Annie Melinda McBride (Peg) was born in Oladdie 1902, her older brother Michael (Vin) was born there 1889.
The Hundred of Oladdie was established 1876, to the east of Eurelia. The town of Johnbugh was built and proclaimed 10 July, 1879.The town was named after Major John Jervois who was the second son of the then Governor of South Australia, William Jervois. The census of 2016 showed Johnburgh had a population of 13 people.
Land was sold in small parcels, enough for each farmer to make a living, if the land they bought was arable. The small town soon had a shop, a pub and a church. Unfortunately, the land consisted in part of slopes unsuited to growing wheat - it largely consisted of clay, stones and yellow sand and suffered badly from drought, the farmers having more bad seasons than good. As in Eurelia, farmers planted wheat with mixed results, many giving that up for running sheep or dairy cattle instead. However, as water was always an issue, the problem of adequate feed was a continuing problem.
The population tended to move as farmers and shop keepers stayed generally a few years and then moved on. In 1901 there were 7 families listed as belonging to Johnburgh.
The Johnburgh Hotel built and opened around 1882
Interior of the Hotel
Another view of the interior
An old house still lived in.
Ruins in the foothills
Old machinery abandoned