Cummins House: Keith visits John Morphett's home in the Adelaide Coast region of South Australia
Cummins House is a magnificent house tucked away in Novar Gardens. You've probably heard the name of the bloke that built it. John Morphett - as in Morphettville, Morphett Street, even the nearby racecourse.
John Morphett was in on the ground floor of the new Colony of South Australia. As an agent for the South Australian Company he arrived just a few weeks after Colonel William Light. He even helped Light select the site for Adelaide - so he had plenty of opportunity to secure himself a land grant of 134 acres along the Sturt River. His wife, Elizabeth, was an early arrival too arriving on the Buffalo. They married soon after and in 1842 built Cummins House, named after John's mother's farm in Devonshire, and so began the long connection between the family and the house.
Joy Dunning, Guide: "Five generations of the Morphett family have lived here right up until 1977 when it was bought by the South Australian Government who in turn leased it to the West Torrens Council. It is the oldest home in the West Torrens Council area."
Cummins House is now a living example of what life was like in a well-to-do house in the 19th century and it's all lovingly attended by a group of enthusiastic volunteers who are proud of the house's place in our state's history.
Joy Dunning, Guide: "John and Elizabeth had a large family - there were 6 girls and 5 boys but one of them died in infancy. They had a very spirited times here. John Morphett was very much involved in racing horse, stud farms and so on. He was very keen that the children should know the classics, he read to them and was very involved in their education."
Much more than a museum, much of the furniture in the house is original. Take the grand dining room for example with its beautiful sideboard and long cedar table, it looks much as it did 150 years ago.
Joy Dunning, Guide: "This is the original dining table and chairs. Of course the Morphetts had six daughters and four sons so they had this large dining table to accommodate the whole family. This room was very much as it was way back in the days of Sir John and Lady Morphett."
That includes the beautiful bay window - where Sir John and Lady Morphett often had breakfast basking in the morning sun. The little half circle table has a special place in history - it's made from timber salvaged from the Buffalo after it was wrecked off the coast of New Zealand.
You get a real sense of the family as you wander around the house. In the master bedroom for example, Lady Morphett's dressing table is still as it would have been - complete with appropriate adornments for such an important lady's boudoir.
Joy Dunning, Guide: "This is the Master Bedroom, it's not the original bed. The original bed was a massive 4-poster bed and it was very high so they needed steps to actually climb into bed. But they are not just steps - if you were caught short during the night you only have top pull out this and lift the lid and there you are - there's a commode."
The real show stopper is the drawing room - a grand circular room added in 1854.
Sir John was President of the Legislative Council so there would have been plenty of entertaining in this beautifully elegant room. Only the best brocade would do for the pride of place ottoman and the rich gold and chocolate design of the carpet was specially woven for the house.
Joy Dunning, Guide: "The house was built in 1854 then in 1855 Elizabeth, plus her 10 children and two maids headed off for England and they were away from about 18 months. And in that time they bought a lot of the furnishings for the house."
Money wasn't a problem thanks to the copper boom at Burra. Sir John was a big share-holder of course which is why the Morphett Engine House up there is named after him. He helped found the SA Jockey Club, was a member of the Botanic Gardens Board and swam most mornings at Glenelg. The first competitive cricket game was played here on Easter Monday, 1853. which led to the formation of the Adelaide Cricket Club.
Joy Dunning, Guide: "This piano was given to Elizabeth Morphett who later became Lady Morhett by her father, James Fisher. It's a Collard and Collard. The children used this for their special concerts and they were all accomplished musicians - either with instruments of piano forte."
We can all lap up the elegance of Cummins House as it's open a couple of Sunday's per month. But if you really want to get into the spirit book a spot for High Tea where you can become a 'lady or gentleman of distinction' with a glass of bubbly and an afternoon of indulgence.
Cummins House is open between 2 and 4.30 on the first and third Sunday of the month - entry fee includes Devonshire tea. The High Tea is held on various Wednesdays - contact Cummins House for details. The house and gardens are also available for functions - like weddings and conferences. Contact 8294 1939. If you have any further question please email info@postcards-sa.com.au
Cummins House
Sheoak Ave
Novar Gardens
Ph 08 8294 1939Published 27th March 2011
