Mount Breckan
Encyclopedia
Mount Breckan is a grand 38-room residence, originally located on 160 acres (64.7 ha) in the south-coast town of Victor Harbor, South Australia
. It was designed by William McMinn
in a Gothic Revival style, and completed in 1881.
The house was one of the largest residences in Australia at that time, with a floor area of 19000 square feet (1,765.2 m²), sixty rooms, two cellars and a five-storey tower. It was commissioned by Alexander Hay
, a prominent politician, farmer, and wealthy Rundle Street
merchant, and cost ₤25,000 to build. It was originally used as a summer retreat. Hay died in 1898. In 1908 the house was destroyed by fire; due to inadequate insurance coverage, the Hay family did not rebuild the ruin. The following year Hay's widow and a daughter were lost on the ill-fated SS Waratah.
The house was acquired by W.F. Connell, and reconstructed
as the "Mount Breckan Club", a high-class guest house. By 1913 it had 38 rooms and a golf course. At the same time, 57 housing blocks on the estate were surveyed and sold. Later the Commonwealth Government
bought the house for use as a rehabilitation and training facility for the Royal Australian Air Force
. From 1962 to 1978 it served as a Bible college. By 1994 the house was in poor state with signs of damp in the walls and ceiling, and had been vandalised with windows smashed, door furniture stolen, gutters rusted and leaking into the house, and graffiti in nearly every room.
In 1996 Mount Breckan was bought by the Baron and Baroness of Ballintober
, who subsequently restored
the residence. Heritage master painter Clive Holden was commissioned to restore the entrance and staircase. Historic decorative techniques such as wood-graining
, marbling, and stencilling were used. The main part of the building is now used as their private residence, with the remainder of the building used for accommodation and functions.
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...
. It was designed by 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....
in a Gothic Revival style, and completed in 1881.
The house was one of the largest residences in Australia at that time, with a floor area of 19000 square feet (1,765.2 m²), sixty rooms, two cellars and a five-storey tower. It was commissioned by Alexander Hay
Alexander Hay (South Australian politician)
Alexander Hay was a South Australian merchant, pastoralist and politician.-Early career:Born in Dunfermline, Scotland, as a young man he gained free passage to South Australia when working as a "wharfer", arriving in May 1839. After working for only two years for the South Australia Company, he...
, a prominent politician, farmer, and wealthy Rundle Street
Rundle Street, Adelaide
Rundle Street is a street in the East End of Adelaide, South Australia. It runs from Pulteney Street in the west to East Terrace, where it becomes Rundle Road. Its former western extent, which ran to King William Street, was closed in 1972 to form the pedestrian street of Rundle Mall...
merchant, and cost ₤25,000 to build. It was originally used as a summer retreat. Hay died in 1898. In 1908 the house was destroyed by fire; due to inadequate insurance coverage, the Hay family did not rebuild the ruin. The following year Hay's widow and a daughter were lost on the ill-fated SS Waratah.
The house was acquired by W.F. Connell, and 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...
as the "Mount Breckan Club", a high-class guest house. By 1913 it had 38 rooms and a golf course. At the same time, 57 housing blocks on the estate were surveyed and sold. Later the Commonwealth Government
Government of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a federal constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democracy. The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901 as a result of an agreement among six self-governing British colonies, which became the six states...
bought the house for use as a rehabilitation and training facility for 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...
. From 1962 to 1978 it served as a Bible college. By 1994 the house was in poor state with signs of damp in the walls and ceiling, and had been vandalised with windows smashed, door furniture stolen, gutters rusted and leaking into the house, and graffiti in nearly every room.
In 1996 Mount Breckan was bought by the Baron and Baroness of Ballintober
Ballintober, County Roscommon
Ballintober is a village in County Roscommon, Ireland.Ballintober, County Roscommon, is 6 kilometers from the town of Castlerea. It contains a reasonably well preserved remains of a stone castle first mentioned in writing in 1311...
, who subsequently restored
Building restoration
Building restoration describes a particular treatment approach and philosophy within the field of architectural conservation. According the U.S...
the residence. Heritage master painter Clive Holden was commissioned to restore the entrance and staircase. Historic decorative techniques such as wood-graining
Graining
Graining is the practice of imitating woodgrain on a non-wood surface in order to increase that surface's aesthetic appeal. Graining was common in the 19th century, as people were keen on imitating hard, expensive woods by applying a superficial layer of paint onto soft, inexpensive woods. Graining...
, marbling, and stencilling were used. The main part of the building is now used as their private residence, with the remainder of the building used for accommodation and functions.
External links
- Photo of Mount Breckan in 2003
