Benacre, Glen Osmond
Encyclopedia
Benacre is a house in Glen Osmond
, (an inner south-eastern suburb of Adelaide
, South Australia
), which is listed on the Register of the National Estate
. It is located at 6 Benacre Place.
was proclaimed on 28 December 1836 at Holdfast Bay
, but with no reliable fresh water supply, the initial settlement was by the River Torrens
at Adelaide
- more specificly, Adelaide city centre
and North Adelaide
. The settlement was made and administered by the South Australia Company
, who also released land in the city and on the Adelaide Plains
.
, it passed to Robert Cock
; Shipster purchased section 300 in 1844 from J. Grainger, but died on 30 December 1844 at 'Kensington House' in what is now known as Kensington Park
.
The next owner was T.B. Strangways, though it is not clear when, or for how long.
He was followed by Thomas Graves. Thomas Graves established a fine garden containing Moreton Bay figs, pines, cedars and cypresses from such diverse places as Norway, India, Lebanon, Japan and Norfolk Island - “an assortment of trees second only to the Adelaide Botanic Garden”, according to the book "History of Glen Osmond", (1905). In the mid-1870s, Graves added rooms, a cellar and a top storey.
. They lived at Benacre in Glen Osmond and Boode House Mount Lofty
, and were generous and entertaining hosts; during the Scott’s tenure of some 30 years, they hosted countless social events.
During his ownership, a deer park was established.
Lewis died at Benacre on 25 August 1923. His wife and two daughters and four sons, including Essington Lewis
, survived him. In 1924, his executors subdivided a portion of the property (part sections 270 and 271, Hundred of Adelaide) into 39 building blocks. (The next street up Glen Osmond Rd from Benacre Close is Lewis Ave.)
Glen Osmond, South Australia
Glen Osmond is a small suburb of Adelaide, South Australia in the City of Burnside located in the foothills of the Adelaide Hills.-References:...
, (an inner south-eastern suburb of Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
), which is listed on the Register of the National Estate
Register of the National Estate
The Register of the National Estate is a listing of natural and cultural heritage places in Australia. The listing was initially compiled between 1976 and 2003 by the Australian Heritage Commission. The register is now maintained by the Australian Heritage Council...
. It is located at 6 Benacre Place.
Background
The colony of South AustraliaSouth Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
was proclaimed on 28 December 1836 at Holdfast Bay
Holdfast Bay
Holdfast Bay is a small bay in Gulf St Vincent, next to Adelaide, South Australia. Along its shores lie the City of Holdfast Bay and the popular beach-side suburb of Glenelg.-European settlement:...
, but with no reliable fresh water supply, the initial settlement was by the River Torrens
River Torrens
The River Torrens is the most significant river of the Adelaide Plains and was one of the reasons for the siting of the city of Adelaide, capital of South Australia. It flows from its source in the Adelaide Hills near Mount Pleasant, across the Adelaide Plains, past the city centre and empties...
at Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
- more specificly, Adelaide city centre
Adelaide city centre
The Adelaide city centre is the innermost locality of Greater Adelaide, known by locals simply as "The City" or "Town". The locality is split into two key geographical distinctions: the city "square mile", bordered by North, East, South and West Terraces; and that part of the Adelaide Parklands...
and North Adelaide
North Adelaide
North Adelaide is a predominantly residential precinct of the City of Adelaide in South Australia, situated north of the River Torrens and within the Adelaide Park Lands.-History:...
. The settlement was made and administered by the South Australia Company
South Australia Company
The South Australian Company was formed in London on 9 October 1835 by George Fife Angas and other wealthy British merchants to develop a new settlement in South Australia; its purpose was to build a new colony...
, who also released land in the city and on 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....
.
1836
The initial allocation of section 270 was to G.F. Shipster, who built a single-storeyed house on the section in 1844. With the subdivision of the section (i.e. bisection) by Glen Osmond RoadGlen Osmond Road, Adelaide
Glen Osmond Road is a major state Highway 1 road in the city of Adelaide, South Australia. Connecting the Adelaide city centre with the Adelaide Hills via the Adelaide-Crafers Highway; Glen Osmond Road carries half of Adelaide's freight traffic and is the major hills commuter route...
, it passed to Robert Cock
Robert Cock
Robert Cock was one of the first European explorers of the Adelaide region of South Australia following the establishment of the new colony in December 1836...
