The town of Eurelia, 16 km north of Orroroo, surveyed by J C Hawker, was proclaimed 12 September 1878.
The Terowie to Quorn narrow gauge railway line was planned to go through Morchard and Coomooroo Corner but with the help of several petitions from Eurelia residents, Michael Manning, John Stott and Patrick McNamara, the line eventually went via Walloway, Eurelia and Carrieton. The first trains were running by 1881.
The railway line between Quorn and Eurelia was officially closed 3 March 1987, followed by the Peterborough to Eurelia section: however, Steamtown tourist trains used the line until 2002.
Eurelia school opened in 1881 and closed in 1943: the Hundred of Eurelia school opened in 1919 and in the same year its name changed to ‘Hill View’. Eurelia West school was opened by Nellie Francis in 1888, closing 1922.
Thomas Shepherd was the first Postmaster at Eurelia. R Wylie was appointed on 26 February 1879.
In April 1883 the Post Office was shifted to the railway station and the Station Master, W Pryor, also became the Postmaster.
The railways provided employment. A reservoir was constructed, as well as a station master’s residence, railway workers’ cottages, office, waiting room, goods shed with weighbridge, large overhead water tank, porter’s room and platform complete with crane.
By the late 1880s there were 19 houses: a bootmaker, storekeeper and hotelkeeper.
Lack of good rains and surface water, an excess of kangaroos, dingoes and rabbits plus the regular short or long term droughts made successful farming very difficult and sometimes impossible.
OPENING OF THE EURELIA INSTITUTE HALL
EURELIA November 27
Last Wednesday was a red-letter day in the annals of this district, when the opening of the Eurelia Hall took place. The hall is 50 ft by 20 ft, with stage 14 ft by 20 ft, while at the back of the building is an anteroom 13 ft by 20 ft.
The stage is provided with scenery and piano, and there is seat accommodation for over 200 people.
The school children rendered the “Song of Australia” after which Mr Michael Manning, one of the oldest residents, who throughout has taken a keen interest in the work, declared the hall open.
Mr F Kaerger, a local resident, presented the ground.
A concert was held, followed by dancing and supper. [Ref: Chronicle Saturday 4-12-1909]
Each year on Christmas Day a programme of sports is held in the town to remove some of the building expense of the Institute Hall. This year an attractive programme of foot and bicycle races will be held. A concert and dance will be held in the evening. [Ref: Daily Herald 2-12-1913]
Australia Day was held on August 21. A procession led by the school children, followed by decorated vehicles, motor cars and fire brigade made a tour of the town to the grounds at the institute. A concert in the evening, and a fancy dress ball followed. Day’s takings were about £115 – a very creditable effort for a small district like Eurelia. [Ref: Quorn Mercury 6-9-1918]
Great damage was done by the recent floods. Miles of fences were washed down, and some completely destroyed. Several graziers lost sheep in the flood. [Ref: Chronicle 1-3-1919]
