Marble Hill, South Australia
Encyclopedia
Marble Hill was the Vice-Regal
summer residence
for the Governor of South Australia from 1880 to 1955. It is also the name of a district of the Adelaide Hills Council
, named after the residence and in which the residence is located. It is about 20 km east of Adelaide between the towns of Ashton
and Cherryville
, and has expansive views of the Adelaide Hills
to the North and East, and the Adelaide Plains
to the West.
Governor William Jervois
is said to have given the hill its name during construction of the residence, when informed that marble
had been found during the excavation of the site. To this he remarked "Then we shall call it Marble Hill". In fact, there is no true marble at Marble hill. The Governor's informant had merely misidentified the locally abundant quartzite
. An alternative account contends that it was instead named for the hill's rounded top, which resembled a marble when viewed from a distance.
The residence was destroyed during the Black Sunday bushfire of 1955
. Subsequently the site was managed by the National Trust
from 1967-1992, and the Department for Environment and Heritage from 1992-2009. A volunteer Friends of Parks
group, Friends of Marble Hill, ran open days and maintained the site from 1994-2008. To date, the main building has never been fully restored, but the National Trust undertook restoration of the tower and the nearby stables in the 1970s. Successive State Governments have not been prepared to restore the building, as the expense involved would not be considered responsible use of public funds. Marble Hill was sold to a local family, who plan to reconstruct
and re-use the building, in 2009.
land until 1880. This was partly due to the rugged nature of the terrain but also due to the fact that the Government did not offer a large amount of the land for sale. A large area was declared a Government Reserve in 1878, the year that construction on the Residence commenced.
In 1896, part of the Government Reserve was subdivided
into 34 blocks of approximately 20 acres (8.1 ha) each which were offered for lease. The "blockers", as those who took up residence on the blocks became known, found it difficult to make a living on the uncleared land in the early years, but by the 1920s, all of the blocks were tenanted and productive, planted mainly with fruit trees.
Prior to the establishment of the Government Reserve, part of the locality was used as a pound
for stray animals.
was built at Government Farm, Belair
in 1860. Although well-appointed for its time, it was a relatively modest structure, and during the 1870s Governor William Jervois
led the drive to replace it with a grander building. He was instrumental in securing government expenditure, and also personally oversaw the selection of a site and directed the design process. The first stone was laid on 18 July 1878, and the structure was completed and furnished in late 1879. A budget overrun led the Hon. G. C. Hawker
(the Commissioner of Public Works) to invite South Australian Parliamentarians to see the completed structure in December 1879. Seeing the magnificence of the building, they were convinced that the money had been well spent.
The architect was William McMinn
, and the chief supervisor was James Shaw. McMinn's design was of the Victorian Gothic Revival style, adapted for Australian conditions by the addition of large verandahs on three sides which shielded the structure from the fierce northern sun. His original design was for 40 rooms, although only 26 were ever completed, with the western aspect of the building left for possible later addition. The main eastern rooms included a drawing room, a morning room, a dining room and a spacious staircase of kauri pine
and blackwood
. There was no large ballroom, and the dining hall was not grand - it was a residence intended to be primarily a retreat from the summer heat of the Adelaide plains, rather than a primary place of residence with all the accompanying facilities for entertainment. The sandstone
used for construction was sourced from local quarries.
Stables and caretaker's cottage were built a short distance to the west.
and Queen Mary
(as Duke
and Duchess
of Cornwall and York) who stayed in 1901. Many governors also welcomed local children and other such groups on tours from time to time.
) at 7:00 in the morning, rising to 42 °C (107 °F) by 1:00p.m, with winds of up to 70 km/h. A bushfire had broken out at nearby Anstey's Hill
earlier in the morning, and the governor regularly checked its progress from the tower.
With little warning, the strong winds drove the fire up the slope to the northwest of the house, and flames licked the building. The bitumen product used on the balcony floor and the seaweed used for insulation in the roof were easily ignited, and the house was soon on fire. The Governor with his sons and staff struggled to save the building, but it was totally engulfed by flame with astonishing speed. By this time the bushfire had completely surrounded the residence, and the cars which had been prepared as a last-resort option were burning and being showered with molten lead from the tower roof. Escape was impossible.
