BRITTANIA FOUNDRY
The former Rowe's Britannia Foundry is located at 4 South Terrace, Strathalbyn.
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In 1855, the foundry and adjoining residence was built for James Garden Ramsay. He commenced manufacturing farm machinery. (lester, firth & murton n.d.)
Above: Article from the Adelaide Observer, Sat 2 Sept 1865. Image c/o Trove
James Garden Ramsay was born on the 10th day of December 1827 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland. His parents were Robert Ramsay and Christina Ramsay nee Garden.
James served his apprenticeship as an engineer at the St Rollow Ironworks in Glasgow.
He emigrated to South Australia in the 1850s.
In December 1854 he married Mary Elliott Robertson in the Church of Scotland, Adelaide, South Australia.
They had three children.
Mary died in 1876.
In 1883, James married Bertha Ellen Horwood in Sandhurst, Victoria. They had four children.
Ramsay represented Mount Barker in the South Australian Legislative Assembly and was Commissioner of Public Works. He also served as Chief Secretary.
He died on the 17th day of January 1890. He was travelling on a train when an oil lamp in a railway carriage burst, showering him with burning kerosene. (ancestry 2016) (Wikipedia 2026)
James served his apprenticeship as an engineer at the St Rollow Ironworks in Glasgow.
He emigrated to South Australia in the 1850s.
In December 1854 he married Mary Elliott Robertson in the Church of Scotland, Adelaide, South Australia.
They had three children.
Mary died in 1876.
In 1883, James married Bertha Ellen Horwood in Sandhurst, Victoria. They had four children.
Ramsay represented Mount Barker in the South Australian Legislative Assembly and was Commissioner of Public Works. He also served as Chief Secretary.
He died on the 17th day of January 1890. He was travelling on a train when an oil lamp in a railway carriage burst, showering him with burning kerosene. (ancestry 2016) (Wikipedia 2026)
Above: James Garden Ramsay. Image c/o Wikipedia
In 1867, William Rowe acquired the foundry from Ramsay. (1910 Mr William Rowe)
William Rowe was born in Truro, Cornwall, England in 1821.
He arrived in South Australia in 1855 after spending a few months on the Victorian goldfields. He commenced work as a coachbuilder and in 1867 took over the Strathalbyn foundry.
William died in 1910 at North Kensington, South Australia, aged 90 years. (1910 Mr William Rowe)
He arrived in South Australia in 1855 after spending a few months on the Victorian goldfields. He commenced work as a coachbuilder and in 1867 took over the Strathalbyn foundry.
William died in 1910 at North Kensington, South Australia, aged 90 years. (1910 Mr William Rowe)
In 1867, the Duke of Edinburgh visited Strathalbyn. A bullock was provided as a gift and was roasted by means of a 'windlass handle that was made by Rowe at the Britannia foundry. (1921 A Veteran Mail Carrier)
In 1874, Rowe exhibited colonial-manufactured agricultural implements at the Strathalbyn Agricultural & Horticultural Society's Annual Show. It was reported that the various implements were 'well made' and 'claimed a fair share of attention during the day.' (1874 Southern Argus)
Above: Article from the Southern Argus, Fri 13 Mar 1874. Image c/o Trove
At the 11th annual Strathalbyn Show in 1876, Rowe displayed harrows, ploughs, a reaping machine and other agricultural implements. (1876 SA Advertiser)
Above: Article from the SA Advertiser, Sat 25 Mar 1876. Image c/o Trove
In April 1878, it was sold to William Dick. A few months later, in October 1878, a fire caused significant damage. The storeroom and wheelwright's shop were totally destroyed. It was also reported that a waggon, a dray, a spring-cart and a quantity of doors, oils, paints and other articles were destroyed. Efforts were made to restore the foundry, but they were not successful, and the foundry closed. (1878 Local Telegrams) (lester, firth & murton n.d.)
Above: Article from The South Australian Advertiser, Fri 25 Oct 1878. Image c/o Trove
In November 1878, an inquest was held at the Strathalbyn courthouse by Mr. J. Cheriton to enquire into the circumstances of the fire. Evidence was heard from several witnesses. The jury retired for 20 minutes and returned with the following verdict:
"There is no evidence before the Jury as to how the fire originated." (1878 Fire at Strathalbyn)
"There is no evidence before the Jury as to how the fire originated." (1878 Fire at Strathalbyn)
Another foundry called Britannia operated at Gawler.
References.
- 1874, Southern Argus (Port Elliot, SA : 1866 - 1960), 13 March, p. 3. , viewed 01 Aug 2026, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page9482081
- 1876, The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), 25 March, p. 11. , viewed 01 Aug 2026, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page2277070
- 1878 'LOCAL TELEGRAMS.', The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), 25 October, p. 5. , viewed 01 Aug 2026, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article29364720
- 1878 'FIRE AT STRATHALBYN.', South Australian Chronicle and Weekly Mail (Adelaide, SA : 1868 - 1881), 2 November, p. 11. , viewed 01 Aug 2026, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article92262650
- 1910 'Mr. William Rowe.', Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 - 1931), 26 March, p. 36. , viewed 31 Jul 2026, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article164694044
- 1921 '"A VETERAN MAIL CARRIER."', The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), 9 August, p. 9. , viewed 01 Aug 2026, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63186763
- ancestry (2016). Ancestry® | Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records. [online] Ancestry.com.au. Available at: https://www.ancestry.com.au/ [Accessed 31 July 2026].
- lester firth & murton pty ltd, n.d. Strathalbyn Conservation Study
- Wikipedia Contributors (2026). James Garden Ramsay. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Garden_Ramsay [Accessed 1 Aug. 2026].