How old would Percy have been when you knew him? I'm asking because Thompson's had the butcher shop there around the 1920s. May have been related.

Percy Thompson had a son who was a stationmaster in Balaklava - South Australia around 1956. Would that help u, as I got intouch with my sister to find out more information.

I found this below. The father here is I think the butcher I was talking about. I haven't found much else. It is part of this cd (which unfortunately,I don't have) Hopefully there is some other member in here who does. Or access to the SA Birth Register.
I'm thinking your Percy is related to Joan
South Australian Births Registrations 1907 to 1928
Surname: THOMPSON
Given Names: Joan Carmel
Date: 1921-07-25
Sex: F
Father: Percival Foster THOMPSON
Mother: Ellen Frances RONAN
Birth Place/Residence: Balaklava District Code: Gil Symbol: Book: 81A Page: 217 Cross Reference:

Australia Birth Index, 1788-1922
about Percy Foster Thompson
Name: Percy Foster Thompson
Birth Date: 20 Aug 1893
Father's Name: Arthur Miller Thompson
Mother's Name: Charlotte Saint
Birth Place: Balaklava
Registration Place: Gilbert, South Australia
Page Number: 383
Volume Number: 528

From experience The Ronan's came from Ballarat.
The population of Balaklava back then was probably half what it is today 1600 ! Couldn't have been too many Percy Thompson's.
Here's a blurb on the town;
The first European settlers in the area were James and Mary Dunn who opened a hotel in 1850. The town was laid out by Charles Fisher in 1869 and named it after the Battle of Balaklava.[2] He built large grain stores on the tramway from Hoyleton to the port at Port Wakefield, intending to encourage farmers to settle near the town.The first Hotel erected in the township of Balaklava was the Balaklava Hotel, later called the Royal. Thomas Saint borrowed the finances from Thomas James Manton and applied for the Hotel Keepers Licence on 17/11/1870 and was granted licence No.17 of 1871 on 04/04/1871.

Balaklava used to be on the railway line from Adelaide to Gladstone, with a junction to Port Wakefield. The line north from Hamley Bridge (connecting to Adelaide) opened in 1878 as a narrow (1,067 mm) gauge line. It was converted to broad gauge (1600mm) in 1927 and still exists as far as Balaklava.[3]

The name of the town was originally spelled Balaclava.

I'll continue to have a look. I stayed in Balaklava for 3 weeks back in 1985 and the thing I remember most, (apart from the thousands of White Cockatoos swooping for the Wheat and Barley) was the butcher shop. I remember this because I paid with cash and the butcher made a joke about it. It seems that all the residents were on tick. They paid by cheque, usually when the grain was sold.

The people are very friendly. Why don't you contact the Community library I'm sure they'd be happy to help.

May Tce, Balaklava, SA 5461 Australia
Telephone
8862 1336 the area code is 08
Fax
8862 1336
Email
bcl@balakhs.sa.edu.au

Hi Janilye,

I have some think for u, I went to the Balakava primary school in 1957 and I would have been 5yrs old, we lived on Wallace street could be accross the road from the primary school. And another thing Percy Thompson worked for P.M.G. in Balakavain 1957. Percy lived with my mom from 1952 and the name was Mary Speechley and there were 2 girls living in the house with Percy Thompson by the name of Janet and Lesley Speechley.

Hello Janilye,

Sorry for not getting back to you dear, but have been very sick and not been my self for quite some time. I had a very bad nerves breakdown and like I said was not my self for quite some time. I can remember going to Balaklava, SA on the back of an old pick-up truck as mum and Percy would sit in the front and us girls would sit in the back and stopping along the way buying fresh fruit and veggies while heading to Balaklava, SA. What I do remember was visiting the Railway Station and seeing Percy's son there and giving him some fresh veggies and fruit, except for oranges as they were in the back of the house where we stayed in Balaklava as I remember picking the oranges when they were ripe and eating about 4 right off. I am trying to trace the family tree's again and need more information on Percy Thompson do you have any photos of him wearing glasses, as you can send email to me here { silvergreylass@hotmail.com }. Many Thanks Les