At the prompting of Sir Robert, the fifteen people at Marble Hill sheltered under wet blankets in the lee of a retaining wall while the fire swept over them and totally destroyed the house. They sheltered for around two hours before rescuers were able to reach them. A servant's cat also survived by sheltering in the cellar.
Sir Robert and Lady George lost all their possessions in the fire, as they had been transferred to Marble Hill whilst Government House was undergoing restoration. Marble Hill had been slated for renovation after Government House, but the house's destruction forced the Government to reevaluate its plans for the building.
Because of the prohibitive cost of reconstruction, in September 1955 the Government of South Australia
announced it would not rebuild Marble Hill. Additional damage was done when the government demolished some areas of the building considered to be "unsafe" a few days after the fire.
In 1967, the property was dedicated to the National Trust of South Australia as a public reserve, although visitors were still barred from the structure itself. In 1973, restoration work was commenced on the stables, the coach house, and the coachman's cottage. The chief stonemason and supervisor was Mr Ted Eling. The National Trust reopened Marble Hill as a ruin in 1975. In 1979, the tower reconstruction was completed.
In 1980, Marble Hill was listed on the South Australian Heritage Register.
During the 1980s, the Country Fire Service
used the tower as a bushfire lookout.
In 1992, the National Trust closed the site to the public due to insufficient funding, and the site reverted to the administration of the Department of Environment and Heritage.
In 1993, the Government called for expressions of interest in the development and management of the site. Mayor of East Torrens
, Isabel Bishop, called for the building to be restored and used as a "VIP status hotel".
In 1994 the volunteer group "Friends of Marble Hill" was formed in order to facilitate public access, open days and functions, while DEH retained responsibility for maintenance and funding, and the National Parks and Wildlife Service
provided vegetation and land-care services.
In 1998, DEH commissioned a Conservation and Dilapidation Report which investigated the structural integrity of the ruins and the possibility of reconstruction.
In October 2009, the property was sold to Mr Edwin Michell and Dr Patricia Bishop, a local couple. Among the conditions of a heritage agreement attached to the certificate of title
are that the ruin will be reconstructed
in consultation with a heritage architect, and that public open days will continue.
Viceroy
A viceroy is a royal official who runs a country, colony, or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. A viceroy's province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty...
summer residence
Summer house
A summer house or summerhouse has traditionally referred to a building or shelter used for relaxation in warm weather. This would often take the form of a small, roofed building on the grounds of a larger one, but could also be built in a garden or park, often designed to provide cool shady places...
for the Governor of South Australia from 1880 to 1955. It is also the name of a district of the Adelaide Hills Council
Adelaide Hills Council
Adelaide Hills Council was established in 1997 by the amalgamation of four smaller district councils...
, named after the residence and in which the residence is located. It is about 20 km east of Adelaide between the towns of Ashton
Ashton, South Australia
-Brief history:Ashton is a town in South Australia. It was named by George Hunt in 1858 after his home Ashton in England. Ashton is from the old English word 'aesctun', which means 'ash tree town'.-General information:...
and Cherryville
Cherryville, South Australia
Cherryville is a small town in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia. It was named in around 1840 after the native cherry trees that grew in the area, although some historians claim that it was not named until 1892, when horticultural cherry plantings became widespread in the area...
, and has expansive views of the Adelaide Hills
Adelaide Hills
The Adelaide Hills are part of the Mount Lofty Ranges, east of the city of Adelaide in the state of South Australia. It is unofficially centred on the largest town in the area, Mount Barker, which has a population of around 29,000 and is also one of Australia's fastest growing towns.- History :The...
to the North and East, and the Adelaide Plains
Adelaide Plains
The Adelaide Plains is the area in South Australia between the Mount Lofty Ranges on the east and Gulf St Vincent on the west. The plains are generally fertile with annual rainfall of about per year....
to the West.
Governor William Jervois
William Jervois
Sir William Francis Drummond Jervois, GCMG, CB was a British military engineer who saw service, as Second Captain, in South Africa...
is said to have given the hill its name during construction of the residence, when informed that marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
had been found during the excavation of the site. To this he remarked "Then we shall call it Marble Hill". In fact, there is no true marble at Marble hill. The Governor's informant had merely misidentified the locally abundant quartzite
Quartzite
Quartzite is a hard metamorphic rock which was originally sandstone. Sandstone is converted into quartzite through heating and pressure usually related to tectonic compression within orogenic belts. Pure quartzite is usually white to gray, though quartzites often occur in various shades of pink...
