Heritage listings and Jack Watkins Reserve remember Islington workshops community in Adelaide's northwest
Islington railway workshops buildings such as the chief mechanical engineer's office from 1891 (top left) have been placed on the South Australian state heritage list. At right: John Whitney's mural capturing elements of the workshops and landmarks of its local community, in Jack Watkins Reserve.
Memories of South Australian Railways' Islington workshops and its community have been preserved by seven of its buildings places in the South Australian state heritage list and the adjoining Jack Watkins Reserve.
Seven buildings and part of the front fence at Islington workshops and railyards were heritage protected: the chief mechanical engineer's office (1891), electrical shop, time office/correspondence room (1892), fabrication shop and annexe (1890s), apprentice school (1882) and foundry (1892). The protection was more vital as the workshops/railyards site started to be taken over by large retail outlets, from 2014 with Churchill Shopping Centre includes Adelaide's first Coles Superstore and followed by brands such as Aldi, Bunnings and Costco.
The Islington workshops, in Adelaide’s northwest, were the core of a community with many workers living locally and played for the area’s sporting teams, and drinking and socialising at the Reepham Hotel. One of the suburbs near Islington was Kilburn, known as Little Chicago from 1893 to 1930. A war memorial board at Islington for workshop employees lost in world wars I and II reflected another community bonding aspect.
Next to the workshops was Jack Watkins Reserve, opened in 2003 and named after the union organiser and former president of The Asbestos Diseases Society of South Australia who successfully lobbied to remove asbestos and other toxic contaminants from the railway site and nearby properties. Many Islington railway workers succumbed to asbestos-related diseases. A memorial service was held each year in the park on November 24 to honour the victims of asbestos related disease.
The park’s memorial walkway led to a central memorial featuring four pillars, inscribed Tough Times, Strength, mates and ratbags. The park also had a playground, public murals, barbecues and a dog park. One of the murals, by John Whitney, captured the essence of the workshops community and its interaction with local shops.
