Birralee, Belair
Encyclopedia
Birralee is the name of two mansions built by William Burford in what is now the Adelaide
metropolitan area.
was built in 1897 at 49 Sheoak Road, adjacent to Belair National Park
, and overlooking the Adelaide Plains.
Burford lived in the house until his death in 1925. It was later the home of Beverley Burford Beale (later Robertson), then Scotch College, Adelaide
, then Repatriation TB sanatorium (Repatriation Hospital "Birralee"
, 1 Jan 1952 - 31 Dec 1976), then used as a government institution in the 1980s.
The well maintained beautiful house, located in well maintained grounds, is now once again a private home.
It was announced in the Advertiser of 2 November 1939 that Mrs. H. Cansfield Park, Mrs. Bruce Harper Robertson, and Miss Burford will be "At Home" at Birralee, Belair, on November 10.
in Torrens Park
and informed the Headmaster that they wished to inspect the college and its facilities to determine its suitability as an American army hospital. Lewis recommended that the American Army take possession of the college from 8 May (at the end of first term) until the cessation of hostilities. After considerable searching and investigation, two adjacent houses at Belair, Birralee and Brierley Lodge, were discovered, inspected and found to be suitable. The move from Torrens Park to Belair was executed during the school holidays, and the boarders and domestic staff moved in during the first week of second term. Four large marquees with wooden floors were erected on the drives and front lawns of the properties as classrooms. The arrival of 176 students, including 66 boarders, and 14 resident staff, "put a great strain on the water supply, the plumbing and the septic tanks".
Within a few weeks of the move to Belair, the tide of war in the Pacific turned with the allied naval victory at the Battle of the Coral Sea
in May 1942. The American military hospital never eventuated - "The Americans hauled down the stars and stripes at Torrens Park on 15 August". However, they were replaced by the Royal Australian Air Force
, and the Torrens Park site became "RAAF Embarkation Depot No.4". In 1943, the tide of war changed again, and the college council asked the RAAF if it could look forward to the college reopening at Torrens Park in 1944. As late as 6 January 1944 the RAAF had still not made a decision, but the college council took "direct action" and the RAAF vacated by 15 January. Teaching resumed at Torrens Park on 15 February 1944.
The Repatriation Sanatorium was opened on 2 June 1945 by His Excellency the Governor, Sir Willoughby Norrie.
Eldest daughter Lilian May married Thomas, eldest son of Thos. Eyres Esq. of Perth, W.A. "on 13th October 1899 at the residence of the bride's parents, Birralee, Glenelg".
Burford commenced construction of Birralee, Belair in 1897.
The notice for the wedding on 11 November 1914 (also the Burford's 47th wedding anniversary) of youngest daughter "Allie Marian" to Octavius Cyril Beale, eighth son of Mr and the late Mrs Beale of "Llanarth", Burwood, NSW, mentions "Mr. and Mrs. William Burford of Birralee, Glenelg. Alice Mary died only 11 years later "at her home Birralee, Belair".
The notice for the wedding on 11 November 1918 (also the Burford's 51st wedding anniversary) of second daughter Evaline to "Sergeant Horace Cansfield, third son of Mr. Thomas Park, West Bridgford, Nottingham, England", is dated 15 January 1919, and mentions "Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Burford of Birralee, Albert Terrace, Glenelg".
After his wife's death, Burford sold the Glenelg, South Australia
beachfront mansion "Birralee", at 16 Albert Tce (now "Broadway") on the corner of "Seawall", (now called "The Esplanade"), in September 1921. The property had been mostly used by Mrs. Burford and her daughters. The sale notice suggests that the house would not remain intact; it is not clear when the house was demolished.
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...
metropolitan area.
Birralee, Belair
"Birralee" at Belair, South AustraliaBelair, South Australia
Belair is a suburb situated in the southern foothills of Adelaide, South Australia.-Geography:A leafy suburb, Belair was established during the settlement of Adelaide as a source of timber. Parts of Belair have views of the city of Adelaide, the Adelaide Plains and the coast...
was built in 1897 at 49 Sheoak Road, adjacent to Belair National Park
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...
, and overlooking the Adelaide Plains.
Burford lived in the house until his death in 1925. It was later the home of Beverley Burford Beale (later Robertson), then Scotch College, Adelaide
Scotch College, Adelaide
Scotch College is an independent, Uniting Church, co-educational, day and boarding school, located on two adjacent campuses in Torrens Park and Mitcham, inner-southern suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia....
, then Repatriation TB sanatorium (Repatriation Hospital "Birralee"
Repatriation General Hospital
Repatriation General Hospital is or was part of the name of a number of Australian hospitals:*Repatriation General Hospital, Concord , in the Sydney suburb of Concord, now called "Concord Repatriation General Hospital"...
, 1 Jan 1952 - 31 Dec 1976), then used as a government institution in the 1980s.
The well maintained beautiful house, located in well maintained grounds, is now once again a private home.