. An alternative account contends that it was instead named for the hill's rounded top, which resembled a marble when viewed from a distance.
The residence was destroyed during the Black Sunday bushfire of 1955
Black Sunday (1955)
The Black Sunday Bushfires of 1955 were a series of bushfires that broke out across South Australia on 2 January, 1955. Extreme morning temperatures coupled with strong north-westerly winds contributed to the breakout of numerous fires in the Adelaide Hills, Jamestown, Waterloo, Kingston and...
. Subsequently the site was managed by the National Trust
National Trust of Australia
The Australian Council of National Trusts is the peak body for community-based, non-government organisations committed to promoting and conserving Australia's indigenous, natural and historic heritage....
from 1967-1992, and the Department for Environment and Heritage from 1992-2009. A volunteer Friends of Parks
Friends of Parks
Friends of Parks Incorporated is an umbrella organisation for 141 individual volunteer community groups and over 7000 individual volunteers in South Australia, who are each affiliated with a specific national park or historic site...
group, Friends of Marble Hill, ran open days and maintained the site from 1994-2008. To date, the main building has never been fully restored, but the National Trust undertook restoration of the tower and the nearby stables in the 1970s. Successive State Governments have not been prepared to restore the building, as the expense involved would not be considered responsible use of public funds. Marble Hill was sold to a local family, who plan to reconstruct
Reconstruction (architecture)
Reconstruction is a term in architectural conservation whose precise meaning varies, depending on the context in which they are used.More broadly, such as under the Burra Charter of Australia, "reconstruction" means returning a damaged building to a known earlier state by the introduction of new...
and re-use the building, in 2009.
History
The locality of Marble Hill was not greatly developed until after the establishment of the Vice-Regal Summer Residence. It consisted largely of uncleared pastoralPastoralism
Pastoralism or pastoral farming is the branch of agriculture concerned with the raising of livestock. It is animal husbandry: the care, tending and use of animals such as camels, goats, cattle, yaks, llamas, and sheep. It may have a mobile aspect, moving the herds in search of fresh pasture and...
land until 1880. This was partly due to the rugged nature of the terrain but also due to the fact that the Government did not offer a large amount of the land for sale. A large area was declared a Government Reserve in 1878, the year that construction on the Residence commenced.
In 1896, part of the Government Reserve was subdivided
Subdivision
Subdivision may refer to:* Country subdivision** Subdivision , a term for an urban or suburban area, especially if recently parceled up into smaller plots for new uses** Census geographic units of Canada , a term used in Canada...
into 34 blocks of approximately 20 acres (8.1 ha) each which were offered for lease. The "blockers", as those who took up residence on the blocks became known, found it difficult to make a living on the uncleared land in the early years, but by the 1920s, all of the blocks were tenanted and productive, planted mainly with fruit trees.
Prior to the establishment of the Government Reserve, part of the locality was used as a pound
Animal shelter
An animal shelter is a facility that houses homeless, lost, or abandoned animals; primarily a large variety of dogs and cats.Parrots, for example, are the third most common pet owned by people...
for stray animals.
Vice-Regal Summer Residence
The first Vice-Regal country residenceOld Government House, South Australia
The Old Government House of South Australia is a historic building located in Belair National Park. It was the summer residence of the Governor of South Australia from 1860-1880, and was used by governors Richard Graves MacDonnell and Dominick Daly...
was built at Government Farm, Belair
Belair National Park
Belair National Park is a national park in South Australia , 13 km south of Adelaide, covering an 835ha area. It was proclaimed in 1891 and was the first National Park in South Australia, second in Australia and the tenth in the world...
in 1860. Although well-appointed for its time, it was a relatively modest structure, and during the 1870s Governor William Jervois
William Jervois
Sir William Francis Drummond Jervois, GCMG, CB was a British military engineer who saw service, as Second Captain, in South Africa...
led the drive to replace it with a grander building. He was instrumental in securing government expenditure, and also personally oversaw the selection of a site and directed the design process. The first stone was laid on 18 July 1878, and the structure was completed and furnished in late 1879. A budget overrun led the Hon. G. C. Hawker
George Charles Hawker
George Charles Hawker was an Australian settler and South Australian politician.-Early life:Hawker was born in London, the second son of Admiral Edward Hawker and his first wife Joanna Naomi, née Poore. He was educated partly on the continent, and entered Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1836 George...
