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Discovering South Australian history through family and aerospace.

This website site explores the lives and workplaces of my ancestors, most of whom were early residents of the Adelaide Hills (known originally as 'The Tiers'). Step inside to explore their early settler journeys, along with a curated look into the fascinating worlds of early South Australian aviation and (more recent) rocketry.

Early Adelaide Hills Settlers (my family)


john and nancy watts

Early Adelaide Hills Families

My family were all early settlers to South Australia, arriving between 1837 and 1868. This is the story of where they came from, who they married, their children and what they did to help build South Australia. Families include Adams, Childs, Coppin, Crossman, Jacobs, James, Hocking, Houghton, Lewis, Graham, Marks, Mattner, Ovens, Prince, Rogers, Rohrlach, Stephens, Watts, Williamson.
great eastern hotel

Early Adelaide Hills Businesses

My family was instrumental in establshing and developing many industries in the Adelaide Hills, including Brickyards, Meatworks and carriage building. Other things they were involved in was farming, mining, and transport.
Mount Barker Topographic Map

Early Adelaide Hills Localities

While many of our hills townships remain vibrant communities today, others have quietened, shifted, or vanished entirely into the pages of history. Also included is a brief look at a unique chapter of South Australian history - the German-settled towns whose names were abruptly changed during the anti-German sentiment of World War I, some of which were not changed back in later years.

South Australian Aviation & Rocketry


Red Devil Aircraft

South Australian Aviation

Long before international flight paths became routine, pioneering local engineers and daring pilots were designing, building, flying and breaking records in homegrown and adapted aircraft. This section showcases South Australian aircraft, aviators, aviation science and also provides avaition based activities for young people.
Woomera Rocket Range

South Australian Rocketry

Deep in the South Australian outback lies Woomera, a vast and isolated landscape that became the cornerstone of Western aerospace testing during the Cold War. Established in 1947 as a joint project between Great Britain and Australia, the Woomera Rocket Range grew to become the largest overland military testing facility in the world, playing a pivotal role in the global space race and early missile technology. This section explores Woomera Missiles, Rockets, Drones & Testing History



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