1925-1942 - Burford family
Various children of William Burford, and/or their families, continued living in the house after his death. The following is an incomplete list of people who, at one time or other, lived in the house during this period:- Mr and Mrs H C Park - (Evaline born 10 Feb 1976 married Horace Cansfield Park 11 November 1919.)
- Mr and Mrs J C Burford
- Gwenyth M Burford
- Alice Mary Burford married Octavius Cyril Beale of Vauclause, Sydney. Alice died 7 September 1925 at her residence, Birralee, Belair. Their two daughters lived at Birralee:
- Miss Beverley Burford Beale married Bruce Harper Robertson, 2 September 1939.
- Miss Megan Beale
- Miss Emmie Burford
It was announced in the Advertiser of 2 November 1939 that Mrs. H. Cansfield Park, Mrs. Bruce Harper Robertson, and Miss Burford will be "At Home" at Birralee, Belair, on November 10.
1942-1944 - Scotch College
On 1 April 1942, and Australian Army officer Captain Lewis, together with two U.S. Army officers, arrived at Scotch CollegeScotch College, Adelaide
Scotch College is an independent, Uniting Church, co-educational, day and boarding school, located on two adjacent campuses in Torrens Park and Mitcham, inner-southern suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia....
in Torrens Park
Torrens Park, South Australia
Torrens Park is a mainly residential inner-southern suburb of Adelaide, incorporating some of the foothills and adjacent to the original "Mitcham Village"....
and informed the Headmaster that they wished to inspect the college and its facilities to determine its suitability as an American army hospital. Lewis recommended that the American Army take possession of the college from 8 May (at the end of first term) until the cessation of hostilities. After considerable searching and investigation, two adjacent houses at Belair, Birralee and Brierley Lodge, were discovered, inspected and found to be suitable. The move from Torrens Park to Belair was executed during the school holidays, and the boarders and domestic staff moved in during the first week of second term. Four large marquees with wooden floors were erected on the drives and front lawns of the properties as classrooms. The arrival of 176 students, including 66 boarders, and 14 resident staff, "put a great strain on the water supply, the plumbing and the septic tanks".
Within a few weeks of the move to Belair, the tide of war in the Pacific turned with the allied naval victory at the Battle of the Coral Sea
Battle of the Coral Sea
The Battle of the Coral Sea, fought from 4–8 May 1942, was a major naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II between the Imperial Japanese Navy and Allied naval and air forces from the United States and Australia. The battle was the first fleet action in which aircraft carriers engaged...
in May 1942. The American military hospital never eventuated - "The Americans hauled down the stars and stripes at Torrens Park on 15 August". However, they were replaced by the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
, and the Torrens Park site became "RAAF Embarkation Depot No.4". In 1943, the tide of war changed again, and the college council asked the RAAF if it could look forward to the college reopening at Torrens Park in 1944. As late as 6 January 1944 the RAAF had still not made a decision, but the college council took "direct action" and the RAAF vacated by 15 January. Teaching resumed at Torrens Park on 15 February 1944.
1944-1952 - Belair TB Sanatorium
In February 1944, the Minister for Repatriation inspected proposed sites for the new TB Sanatorium. The President of the RSA, Major Millhouse, urged the Minister to acquire property at Birralee, Belair, which was formerly occupied by Scotch College. The Minister inspected the site and said that he was favourably impressed.The Repatriation Sanatorium was opened on 2 June 1945 by His Excellency the Governor, Sir Willoughby Norrie.
2011
| Main entrance |
Looking North over the Adelaide Plains |
West face |
| Rear (North face) |
Front (South face) |
Front (South face) |
Birralee, Glenelg
It is not clear when the house was built, or who built it. Burford lived at Birralee, Glenelg at least until the turn of the century.Eldest daughter Lilian May married Thomas, eldest son of Thos. Eyres Esq. of Perth, W.A. "on 13th October 1899 at the residence of the bride's parents, Birralee, Glenelg".
Burford commenced construction of Birralee, Belair in 1897.
The notice for the wedding on 11 November 1914 (also the Burford's 47th wedding anniversary) of youngest daughter "Allie Marian" to Octavius Cyril Beale, eighth son of Mr and the late Mrs Beale of "Llanarth", Burwood, NSW, mentions "Mr. and Mrs. William Burford of Birralee, Glenelg. Alice Mary died only 11 years later "at her home Birralee, Belair".
The notice for the wedding on 11 November 1918 (also the Burford's 51st wedding anniversary) of second daughter Evaline to "Sergeant Horace Cansfield, third son of Mr. Thomas Park, West Bridgford, Nottingham, England", is dated 15 January 1919, and mentions "Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Burford of Birralee, Albert Terrace, Glenelg".
After his wife's death, Burford sold the Glenelg, South Australia
Glenelg, South Australia
Glenelg 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...
beachfront mansion "Birralee", at 16 Albert Tce (now "Broadway") on the corner of "Seawall", (now called "The Esplanade"), in September 1921. The property had been mostly used by Mrs. Burford and her daughters. The sale notice suggests that the house would not remain intact; it is not clear when the house was demolished.