(the Commissioner of Public Works) to invite South Australian Parliamentarians to see the completed structure in December 1879. Seeing the magnificence of the building, they were convinced that the money had been well spent.
The architect was William McMinn
William McMinn
William McMinn was an Australian surveyor and architect, based in Adelaide. He was born in Newry, County Down, Ireland, and came to Adelaide at the age of six....
, and the chief supervisor was James Shaw. McMinn's design was of the Victorian Gothic Revival style, adapted for Australian conditions by the addition of large verandahs on three sides which shielded the structure from the fierce northern sun. His original design was for 40 rooms, although only 26 were ever completed, with the western aspect of the building left for possible later addition. The main eastern rooms included a drawing room, a morning room, a dining room and a spacious staircase of kauri pine
Agathis
The genus Agathis, commonly known as kauri or dammar, is a relatively small genus of 21 species of evergreen tree. The genus is part of the ancient Araucariaceae family of conifers, a group once widespread during the Jurassic period, but now largely restricted to the Southern Hemisphere except for...
and blackwood
Blackwood
-Botany:* African Blackwood , decorative timber tree native to seasonally dry regions of Africa* Australian Blackwood, Acacia melanoxylon, native to eastern Australia...
. There was no large ballroom, and the dining hall was not grand - it was a residence intended to be primarily a retreat from the summer heat of the Adelaide plains, rather than a primary place of residence with all the accompanying facilities for entertainment. The sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
used for construction was sourced from local quarries.
Stables and caretaker's cottage were built a short distance to the west.
Governors in residence
All fifteen governors who held office from 1880 to 1955 spent at least some time at Marble Hill. In addition, a number of distinguished guests were welcomed throughout the house's 75 year history as a viceregal residence, particularly King George VGeorge V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
and Queen Mary
Mary of Teck
Mary of Teck was the queen consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, as the wife of King-Emperor George V....
(as Duke
Duke of Cornwall
The Duchy of Cornwall was the first duchy created in the peerage of England.The present Duke of Cornwall is The Prince of Wales, the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II, the reigning British monarch .-History:...
and Duchess
Duchess of York
Duchess of York is the principal courtesy title held by the wife of the Duke of York. The title is gained with marriage alone and is forfeited upon divorce. Four of the twelve Dukes of York did not marry or had already assumed the throne prior to marriage, therefore there have only ever been eleven...
of Cornwall and York) who stayed in 1901. Many governors also welcomed local children and other such groups on tours from time to time.
- 1880 -1883: William JervoisWilliam JervoisSir William Francis Drummond Jervois, GCMG, CB was a British military engineer who saw service, as Second Captain, in South Africa...
- From his earliest days of residence, Jervois was very friendly with the locals, and keenly assisted with fundraising for church and district projects. - 1883 - 1889: William RobinsonWilliam Cleaver Francis RobinsonSir William Cleaver Francis Robinson GCMG was a British colonial administrator and a musical composer, being the author of several well known songs...
- Sir William found the isolation of Marble Hill lonely, and had no sooner arrived there than he was wanting to be elsewhere, such as GlenelgGlenelg, South AustraliaGlenelg is a popular beach-side suburb of the South Australian capital of Adelaide. Located on the shore of Holdfast Bay in Gulf St Vincent, it has become a popular tourist destination due to its beach and many attractions, home to several hotels and dozens of restaurants.Established in 1836, it is...
or some other seaside resort. - 1889 - 1895: The Earl of Kintore - Lord and Lady Kintore made regular visits during their tenure, and had the gardens laid out.
- 1895 - 1899: Thomas Buxton
- 1899 - 1902: Hallam TennysonHallam Tennyson, 2nd Baron TennysonHallam Tennyson, 2nd Baron Tennyson, GCMG, PC , the second Governor-General of Australia, was born at Chapel House, Twickenham, in Surrey, England. Named after his father's late friend Arthur Hallam, he was the elder son of Alfred Tennyson, the most popular and prominent poet of late Victorian...
