Estcourt House has been a landmark along the seafront, on Military Road, since 1882. It was built by Frederick and Rosa Bucknall and reported to have cost £15000. Estcourt house was given Frederick’s second name.
The House
Estcourt House was built for the large Bucknall family, with 17 rooms to accommodate eleven children and eight servants. The house is in the area now known as Tennyson, but when it was built the suburb was part of Grange. It was reported that the location was chosen because of Frederick Bucknall’s interest in a scheme to connect the Port River to the sea by constructing an artificial canal, and the house was built with a view to the location of the planned canal.
It was designed by architect Ernest Bayer, built ‘in the English style’, with walls over 18 inches thick constructed from Dry Creek stone. A large slate verandah surrounded the house. The Bucknall family coat of arms was installed in the hallway.
Frederick Bucknall
Frederick Bucknall was a well known local businessman. He arrived in South Australia around 1860, and set himself up in Port Adelaide. Here Frederick built a boatshed and established the South Australian Club Hotel. He married Rosa Haussen, the widow of Henry Haussan of the brewers, Haussen and Company, in 1874. The marriage led to Frederick’s partnership in the Hindmarsh Brewery, and also to his growing family’s need to relocate.
While the canal scheme never came to fruition Frederick was also involved in various projects that saw the development of Henley Beach and Grange, including the building of their jetties. Along with his business interests Frederick played an active role in local sporting communities, acting as President for Hindmarsh Cricket Club and establishing what is now the Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron. He served as Mayor of Hindmarsh Corporation from 1881-1883, and was an MP from 1881-1884.
A home to Many
Frederick Bucknall sold Estcourt House to the Australian Mutual Provident Society (now AMP) in 1886 due to financial difficulties. The building was then empty until the James Brown Memorial Trust purchased it in 1894 and turned Estcourt House into a home for the elderly and for disabled children. A long write up in the Adelaide Observer that same year extolls the virtues of the home, detailing the arrangements made for the 27 ‘inmates’. Schooling was provided for the children staying at Estcourt House, and over the years the number of children resident increased.
By 1931 Escourt House was operating as a convalescent home for children, with no elderly residents. The home provided a place for children recovering from medical treatment, or suffering from a serious illness or medical condition. It is referred to in various newspaper reports with reference to the ‘Children’s Hospital’, which built a new ward at Escourt House that year to accommodate 28 patients. After several years of working closely together Escourt House was formerly taken over by the Adelaide Children’s Hospital in 1955.
The House continued to provide a home and care in various forms for most of the twentieth century. In 1978 the government-run Strathmont Centre took over Estcourt House to accommodate adults with intellectual disabilities. In 1981 Ru Rua Nursing Home took over and renovated the building to house children with intellectual disabilities. Estcourt House closed in 1989.
Recent Years
Estcourt House remained empty for some years following its closure as a home. The building received heritage listing in 1990. Epic Group owner Peter Jurkovich substantially renovated the building in the late 1990s. His recent development plans to knock down the building have sparked an outcry in the local community and media.
I spent time there when I was between 8 and 10 years old. The doctor sent me there for my asthma but I really think it was the stress caused by the domestic violence feat out by my father. There were lots of broken kids there. I remember Trevor in the next bed to me. He was very broken mentally and Nurse Northcote. She was bloody awesome. I suppose that would have been mid 70’s. Thinking about it I was in the ward of mentally affected kids. Down the other end we’re all the kids in plaster and skating along the floor.
Hi Vanessa, I am trying to find out when I was at Estcourt house, which would have been around the same time. I was around the same age, was born 1962, and in there for Asthma also. I can’t remember much, but can remember the bat mobile visiting one day, being very homesick as I was from Port Augusta, didn’t have family visit only on weekends due to travel and work, and some of the other poor souls in there with major disabilities. I also hated the baths as it was cold and only about 1 inch of water in the bottom. Not my happiest times unfortunately but I have not suffered Asthma at all since so something must have worked. I do remember my Doctor, Dr Munro Ford, and I think it was his recommendation I go there for two weeks. If anyone has any information or history. Doesn’t seem to be much on the internet I can find.
Thanks for sharing Vanessa, it sounds like a difficult time, glad to hear there was a good nurse. I hope it was the beginning of better things for you.
Hello I’m looking for a staff member from 1986,we shared a house in grange. I only knew him for a short time but he asked me to look after his 21st present for him when he moved house .I have been looking after his present for 31 years and would love to give it back to him .I only knew him as POON TANG his knick name he can find me on facebook Debbie Pearce just in case he doesnt remember my name .
Sounds like quite a search Deb,
Have you tried looking through Find and Connect? https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/guide/sa/SE00152
Catherine
Hello,
I was hoping you could assist me with finding information relating to my stay in Escort House in the early 1960’s. I spent time their as a patient with Polio neuritis and would like to know how long I stayed and how many times I was admitted.
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks David
Hi David,
We don’t have those records unfortunately, but I recommend taking a look at this website for more – https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/
I had the privilege of spending my working holiday at RuRua. I came from England and I lived at 5/72 Military Road. I made many friends, some I have lost touch with. I would love to be back in touch with the special people that made it the best year and job I have ever had. Can you tell me the name of the film that was filmed at Ru Rua, anyone?
Hi Rustymunday,
I believe the Movie “Struck by Lightning” was filmed at Estcourt House. You might find this website of interest if you are trying to track information about people – https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/
I had the privilege of spending my working holiday at RuRua. I came from England and I lived at 5/72 Tennyson Road. I made many friends, some I have lost touch with. I would love to be back in touch with the special people that made it the best year and job I have ever had. Can you tell me the name of the film that was filmed at Ru Rua, anyone?
nurse young are you out there too.i talking late /mid 70s
Yeah,spent a while there.Trying to find old mates,mark metheringham are you out there mate ?
My Dad spent a number of years there in the 20’s and 30’s – much of it in plaster from neck to knees. Apparently the kids used to get themselves over the sand dunes, and the staff could never work out how they got so much sand in their casts. Later, they did a lot of swimming.
That’s a fantastic image Anne, kids climbing the sand dunes. Thanks for sharing your dad’s story.
Researching Estcourt House area for a novel I am writing. I grew up in Glen Osmond, now retired, & living in Indonesia . I did live for a while on the foreshore at West Lakes, in 1974/5, in a flat in a block that was one of the very first buildings there. Interesting that Bucknall’s dream of a waterway did eventuate in the form of West Lakes. Not quite what he envisioned though.
Thanks for sharing Ian, I wonder what Bucknall would have made of Westlakes?!
I worked at Estcourt House as an R.N . in 1968 & 1969 with Matron Wright and I have very happy memories. We also had children like Ernest but not in plaster for so long – and when the plaster was removed we carried them down to the sea; for what is now known as hydrotherapy. Early pioneers?? Taking the children to the Christmas pageant all decked out in brand new clothing that Matron kept upstairs in the beautiful room with marble fireplaces. Great days.
Thanks for sharing those memories Christine, it would have been interesting work.
I spent 7 years in Estcourt House., 6 of those stapped in a frame unable to move my body or legs . I learned to draw and paint and do craft work there. I had some good experiences there and the staff very good.
That must have been a difficult experience to go through Ernest, glad you have some good memories of that time.
I was a patient at Estcourt House. though the 2nd world war years
What was up the top of the stairs,I remember going inside this house in the 1990s and remember it had a set of stairs that must have gone up to this glassed skylight.was this a space where patients were?