Evanston Gawler, South Australia
Evanston Railway Station
Evanston
Coordinates	34°36′58″S 138°43′54″E / 34.61611°S 138.73167°E / -34.61611; 138.73167
Population	2,580 (SAL 2021)[1]
Postcode(s)	5116
LGA(s)	Town of Gawler
State electorate(s)	Light
Federal division(s)	Spence
Suburbs around Evanston: Buchfelde, Reid Gawler West Gawler South Hillier Evanston Evanston Gardens Evanston South Evanston Park

Evanston, formerly Evans Town, is a suburb south of the town of Gawler, South Australia. It contains the Gawler and District College and Gawler Racecourse as well as a supermarket and homemaker centre containing bulky goods stores such as carpet, fishing, electrical and bike and motorbike shops.

History

Before settlement, the Kaurna people, or Adelaide Plains tribe, lived in the area.

In 1850 James Philcox named sections 3220 and 3221 in the Hundred of Munno Para, calling the allotment Evanston. James Philcox (22 January 1812 – 31 March 1893) was an English land speculator and property developer in the 1840s and 1850s in the colony of South Australia. He is credited with naming the inner eastern Adelaide suburb of Marryatville as well as the outer northern suburb of Evanston. He returned to England to retire in Sussex in 1853. James Philcox was born in Burwash, Sussex, England, on 22 January 1812, of parents John and Esther.[1] He married Ann Taylor Evans on 18 October 1838 in Burwash.[2][3] The township of Evanston is most likely named for his wife Ann Taylor Evans. In 1853 a plan of the Evanston township was lodged at the South Australian Lands Title Office, when it was transferred to Sir John Morphett. On 14 November 1855, The Register called it "Evans Town".^[2][3]

References