- Sir Hallam and Lady Audrey Tennyson were particularly fond of Marble Hill, despite having to contend with heat, drought and bushfires during their stays. They returned in December 1902 when Lord Tennyson was Governor General, and entertained the idea of buying it if it ever became available. - 1903 - 1909: George Le HunteGeorge Le HunteSir George Ruthven Le Hunte KCMG was Governor of South Australia from 1 July 1903 until 18 February 1909, soon after federation of Australia....
- The annual visit of the LeHuntes was keenly anticipated by the local children, as the Governor regularly held entertainments for them at the residence. - 1909 - 1914: Day BosanquetDay BosanquetAdmiral Sir Day Hort Bosanquet GCVO, KCB was the Governor of South Australia from 18 February 1909 until 22 March 1914.-Naval career:Born in Alnwick in Northumberland, Bosanquet joined the Royal Navy in 1857...
- 1914 - 1920: Henry GalwayHenry GalwayLieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry Lionel Galway, KCMG, DSO was the Governor of South Australia from 18 April 1914 until 30 April 1920....
- 1920 - 1922: Archibald Weigall - Governor Weigall was a keen cricketer, and during his residence held an annual match between the Viceregal party and locals at the nearby AshtonAshton, South Australia-Brief history:Ashton is a town in South Australia. It was named by George Hunt in 1858 after his home Ashton in England. Ashton is from the old English word 'aesctun', which means 'ash tree town'.-General information:...
Oval. - 1922 - 1927: Tom Bridges - Governor Bridges occupied Marble Hill only for the occasional weekend, prompting the government to consider selling the residence. Some of the suggested uses for the building included a boarding house, hostel, flats or consumptive sanitoriumTuberculosisTuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. - 1928 - 1934: Alexander Hore-RuthvenAlexander Hore-Ruthven, 1st Earl of GowrieBrigadier General Alexander Gore Arkwright Hore-Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie VC, GCMG, CB, DSO & Bar, PC was a British soldier and colonial governor and the tenth Governor-General of Australia. Serving for 9 years and 7 days, he is the longest serving Governor-General in Australia's history...
- Marble Hill continued to fall from favour under Governor Hore-Ruthven, who indicated in 1932 that he would be willing to forgo the use of Marble Hill under his contract (a possibility the Government had been investigating since 1928). However, the remoteness of Marble Hill had made it difficult to retain staff or to easily convert to a government institution, and so the status quo prevailed. - 1934 - 1939: Winston Dugan - A number of modifications were made to the residence and outbuildings during 1939, among them the addition of several bathrooms and the conversion of the coach-house into a garage for motorcars.
- 1939 - 1944: Malcolm Barclay-Harvey - During the years of the Second World WarWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Sir Malcolm and Lady Barclay-Harvey spent time at Marble Hill whenever they were able to take a break from supporting the war effort. They restored the beautiful gardens, and Sir Malcolm (an avid railway enthusiastRailfanA railfan or rail buff , railway enthusiast or railway buff , or trainspotter , is a person interested in a recreational capacity in rail transport...
) had an outdoor model railway installed. - 1944 - 1952: Willoughby NorrieCharles Norrie, 1st Baron NorrieLieutenant-General Charles Willoughby Moke Norrie, 1st Baron Norrie GCMG, GCVO, CB, DSO, MC & Bar was a British Army general during World War II, following which he served terms as Governor of South Australia and the eighth Governor-General of New Zealand.-Army career:After education at Eton and...
- 1952 - 1955: Robert George - In 1954 the Government commenced renovation of both viceregal residences. The original acetyleneAcetyleneAcetylene is the chemical compound with the formula C2H2. It is a hydrocarbon and the simplest alkyne. This colorless gas is widely used as a fuel and a chemical building block. It is unstable in pure form and thus is usually handled as a solution.As an alkyne, acetylene is unsaturated because...
gas lightingGaslightGaslight may refer to:* Gas lighting, the use of flammable gas such as natural gas as a light source* Gaslighting, a form of psychological abuse* Gas Light a Patrick Hamilton stage play...
at Marble Hill was replaced, at considerable expense, with electricity. Sir Robert and Lady George's possessions were moved to Marble Hill while Government House was being renovated. Marble Hill was to have been renovated the following year.
