Acquisition and Restoration

1968 9 January.  Paxton Square proclaimed an Historic Reserve under the S.A. Aboriginal and Historic Relics Preservation Act No. 33 of 1965.
1969 Lewis Trust augmented by a Board of Management of Paxton Square Historic Reserve.  Six Wardens appointed viz. Geoffrey Dean Sibley, Edward T. Baulderstone, Stanley James Woollacott, Reta May Jennison, Glen Roy Finch, Charles Leslie Phillips.
1978 Andrew J. Gebhardt negotiates with Mr. R.B. Lewis of Melbourne concerning a transfer of ownership of the Paxton Square cottages either to Council or to National Trust.  Mr. Lewis and Mrs. J.E. Gosse agree to transfer.
1978 April.  Board of Management increased by addition of two members nominated by Council and one by Burra Branch of the National Trust
1978 July.  Application made to S.A. Department of Environment for a grant, resulting in the Paxton Square Cottages Feasibility Study completed in 1979 by Lester, Firth & Murton Pty. Ltd. Of Adelaide
1980 January.  Select Committee sits in Burra to hear public evidence concerning future of Paxton Square.
1980 April.  Burra Burra (Vesting of Land) Bill 1980, passed by Parliament.  Paxton Square Cottages and Land vested in District Council of Burra Burra.  Lewis Trust becomes ‘The Lewis Board of Management’.  Charirman: Councillor A.J. Gebhardt.
1980 July.  Submission drawn up seeking $100,000 from the Department of Environment, $50,000 from Department of Tourism, and $75,000 from National Estate.
1981 Steering Committee formed to determine method and cost of preservation and renovation of cottages.  Members: B.J. Rowney, Department of Environment, Chairman of Steering Committee, J.S. Hawker, Chairman of District Council of Burra Burra; A.J. Gebhardt, Chairman of Lewis Board of Management; D.B. Harry, Department of Environment; R. Hand, Department of Tourism; David Gilbert, Architect.
1982 Architect David J. Gilbert asked to prepare a survey to provide for the conservation, renovation, fitting out and operation of the cottages as tourist accommodation.  Funding available from: National Estate Grant (Federal Government) $66,300; Interest on National Estate Grant $8,700; Department of Planning and Environment Grant (State Government) $90,000; Department of Tourism Grant (State Government) $40,000; Debenture Load (District Council of Burra Burra) $100,000 – Total $305,000.
1982 Work begun on the restoration of 11 cottages facing Bridge Terrace under supervision of David Gilbert of Berry, Polomka, Riches & Gilbert, Architects.
1982 November.  LEWIS BOARD OF MANAGEMENT; A.J. Gebhardt, Chairman, District Council Representative; D.O. Roberts, Treasurer, District Clerk; E.T. Baulderstone, Assistant Treasurer; G. Demasi, Secretary; T.B. Lynch; L.P. Bence; Mrs R.M. Jennison; C. Michelmore; G.A. Nourse, National Trust Representative; G.M. Radford; (Ex-officio Members) J.C.Hawker, Chairman, District Council; R.B. Lewis, formerly of Lewis Trust; Mrs. J.E. Gosse, formerly of Lewis Trust
1983 Eleven cottages completed and ready for tourist accommodation.