Mackereth Cottage

Mackereth Cottage

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Posted 2012-05-14 by Dave Walshfollow
About thirty minutes south of Adelaide is a hidden piece of South Australia's history with a touching story - one of SA's earliest homes.



In 1838 George Mackereth, a 28 year old farmer from Devon, England arrived in Adelaide two short years after the colony was settled by Europeans. It must have seemed a strange and inhospitable land for him.

Nineteen year old Sarah O'Brien had also come out to South Australia on the barque Royal Admiral, and not long after their arrival, they were married in the newly built Trinity Church on North Terrace. The event was reported in the SA Gazette at the time.

In 1839 George built a hut from local sandstone on the banks of Scott Creek and planted vegetables and three fruit trees - an apple, pear and mulberry. These trees are now over 160 years old, and are still growing adjacent to .



While successfully farming his 240 acre plot Mackereth developed ties with the local Kaurna people, helping them out with food and water when he could. At times when he made the 2 day horse and buggy trip to Adelaide to sell his produce, the Kaurna would camp around the house to provide company for Sarah and protect her.

Life in the young colony must have been very different then. When George Mackereth failed to pick up a letter his name was one of many listed in the South Australian Register as having unclaimed mail.



George Mackereth died on June 27 1864 after being attacked by his bull and sustaining blood poisoning, but Sarah continued to work the farm with her children until her death in 1882.

When the Mackereth family sold the property in 1919 it was described in the #pstart4104347 ">SA Register as a "Well-built Stone House of 4 Rooms, Kitchen, Dairy, and Outhouses, substantial Stock-yards, and subdivided into 4 Paddocks, all well fenced. There is running water throughout the Section, and several acres of well-grown established Fruit Garden."

Despite being damaged in a bushfire in 1876, was occupied continuously until 1976 when it was taken over and maintained by the National Trust until 1984.



In 2001 the cottage reverted to SA Water ownership as it is located in a catchment area, but tragically was subsequently damaged by vandals and burnt out. It is now a ruin.

is a reminder of how South Australia's early European settlers struggled and succeeded in a difficult environment, while still maintaining the trust and friendship of the traditional land owners.

For more information and pictures of and the surrounding Scott Creek Conservation Park , see the helpful Friends of Scott Creek Conservation Park web page here .



The State Heritage listed Mackereth cottage is now slowly crumbling on private SA Water property. It is visible from the Matthews Road, but entering the property is prohibited. There is an interpretive sign to tell the history of the cottage.

While in the area it's worthwhile taking a look at the Almanda Silver Mine a short distance away. Scott Creek Conservation Park is also a beautiful area to explore, but pets are not permitted and baits have been laid.

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208609 - 2023-06-16 06:12:38

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