Bushfires
Marble Hill's location at the peak of a steep, densely-wooded ridge meant that bushfires were a regular threat.- 1882 - On 8 February, only two years after being completed, Marble Hill was first threatened by a bushfire. The fire broke out in a gully to the east of the residence during the afternoon, possibly due to careless cooking by locals. Swift action by the police and residents contained the fire, but it continued to burn along the gully until the evening of the 9th. The garden and some of the fences were damaged.
- 1901 - The intense heat and drought of the summer of 1901 resulted in a number of bushfires while Sir Hallam and Lady Tennyson were in residence. Lady Tennyson wrote that the bushfires, with their billowing smoke and glowing hilltops by night, were a remarkable sight. The gardens and part of the orchard were damaged in the fire.
- 1910 - On Sunday 20 February, bushfires that had been menacing the Mt Lofty Ranges around Norton Summit began to threaten Marble Hill. The Governor in residence, Admiral Bosanquet, directed firefighters and local volunteers in the burning of firebreaks, but it was a tense night for those guarding the residence. On Monday, a change in the wind brought the fires rapidly upon them. The Register reported that "big trees were as matches before the advancing fire." The full force of the firefighters was mustered, which enabled the residence to escape damage, although the Government Domain was largely burnt.
- 1912 - Admiral Bosanquet had to defend the residence a second time. Early on 14 January, a fire broke out at Morialta on the property of the late Sir Richard BakerRichard Baker (Australian politician)Sir Richard Chaffey Baker KCMG was an Australian politician. A barrister by trade, he embarked on a successful career in South Australian colonial politics, serving as state attorney-general and President of the Legislative Council before switching to federal politics after federation...
. It soon became apparent that the westerly wind would drive the fire toward Marble Hill. When the fire was at its height, the English cricket team and Lord Richard Nevill arrived, having been invited for lunch. They had to dash through the flames to reach the residence, and were able to render most timely assistance. The servant's quarters, the caretaker's cottage, the stables and even the kitchen of Marble Hill itself were all ignited, but fortunately these conflagrations were all noticed and quickly extinguished. The gardens, however, were destroyed. - 1930 - Around 100 acre (0.404686 km²) of stringybarkStringybarkA stringybark can be any of the many Eucalyptus species which have thick, fibrous bark. Like all eucalypts, stringybarks belong to the Myrtaceae family. In exceptionally fertile locations some stringybark species A stringybark can be any of the many Eucalyptus species which have thick, fibrous...
forest adjoining the house were destroyed on 18 February. The Governor and staff managed to subdue the fire when it was halfway up the drive. - 1939 - Marble Hill was again threatened by the Black FridayBlack Friday (1939)The Black Friday fires of 13 January 1939, in Victoria, Australia, were considered one of the worst natural bushfires in the world, and certainly the single worst in Australian history as a measure of land affected...
fires of 1939. - 1955 - The Black Sunday BushfiresBlack Sunday (1955)The Black Sunday Bushfires of 1955 were a series of bushfires that broke out across South Australia on 2 January, 1955. Extreme morning temperatures coupled with strong north-westerly winds contributed to the breakout of numerous fires in the Adelaide Hills, Jamestown, Waterloo, Kingston and...
destroyed Marble Hill on 2 January. - 2000 - On 16 December, a proscribed burnControlled burnControlled or prescribed burning, also known as hazard reduction burning or Swailing is a technique sometimes used in forest management, farming, prairie restoration or greenhouse gas abatement. Fire is a natural part of both forest and grassland ecology and controlled fire can be a tool for...
conducted by the CFS below Marble Hill jumped containment lines and turned into a major firefighting operation.
Destruction
On 2 January 1955, fifteen people were in residence at Marble Hill, including Sir Robert and Lady George, their family, staff and servants. The bushfire conditions were extreme, with a temperature of 36 °C (96° FahrenheitFahrenheit
Fahrenheit is the temperature scale proposed in 1724 by, and named after, the German physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit . Within this scale, the freezing of water into ice is defined at 32 degrees, while the boiling point of water is defined to be 212 degrees...
) at 7:00 in the morning, rising to 42 °C (107 °F) by 1:00p.m, with winds of up to 70 km/h. A bushfire had broken out at nearby Anstey's Hill
Anstey Hill Recreation Park
Anstey Hill Recreation Park is a public park approximately northeast of Adelaide, South Australia. It is managed by the City of Tea Tree Gully, the Department for Environment and Heritage and a volunteer group—The Friends of Anstey Hill. The park is designed for recreational walking and there are...
earlier in the morning, and the governor regularly checked its progress from the tower.