; Shipster purchased section 300 in 1844 from J. Grainger, but died on 30 December 1844 at 'Kensington House' in what is now known as Kensington Park
Kensington Park, South Australia
Kensington Park is a suburb of Adelaide in the City of Burnside in South Australia....
.
1846
After the loss of a baby in the summer conditions of the city in December 1945, William Bickford, desiring to escape the unhealthy conditions of his city residence, purchased 16 acres in early 1846, and added to the buildings on the property, including building the stables and coach house which are now registered on the Australian Register of the National Estate. William planted the first garden (one acre in size), and 2½ acres of orchard. Despite the "healthier country air" however, another son died when less than a month old and the family returned to the city, but William retained the property and was still developing it when he died in 1850.The next owner was T.B. Strangways, though it is not clear when, or for how long.
He was followed by Thomas Graves. Thomas Graves established a fine garden containing Moreton Bay figs, pines, cedars and cypresses from such diverse places as Norway, India, Lebanon, Japan and Norfolk Island - “an assortment of trees second only to the Adelaide Botanic Garden”, according to the book "History of Glen Osmond", (1905). In the mid-1870s, Graves added rooms, a cellar and a top storey.
- http://www.architectsdatabase.unisa.edu.au/arch_full.asp?Arch_ID=55
- Thomas English was a leading colonial architect in South Australia.
- English has numerous works listed on the South Australian State Heritage Register (SHR) as both builder and architect.
- Leading citizens of the day also engaged him; ... Benacre at Glen Osmond (1863) (Page 1986; SHR).
1876
In 1861, Henry Scott (Mayor of Adelaide) married Emily Gooch but the couple remained childless. In the mid-1870's, they purchased the property and named it "Benacre" after Emily's ancestral home in Suffolk - refer BenacreBenacre
Benacre is a village and civil parish in the Waveney district of the English county of Suffolk. The village is located about south of Lowestoft and north-east of Wrentham, between the main A12 road and the North Sea coast...
. They lived at Benacre in Glen Osmond and Boode House Mount Lofty
Mount Lofty
Mount Lofty is the highest point in the Mount Lofty Ranges. It is located about 15km east of the centre of the city of Adelaide in South Australia and gives unrivalled panoramic views of the city and the Adelaide plains and foothills. It was first climbed by a European when explorer Collet Barker...
, and were generous and entertaining hosts; during the Scott’s tenure of some 30 years, they hosted countless social events.
1906
In 1906, John Lewis, pastoralist and politician, moved to Adelaide "where he bought an imposing home, Benacre, at Glen Osmond". On 5 July 1907 he married a widow, Florence Margaret Toll, née Mortlock. In 1898-1923 he represented the Northeast (later Northern) District in the Legislative Council. In 1922 Lewis published his autobiography, "Fought and Won". In 1923 he was appointed C.M.G.During his ownership, a deer park was established.
Lewis died at Benacre on 25 August 1923. His wife and two daughters and four sons, including Essington Lewis
Essington Lewis
Essington Lewis, CH was an Australian industrialist.He was born in Burra, South Australia, on 13 January 1881. After joining Broken Hill Proprietary Company - now BHP Billiton - in 1904, he rose through the company ranks to become Managing Director in 1926 and Chairman in 1950, a position he held...
, survived him. In 1924, his executors subdivided a portion of the property (part sections 270 and 271, Hundred of Adelaide) into 39 building blocks. (The next street up Glen Osmond Rd from Benacre Close is Lewis Ave.)
1924
- 1924-1968 Gretta Lewis
- http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/biogs/A150116b.htm LEWIS, GRACE MARGARET (GRETTA) (1892-1968),
- on 12 April 1921 she married Lancelot Ashley Lewis (d.1938)
- In 1924 the couple moved from Adelaide's fashionable East Terrace to Benacre, the Lewis family's Italianate mansion at Glen Osmond.
- She died on 23 May 1968 at Benacre
1970
- 1970 Further subdivided: "Fifteen magnificent residential allotments, the gracious mansion 'Benacre', two storeyed stone mews, to be sold by auction on the estate 2nd May, 1970 at 10.30 a.m. Adelaide : Matters & Co. Pty. Ltd. [and] Theodore Bruce & Co. Pty. Ltd."