Glenelg Walking Tour: Keith explores some of the history "old and new" of Glenelg in the Adelaide Coast region of South Australia
The mention of Glenelg conjures up thoughts of the cooling beach, crowed jetty, Moseley Square and the shops and cafes of Jetty Road. But we've found a local couple who promise to uncover the 'other' Glenelg."
Meet Jan and Graham Smith - together they are 'Glenelg Footsteps' running personalized walks around their patch. Their slogan is 'walk the talk' and that's exactly what they do when we met them at where South Australia started - the Patawalonga. But as Graham explained, it looked very different then.
Graham Smith, 'Glenelg Footsteps': "If we were here in late 1836, the Buffalo would have been out in Holdfast Bay - Holdfast Bay named because the ship, the Rapid originally held fast in Holdfast Bay."
The sand dunes have long given way to rows of million dollar mansions - not to mention the flotilla of just as expensive boats moored out front. The new Pat kicks off the theme of today's walking tour - 'Glenelg's mansions - old and new'. We find a good example in nearby Partridge Street.
Jan Smith, 'Glenelg Footsteps': "We love to include Partridge House on our tours because it really is a representative sample of grand houses of the day."
Built in 1899, Partridge House was saved from the bulldozers in the 70s when the local council bought it for a function centre and recreation park.
Down another side street and between the houses we find what was a former school.
Jan Smith, 'Glenelg Footsteps': "This was the Kingston School for Girls and it started in 1892. Mrs. Kingston, who ran the school with her daughter, was the wife of Strickland Gough Kingston who was the brother of Charles Cameron Kingston - the famous premier and Federationist. The School closed in 1928 and Mrs. Kingston died in 1929. It's a real piece of Bay history."
Down on the Esplanade we find another historic mansion. Jan Smith, 'Glenelg Footsteps': "The Esplanade used to be known as Albert Terrace and Albert Hall was built in 1878 for William Kyffin Thomas. He was one of the first settler families … and was part owner of the Adelaide Observer and Register.
"They say he was a lovely gentile kindly man but he suffered from health problems so he moved down to Glenelg for his health and got this house built and unfortunately died the same year it was built."
It's had a number of lives since - it was the Oriental Hotel for a while and a backpacker's hostel - it's now been meticulously restored as private residences. Further towards the jetty - another big story if you look behind the holiday flats…
Graham Smith, 'Glenelg Footsteps': "This is the former summer residence of Henry Ayres and Thomas Elder - built in 1876. Henry Ayres was Premier and Thomas Elder the philanthropist."
As the early photo shows - it was a major landmark smack bank on the foreshore.
"There were two residences - they each had 5 rooms and they shared the central tower. Both of them were in their fifties when they built it. This was their 'summer residence' for when they popped down to the bay."
Jan and Graham save the best till last. Welcome to Glenara - a truly magnificent mansion.
Graham Smith, 'Glenelg Footsteps': "This was built in the 1870s and you can see that it's on a fairly high sand hill here and it's got a fairly commanding view of the whole bay and all the way down to the city of Glenelg."
Jan Smith, 'Glenelg Footsteps': "The home was built for a William Hill and when he died it remained in his family's hands until 1990. It's only had two owners since then."
Amazing to think that it was in one family's hands for more than a century - you can just image them up the tower watching the clippers come in. What we've see on this brief tour harks back to the days when Glenelg was the State's premier seaside resort - and you can see why it probably still is.
Jan and graham from Glenelg Footsteps will tailor make a walk for you. They operate on Monday and Wednesdays or by appointment. Tours last about 2 hours and cost $20 per person. Bookings are essential on 8294 0347 If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au
Glenelg Footsteps
Mondays & Wednesdays
$20 pp
Bookings 8294 0347
Mob 0417 859 782Published 27th June 2010
