Beresford Arms Inn: Keith inspects this redesign of some of the Adelaide City region of South Australia's history

188 Gilles Street is in the city now but a 170 odd years ago it was out in the sticks - literally. As we showed you a while back on Postcards, the Beresford Arms Inn was the first pub in Adelaide. That makes it an irreplaceable slice of urban history so the Adelaide City Council mounted a tricky and time-consuming renovation. That included a fascinating archaeological dig which turned up remnants of the time when this was a lonely establishment on a bullock track to the hills.

The Inn dates back to 1839 when it was the Beresford Arms and later the Oddfellows Inn. Its 'Tap Room' was a popular spot with timber cutters, bullock drivers and early pioneers. The restoration effort was epic with floors removed, ceilings repaired and walls shored up.

Two years on and the job is done. The archaeologists have moved out and the builders, plasterers and stonemasons have transformed the old pub. Heritage Architect, John Greenshield says it's been a tricky job but very rewarding.

The whole project was made even more urgent and difficult after fire nearly destroyed it all in 2002. Not only did it nearly burn down but its elderly owner Gordon was nearly lost in the fire. He was saved by the late Bob Wallace, an engineer working next door - he dragged him out with his hair on fire - he was nearly lost too. A plaque tells the story.

Andrew Steinkopf revelled in the job of restoring this slice of early Colonial history. And he got a pleasant surprise when they removed the 20th century verandah out the front. Under the flashing they found the original sign writing on the facade.

Andrew Steinkopf: "I think the publican's name (over the front door) is interesting. You can see where the signwriter was spacing all the letters out and then he started bunching them up, thinking they weren't going to fit. And then it didn't fit anyway so he just put the 'D' on the outside of the box."

So the Beresford Arms is open for business again - not as a pub but as an opportunity for an enterprising tenant. The Adelaide City Council is calling for expressions of interest for someone to occupy the building but retain some form of public access. For further details contact the agents, Brock Commercial. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au

Beresford Arms Inn
188 Gilles St
Adelaide

Published 1st Nov 2009