead’s restoration, which had been undertaken over the past decade.
“There were so many people here on Saturday that all the food stalls sold out,” Ms Kilsby said.
Crouch family descendant Judy Gribble produced a book to tell the history of Lowan and printed 50 copies.
“I began working on the book about 20 years ago,” she said.
“The fact that Lowan was about to have its 150th anniversary prompted me to finish it.
“The name is Aboriginal meaning tree by water.”
RFDS Mount Gambier Support Group chair Bill Russon said he was pleased with the turn-out for the two-day event as it exceeded all expectations.
Mr Russon said he was grateful for the backing of the support group’s 25 members.
He thanked the Kilsbys for making the property available for the fundraiser and said proceeds from the day would form part of his group’s annual donation to the RFDS.
There was a range of activities, food vendors, displays and live music on the picturesque English-style lawns.
Guided house tours ran regularly on both days and were booked out.
There was an historic display including old photographs of Lowan Homestead and various antiques and relics found during the restoration of the property.
Hundreds of photographs and railway memorabilia from the Kalangadoo Railway Station Museum were displayed by curator Peter Savage in the original stables.
Vintage Dodge Brothers vehicles were displayed by Millicent’s Gil Purdie, Mount Burr’s Danny McGuinness and Kalangadoo’s Nick Hunt.
