Ayers House (Adelaide) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ayers House |
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Regency |
| Address | 288 North Terrace |
| Town or city | Adelaide |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 34°55′18″S 138°36′34″E / 34.92167°S 138.60944°E |
| Construction started | 1846 |
| Completed | 1876 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Sir George Strickland Kingston (attrib.) |
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South Australian Heritage Register
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| Official name: Ayers House and former Coach House/Stables and Wall | |
| Designated: | 24 July 1980 |
| Reference #: | 10849 |
Ayers House, once known as Austral House, is a famous old mansion in Adelaide, South Australia. It's located on North Terrace. The house is named after Sir Henry Ayers, who was a very important person in South Australia's history. He was the Premier of South Australia five times and a rich businessman. Sir Henry Ayers lived in the house from 1855 until 1897. It is the only grand mansion on North Terrace that is still standing today. Ayers House has been officially listed on the South Australian Heritage Register since July 1980, which means it's a protected historic place.
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Ayers House: A Look at Its History
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The plans for this two-storey mansion were first made in 1846. It was built for William Paxton, who was a chemist in Adelaide. The house is made from local bluestone and is built in the Regency style. Many people believe it was designed by George Strickland Kingston, a well-known architect.
In 1855, Sir Henry Ayers rented the house. At that time, it was a 9-room brick house. Sir Henry transformed it into a huge 40-room mansion. Most of this work happened during the 1860s, and it was finally finished in 1876. The house is very well-preserved. Inside, you can see beautiful hand-painted ceilings and special stencilled woodwork. There are also many items that belonged to the Ayers family, showing how wealthy they were. Sir Henry even had a basement built to help keep the house cool during Adelaide's hot summers.
When Sir Henry Ayers was involved in government, the house was a busy place. It hosted important government meetings, fancy dinners, and big parties. Ayers House was also one of the first homes in Adelaide to have gas lighting.
Why Ayers House is a Heritage Site
Ayers House was officially added to the South Australian Heritage Register in July 1980. This listing helps protect the building and makes sure its history is preserved for future generations.
Bringing Ayers House Back to Life: Restoration Work
Around 2005, a problem with the plumbing caused a flood inside the house. This damaged the beautiful painted ceilings, making the paint peel and flake off. A team of experts from Artlab Australia worked to fix this. They carefully reattached each tiny piece of paint. Their amazing work earned them an award in 2005 for their efforts in heritage restoration.
How Ayers House Has Been Used Over Time
Sir Henry Ayers passed away in 1897. After that, the house had many different owners and uses. In 1914, a company called Austral Gardens Ltd. bought it. They built a dance hall called "The Palais Royal" next to it and created other entertainment areas.
Over the years, Ayers House served many purposes:
- From 1918 to 1922, it was a club for soldiers who had been injured.
- From 1914 to 1932, it was an open-air café.
In 1926, the Government of South Australia bought the property. It was used as a place for nurses to live and train, as it was across from the Adelaide Hospital. More dormitories were built in 1946, but these were removed in 1973. The house stopped being nurses' quarters in 1969.
In the 1960s, the National Trust of South Australia worked hard to save the building from being torn down. They argued that it was the "last of the grand mansions" on North Terrace. In 1970, the Premier at the time, Don Dunstan, stepped in to save the mansion from demolition. He saw its potential for tourism and culture. He started a project to renovate the house, turning it into a tourist and cultural centre. This included a museum and restaurants. Much of the house was carefully restored to look like it did originally. The National Trust of South Australia was asked to run the museum and manage the house for public use.
The museum area displayed old costumes, silverware, artworks, furniture, a large 300-kilogram (660 lb) chandelier, and the original gas lights. The bedrooms were turned into the "Henry Ayers Restaurant" for fine dining. The old stables became a casual bistro. Four private rooms were also used for special events like weddings.
In 2021, there was a discussion about the future of Ayers House. The History Trust of South Australia, a government agency, was planned to move into the building after a major renovation. The National Trust was asked to leave. However, after a change in government in 2022, the new Environment Minister, Susan Close, announced that the government wanted the National Trust to have a permanent home in Ayers House. In April 2024, a new law was passed, making Ayers House the permanent home of the SA National Trust. The government also set aside A$5.7 million to upgrade the building.
