Belvidere
Belvidere was originally surveyed on the 27th March 1853 by William Dawson and Corporal R. Johnson. The official settlement of Belvidere commenced from this date.
The name of Belvidere origins is uncertain. There have been two possibilites put forward:
-
According to Geoffrey H. Manning's book, "From the Romance of Places Names in SA": John Cheriton gave this name when he sub-divided Section 2760 Hundreds of Bremer in various sized allotments in 1866. He came from Belvedere in Kent, England.
-
In the book written by Rodney Cockburn entitled, "What's in a name - Nomenclature of SA" another explanation is given: BELVIDERE - Hundred of Bremer takes its name from the Belvidere Range which was christened by Johann Menge, South Australia's pioneer geologist, "because of the beautiful prospect I enjoyed on top of the highest hill in it". (Bello or Bel meaning to see).
Belvidere is surrounder by Strathalbyn, Willyaroo (otiginally New Hamburg), Milang, Lakes Plain and Langhorne Creek.
Belvidere facilities included a Primitive Methodist Church, a hotel, school, Post Office and store, cementary, reserve, blacksmith shop and Soldiers' Memorial Hall.
The information for this website was obtained from Lance C, Wakefield's book "Belvidere Gateway to the Lakes and River"

The Hall was opened on the 17th September 1921. This coincided with Belvidere Day. The hall has been was on a regular basis for dances and special occasions. The Hall celebrated it's 25th and 50th anniversary in 1946 and 1971 respectively.

The planting of the pine trees in the Reserve occurred in 1943 by Gordon Davidson (later Senator) and Earl Sparrow in honour of the local men who enlisted in World War II. Each local man who went to war had his name placed at the base of each pine tree.