Adelaide Northern Districts Family History Group Inc.

17/04/2026

16/04/2026

08/04/2026

05/04/2026

Between 1848 and 1870 thousands of Irish children were removed from workhouses during and after the Great Famine and transferred to Australia under governmen...

05/04/2026

Jacinta Weiss from the Gawler Cultural Heritage Centre, who was actually present when the experts at Artlab recently broke the seal on this fascinating piece...

31/03/2026

Keeping them honest, 180 years ago...

🗞"Inspector of Weights and Measures-Mr R. Thomas, notwithstanding the decision of B. T. Finniss, Esq.; and the Hon. Captain Sturt on the informations laid against the South Australian Company and others, for using false and deficient weights, has been paying the shopkeepers another visit, accompanied by his assistant; and we trust when the Inspector again appears before the Bench, he will be enabled to cause a conviction, the weights and balances, in many instances, being so very deficient; and, moreover, the appointment and office -will be rendered of no effect, if informations are dismissed merely for want of form. It is the duty of the
Assistant Crown Solicitor to look to it."🗞

South Australian (Adelaide, SA : 1844 - 1851), Tuesday 31 March 1846, page 3

The art of ensuring people were getting exactly what they paid for was up to individual merchants who sometimes needed a little helping hand from the Inspector of Weights and Measures. From flour, to a loaf of bread, to timber, to sand or gravel, anything that was paid for via weight, or measure cane under the Inspectors jurisdiction.

"English standards, generally, were in a muddle, with local standards varying from shire to shire. On 17 June 1824, an Act of Parliament was passed to make universal a range of weights, measures, and lengths for the United Kingdom."
https://collection.powerhouse.com.au/object/408304
https://www.industrysearch.com.au/buying-guide/history-of-measurement-in-australia/f/363

https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/business-and-trade/regulation/trade-measurement
https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/thomas-robert-4710


📷"The Strathalbyn Weighbridge." Circa 1911, SLSA. Enhanced by PASA.

30/03/2026

https://mailchi.mp/384ed8c50996/bulletin-april-2026

29/03/2026

27/03/2026

We have a Couple of Events this year. See earlier Posts.

It's here! The 2026 History Festival printed program has arrived, featuring 550 events across South Australia this May. Pick up your free copy at Drakes Supermarkets, local councils, and public libraries statewide – or explore the full program on our website.

https://festival.history.sa.gov.au/