Marble Hill, South Australia
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Marble Hill was the Vice-Regal summer residence for the Governor of South Australia from 1880 to 1955. It is located about 20km east of Adelaide between the towns of Ashton and Cherryville, with expansive views of the Adelaide Hills and Adelaide Plains.[1] It was destroyed during the "Black Sunday" bushfire of 1955. The site was managed by the National Trust from 1967-1992, and the Friends of Marble Hill from 1994-2008.
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[edit] Vice-Regal summer residence
Marble Hill was built in 1878-79, replacing the first Vice-Regal country residence at Government Farm (now in Belair National Park). Governor William Jervois was instrumental in securing government expenditure. The architect was William McMinn. His design was of the Victorian Gothic Revival style, adapted for Australian conditions by the addition of large verandahs and balconies. The sandstone used for construction was sourced from local quarries. A budget overrun led the Hon. G. C. Hawker (the Commissioner of Public Works) to invite South Australian Parliamentarians to see the competed structure in December 1879. Seeing the magnificence of the building, they were convinced that the money had been well spent. [2]
Marble Hill comprised 26 main rooms, although the original design called for 40. Interior decoration was Victorian, but with relatively little intricate detail. There was no ballroom nor grand dining hall. It was intended to be a retreat from the summer heat of the Adelaide Plains, rather than a primary residence.
Marble Hill's location at the peak of a tall, densely wooded ridge meant that bushfire was a regular threat. Lord and Lady Tennyson were in residence during the bushfires of 1901. King George V and Queen Mary as Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York visited later in 1901.[3]
The house escaped destruction in 1912 when the visiting English cricket team, having been invited for dinner, were able to help beat back the flames.[4] The house was threatened again during the fires of 1939.
[edit] Black Sunday Bushfire, 1955
On the 2nd of January, 1955, the temperature was 36°C (96° Fahrenheit) at 7:00 in the morning, and many bushfires soon broke out in the Hills.[5] By 1pm, the temperature had risen to 42°C (107°F) and gale force winds pushed a raging bushfire up the ridge to the north of Marble Hill. The malthoid used to waterproof the verandahs and the seaweed used for insulation in the roof were easily ignited, and the house was soon on fire. The governor, Sir Robert George and the rest of the household 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, making escape impossible.
At the propmting of Sir Robert, the fifteen people remaining 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. A car parked outside was showered with molten lead from the tower roof. They sheltered for around two hours before rescuers were able to reach them. A servant's cat also survived by sheltering in the cellar. [2]
[edit] After the fire
In September 1955 the Government of South Australia announced it would not rebuild Marble Hill.
In 1967, the property was dedicated to the National Trust of South Australia as a public reserve.
In 1973, restoration work was commenced on the stables, the coach house, and the coachman's cottage. The chief supervisor was Mr Ted Eling. Marble Hill was reopened as a ruin in 1975. In 1979, the tower restoration was completed.
During the 1980s, the CFS used the tower as a bushfire lookout.
In 1992, the National Trust closed the site to the public due to insufficient funding. In 1994, the volunteer group Friends of Marble Hill took over administration of the site. The Friends undertook maintenance of the building and the surrounding bush, as well as opening the site to the public once per month.[3]
The 1998 Danvers Report investigated the structural integrity of the ruins and the possibility of reconstruction.[citation needed]
[edit] Reconstruction
On March 5, 2007 the State Government announced it was seeking expressions of interest for the development and management of Marble Hill. The call for submissions was published in the SA Government Gazette, The Advertiser, and the Department of Environment and Heritage Minister Gail Gago's media release. Twelve interested parties approached the Government. One expression of interest was submitted by the closing date of April 27.
On May 16 2008 the State Government signed a Heads of Agreement with Dr Patricia Bishop and Mr Edwin Michell for the future sale and reconstruction of Marble Hill.[6] Key conditions of the agreement include:
- A commitment to "substantially restore the residence under guidance of a heritage architect"
- Prevention of subdivision
- Public access on at least seven days per year (3 open days and 4 pre-booked)
- A Heritage Agreement on the certificate of title, ensuring future owners will also be bound by these conditions.
The proponents intend to explore avenues for the continuing involvement of the Friends of Marble Hill.
- ^ South Australia - Marble Hill - Vice-regal Ruin In Park Setting
- ^ a b Cooper, Ashley, "Marble Hill: South Australian Vice Regal Summer Residence 1879-1955", National Trust of Australia, 1973
- ^ a b http://www.geocities.com/fomh2001/timeline.htm Friends of Marble Hill website
- ^ Postcards - Feature: Marble Hill
- ^ The Friends of Marble Hill
- ^ News - Premier & Ministers of South Australia
| Towns and Localities of the Adelaide Hills Council | |
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Aldgate | Ashton | Balhannah | Basket Range | Birdwood | Bradbury | Bridgewater | Carey Gully | Castambul | Chain of Ponds | Charleston | Cherryville | Crafers West | Crafers | Cudlee Creek | Dorset Vale | Eagle on the Hill | Forest Range | Forreston | Gumeracha | Heathfield | Houghton | Inglewood | Inverbrackie | Ironbank | Kersbrook | Lenswood | Lobethal | Longwood | Marble Hill | Montacute | Mount Lofty | Mount Torrens | Mylor | Norton Summit | Oakbank | Paracombe | Piccadilly | Scott Creek | Stirling | Summertown | Upper Hermitage | Upper Sturt | Uraidla | Verdun | Woodside |
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