06/06/2026
WINDBACK WEDNESDAY: Have you ever wondered why so many towns have a “High Street”?
The meaning of “high” wasn’t always about elevation. In Middle English, it meant importance or status, and was later applied to major roads. By the 17th century, “highway” was the term for public roads connecting settlements.
When the village of Burnside was established, High Street was its main street and the centre of activity for the area. Prior to 1860 the street was known as ‘Laughton’s Road’, after the owner of the nearby ‘Ivymeade’.
Find out more at https://engage.burnside.sa.gov.au/FOCUSOnBurnside/news_feed/windback-wednesday-high-street
Photograph: General Store on High Street in Burnside, circa 1889. Burnside Local History Collection.
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