The concept and the original idea behind having a campsite started back in 1986 after the Suburban Young People (SYP) camp had taken place at Clarendon and it came about because the site they had been using was too small for the amount of young people that wanted to go. And so this idea was born, that why don’t we have our own campsite that we would be able to fit 350 people at the one venue.

It was a small number of older Brethren who talked about the idea and so a search was started to look for a venue. The searching took place north and south outside of the city limits and after much time the campsite was spotted.

An appointment was made with the real estate agent and a site visit to the property. At that time there was only the kitchen and dishwasher area as we know it today, Bezar and Ramoth and the two Sunday school rooms up the back.

After much discussion in many meetings and going to all the ecclesia, it looked like the concept would fall at the first hurdle. Many people liked the idea but never before had a campsite been bought by all the ecclesia’s. Many had their own halls but nothing like this.

It was reported around the meetings that it looked like it would not get off the ground and it was decided that evening that if the money could be raised then it should be bought for all ecclesia’s to use. The initial management committee was formed.

Before any money was sought, a letter was sent to the council asking them if we were able to increase the capacity to a total of 350 people. The council thought that it was great that it was being purchased from the school and in principle said that that would be okay. The money was found and the camp was bought in 1987 for about $125,000. The first camp that took place that same year in July at that was by the ecclesia at Brighton.

A few years later some buildings were brought second-hand from the Woodside army barracks and transported to the campsite.  It was two buildings of which one had been cut into 2 and hence our three accommodation buildings that we still use today. They came in down the drive and were placed on blocks where they stand today.

These buildings were cut and pasted and changed over the years. An extension to the dining room was proposed and because it was an ‘extension’ it was given approval.

A new septic system was proposed for use of 350 people and was approved and installed. A Gym/Shed was found and another trip to the council. This took a lot longer to go through and it was ruled in favour by the sitting Judge with conditions that were adhered to. It was in this sitting that the number of 144 was given for the amount of people sleeping in beds in the dorms was given and that a total of 350 people were able to use and sleep at the campsite in tents and caravans.

Another ablution block was given approval and the ladies toilets was brought in and has had an upgrade in the last 5 years or so. Other sheds and gazebos have been given permission to be built. The last three significant building projects that have taken place is the installation of a 10KW Solar system that has been installed on the dinning roof. The rebuilding of the front deck and the upgrade to the café area.

Over the past 20 years the grass out the front of the hall has be cultivated and made usable and power poles for caravans have been installed for easy use.

The house next door was purchased and sub divided and that land was donated to Hebron. The house was then sold off to other uses. Very early in the piece the caretakers house was built on the front block by the caretaker at the time. When they moved out the house was bought by Hebron and continues to be used by the new caretakers.

Initially the campsite was owned by those people who originally put the funds up to buy the campsite in the first place.  Since then, the campsite has been incorporated and is now owned by the Adelaide ecclesia’s.

Suburban Young People (SYP) moved to Hebron when the gym was completed and able to be used in 1993. At this first SYP camp Samson was studied and there were over 300 young people in attendance. There has been an SYP camp every year since and most years the camp is fully booked out at 350 young people attending to study the word of God.

This is by far a brief history of the campsite but it gives you the idea of why it was started in the first place, the vision of the brethren and sisters who saw the benefits of our young people getting together to study the word. This has also helped all of the ecclesia’s to hold family camps there, and thus continue to build the bonds of fellowship around the word of God.