Mansions of Adelaide - Carramar

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Carramar is a magnificent mansion at 179 Greenhill Road Parkside (corner of George Street), one of only three mansions remaining along the edge of the parklands.

After European settlement the land was originally owned by the South Australian Company and a house was built in 1847.

In 1886, a ten room house was built for Robert Gardiner. By 1909, James and Johanna Gosse (nee Barr Smith) owned the property. At this time Greenhill Rd was known as Park Terrace.



The majority of the present structure dates from around 1910, and it was formerly known as St Margaret's when occupied by James Hay Gosse and his family. Mr. Gosse was a solicitor and the managing director of G&R Wills and Co and was on the board of the Adelaide Steamship Company. A prominent businessman, he was knighted in 1947.



In 1931, there was a report of the house being used to host a dance for 70 young people .

In 1933 the upper echelons of society gathered again, reported by The Mail : THIS has been a week of farewells to Capt. T. E. Barr Smith, the Governor's A.D.C, Miss Ursula Barr Smith, and Mr. Jimmy Gosse, who sailed for London by the Strathaird yesterday. Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Goese gave a cocktail party for them at St. Margaret's, Park terrace, Parkside, and there was a gathering of the clans, including Mr. and Mrs. T. E. Barr Smith, Gen. Sir Reginald and Lady Buckland, and Mrs. Richard Legoe.



The Gosse family lived in the house until the 1950s when it was converted to a hospital, and later a mental health clinic.

Carramar has been used over the last 45 years by the Department of Health but is now empty and to be sold.



The house has been recognised as a fine example of uncommon Federation/Queen Anne domestic architecture style, for its use of materials and a high level of building craftsmanship.

Although listed as a State heritage site, the Weatherill government is relaxing restrictions to make it easier for developers to demolish places like this. Even the State Liberals , not normally known for opposing development have criticised the sale of this beautiful building.



Unley Liberal MP David Pisoni is on record saying he feared new development on the site would lead to the demolition of an iconic piece of South Australian History.

The National Trust has placed Carramar in top position on its Heritage @ Risk 2012 list. To my knowledge this is the only current activity to help protect this piece of South Australian history.

Of course you could write to your MP. But given the complete lack of government action to protect the former Jade Monkey venue I cannot imagine that Premier Weatherill or Planning Minister Rau will take the slightest interest.

For now all that it seems you can do is enjoy viewing the building. While it still exists.

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