The Angaston & Penrice Historical Society is launching the A&H Doddridge Blacksmith Shop Cultural Tourism Enhancement Project on Friday 30 March from 5.30 pm.
Members of the public are invited to come and experience one of the few remaining main street smithies in South Australia. The heritage listed blacksmith’s shop at 19 Murray Street, Angaston is a working museum dedicated to the skills of the blacksmith. It is rich in history with over 130 years of blacksmithing at the site and many of the original tools and equipment on display.
The open night is also an occasion to launch a new short promotional video about the shop by award-winning digital filmmaker Ash Starkey. The engaging film which features interviews with Doddridge family members as well as volunteers tells the story of the building as well as the people who used it both in the past and the present. It can be viewed here
The project, which has been supported by The Barons of the Barossa, Angaston Management Group, Angaston Lions Club, Kerrie and Charles Kiefel, is aimed at enhancing this unique historic site’s tourism experience. The night will also launch the roof restoration appeal. Repairs to the stonework, gutters and down pipes began in 2009 but the now badly rusted roof urgently requires recladding with corrugated iron.
This community project has enabled the Angaston & Penrice Historical Society achieve a number of successful outcomes, in particular allowing the heritage-listed building to be kept open to the public and maintained for the future. The group have identified sources of information and material relating to the history of the Doddridge family and the Blacksmith Shop and been able to develop a consistent story for the guides to talk to visitors on their arrival. They have worked with the Artist Blacksmiths Association of South Australia to teach novice blacksmiths the art and liaised with local teachers to develop a local history experience in Angaston. In addition, the new film will be used to invite school groups to visit the blacksmith shop as well as learn what blacksmithing is and the important role blacksmiths played in the past. It will also help to attract and train more volunteer blacksmiths and guides to be involved in the roster from 1-4 pm on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays.
The invitation to the launch and open night is open to the general public but RSVPs would be appreciated. Contact Trish Gransbury on (08) 8564 3222 or billgran@chariot.net.au