With little warning, the strong winds drove the fire up the slope to the northwest of the house, and flames licked the building. The bitumen product used on the balcony floor and the seaweed used for insulation in the roof were easily ignited, and the house was soon on fire. The Governor with his sons and staff struggled to save the building, but it was totally engulfed by flame with astonishing speed. By this time the bushfire had completely surrounded the residence, and the cars which had been prepared as a last-resort option were burning and being showered with molten lead from the tower roof. Escape was impossible.
At the prompting of Sir Robert, the fifteen people at Marble Hill sheltered under wet blankets in the lee of a retaining wall while the fire swept over them and totally destroyed the house. They sheltered for around two hours before rescuers were able to reach them. A servant's cat also survived by sheltering in the cellar.
Sir Robert and Lady George lost all their possessions in the fire, as they had been transferred to Marble Hill whilst Government House was undergoing restoration. Marble Hill had been slated for renovation after Government House, but the house's destruction forced the Government to reevaluate its plans for the building.
Ruin
Government of South Australia
The form of the Government of South Australia is prescribed in its constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then...
announced it would not rebuild Marble Hill. Additional damage was done when the government demolished some areas of the building considered to be "unsafe" a few days after the fire.
In 1967, the property was dedicated to the National Trust of South Australia as a public reserve, although visitors were still barred from the structure itself. In 1973, restoration work was commenced on the stables, the coach house, and the coachman's cottage. The chief stonemason and supervisor was Mr Ted Eling. The National Trust reopened Marble Hill as a ruin in 1975. In 1979, the tower reconstruction was completed.
In 1980, Marble Hill was listed on the South Australian Heritage Register.
During the 1980s, the Country Fire Service
Country Fire Service
The SA Country Fire Service is a volunteer based fire service in the state of South Australia in Australia. Many parts of Australia are sparsely populated whilst at the same time they are under significant risk of bushfire. Due to economics, it is prohibitively expensive for each Australian town...
used the tower as a bushfire lookout.
In 1992, the National Trust closed the site to the public due to insufficient funding, and the site reverted to the administration of the Department of Environment and Heritage.
In 1993, the Government called for expressions of interest in the development and management of the site. Mayor of East Torrens
Adelaide Hills Council
Adelaide Hills Council was established in 1997 by the amalgamation of four smaller district councils...
, Isabel Bishop, called for the building to be restored and used as a "VIP status hotel".
In 1994 the volunteer group "Friends of Marble Hill" was formed in order to facilitate public access, open days and functions, while DEH retained responsibility for maintenance and funding, and the National Parks and Wildlife Service
National Parks and Wildlife Service (South Australia)
The National Parks and Wildlife Service is part of the Department for Environment and Heritage - the main government conservation agency in South Australia, Australia....
provided vegetation and land-care services.
In 1998, DEH commissioned a Conservation and Dilapidation Report which investigated the structural integrity of the ruins and the possibility of reconstruction.
Reconstruction
In March 2007, the State Government of South Australia again called for expressions of interest in the future development and management of the Marble Hill site. Twelve interested parties sought information, and one proposal was received.In October 2009, the property was sold to Mr Edwin Michell and Dr Patricia Bishop, a local couple. Among the conditions of a heritage agreement attached to the certificate of title
Title (property)
Title is a legal term for a bundle of rights in a piece of property in which a party may own either a legal interest or an equitable interest. The rights in the bundle may be separated and held by different parties. It may also refer to a formal document that serves as evidence of ownership...
are that the ruin will be reconstructed
Reconstruction (architecture)
Reconstruction is a term in architectural conservation whose precise meaning varies, depending on the context in which they are used.More broadly, such as under the Burra Charter of Australia, "reconstruction" means returning a damaged building to a known earlier state by the introduction of new...
in consultation with a heritage architect, and that public open days will continue.
See also
- Government House, South Australia
- Old Government House, South AustraliaOld Government House, South AustraliaThe Old Government House of South Australia is a historic building located in Belair National Park. It was the summer residence of the Governor of South Australia from 1860-1880, and was used by governors Richard Graves MacDonnell and Dominick Daly...
- Governor of South Australia
- Marble Hill Ruins, South Australia
- Kaurna#Native Title Claims