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Cummins House, Adelaide facts for kids

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Cummins House front c1900
Cummins House, front, around 1900
Cummins House rear c1900
Cummins House, rear, around 1900

Cummins House is a very old and special house in Adelaide, South Australia. You can find it at 19-23 Sheoak Avenue in a suburb called Novar Gardens. This house is so important that it was added to the South Australian Heritage Register on July 24, 1980. This means it's officially protected because of its history.

The Story of Cummins House

On May 15, 1838, a man named John Morphett bought a large piece of land. It was about 134 acres, which is like 100 football fields! He named this land "Cummins Estate" after his mother's farm back in England. John Morphett was a busy farmer. He raised sheep and cows. He also planted many fruit trees, grapevines, and olive trees. He loved horses too, and even had a horse breeding farm. He helped start the Morphettville Racing Club in 1847.

Building the House

John Morphett's home, Cummins House, was designed by a famous architect named George Kingston. The house was built near the Sturt River. It started as a small, five-room cottage made of red bricks in 1842. Over the years, the house grew much bigger. Major additions were made in 1854, and more changes happened in 1906, 1945, 1977, and 1983. Each time, the house got a little larger or more modern for its time.

Saving Cummins House

Many years later, the great-grandson of John Morphett, Hurtle Morphett, wanted to sell the house. But he couldn't find the right buyer. To make sure this important house was saved, the South Australian Government bought it in 1977. At that time, only a small part of the original land, about 1.68 acres, was left with the house.

In 1982, a school called Immanuel College rented Cummins House from the government. Their goal was to fix up the house and turn it into a museum about early settlers. They also wanted to use it for exhibitions and performances. With help from groups like the Cummins Society and the National Trust, the school spent a lot of money each year to restore the house. It had been empty, so it needed a lot of work! After five years, the local council, West Torrens Council, took over the care of the property.

Changes to the Land Around Cummins House

Over time, the big "Cummins Estate" land was divided into smaller pieces. This is called a subdivision.

How Novar Gardens Got Its Name

In 1919, the first part of the land was sold. This area was used to build homes for soldiers who had returned from war. In 1921, the whole area, including where Cummins House stands, got a new name: Novar Gardens. It was named after a special person called Viscount Novar. He was the Governor-General of Australia from 1914 to 1920. That's why Cummins House is now in Novar Gardens.

More Land Sales

In 1949, a big part of the property was bought by Immanuel College. This left about 32 acres of the original land. Then, in 1963, most of that remaining land (about 30 acres) was sold for new houses. This left only 1.68 acres with Cummins House and its smaller buildings.

Key Moments for Cummins House

Here are some important dates and events in the history of Cummins House:

Year What Happened
1838 John Morphett bought the land and named it "Cummins Estate."
1842 The first part of Cummins House was finished. John Morphett and his family moved in.
1854 The house got much bigger with new additions.
1870 John Morphett became a knight (Sir John Morphett). He and his family lived in the house.
1880 A railway line was built, cutting through the land.
1892 Sir John Morphett passed away. His wife, Lady Elizabeth Morphett, and family continued to live there.
1906 More parts were added to the house.
1919 The first part of the land was sold for new homes.
1921 The area around the house was renamed Novar Gardens.
1949 Immanuel College bought a large piece of the Cummins Estate.
1963 Most of the remaining land was sold for housing, leaving only 1.68 acres with the house.
1977 The South Australian Government bought Cummins House to save it.
1982 Immanuel College leased the property and started restoring it.
1984 The Cummins Society was formed. They now offer tours and help care for the gardens.
2019 The Cummins Society took over the lease of the property. They work to keep the house special and open for people to visit regularly.
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