Kingston Historical House
Encyclopedia
Kingston Historical House is a pioneer house found in Kingston Park, South Australia
, a suburb of Adelaide, South Australia.
purchased eighty acre
s (32 hectare
s) of land in 1839 in the area now known as Kingston Park
. The house was built in two stages, firstly in 1840 and then in 1851. As such it is the oldest building in Holdfast Bay City Council
and one of the oldest in the state of South Australia.
In 1840 Kingston leased the premises to fellow Cygnet passenger, Robert Bristow, who began the first hotel in the Brighton-Marino district. Bristow was granted a licence to sell beer and wine in September 1840. Patronage for the inn was expected from fisherman, quarrymen and sailors given the nearby fishing village, newly opened quarry and newly built pier. Management changed hands in late 1841 to Mr Burslem who maintained it as the Marino Hotel and Boarding House until 1843. From then until 1851, Kingston leased the land to farmer Samual Oakley.
In 1851 Kingston undertook extensions and renovations in preparation for this to become his family's seaside holiday abode. Ownership was passed down to his son, Charles Kingston
, Premier of South Australia.
. The grounds have stunning views across Adelaide's metropolitan beaches and Gulf St Vincent. The house is surrounded by a small park, with picnic tables, barbecue facilities and a small playground. Tennis Courts are available for hire. The house is open Sunday afternoons for devonshire tea, and is also available for hire for private functions.
Kingston Park, South Australia
Kingston Park is a small beachside suburb, 17 km south of Adelaide. Kingston Park is within the City of Holdfast Bay and neighbouring suburbs are Marino, Seacliff and Brighton.-Overview:...
, a suburb of Adelaide, South Australia.
Early History 1840-1918
Sir George Strickland KingstonGeorge Strickland Kingston
Sir George Strickland Kingston arrived in South Australia on the Cygnet in 1836. He was the Deputy Surveyor to William Light, engaged to survey the new colony of South Australia.-Early life:...
purchased eighty acre
Acre
The acre is a unit of area in a number of different systems, including the imperial and U.S. customary systems. The most commonly used acres today are the international acre and, in the United States, the survey acre. The most common use of the acre is to measure tracts of land.The acre is related...
s (32 hectare
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
s) of land in 1839 in the area now known as Kingston Park
Kingston Park, South Australia
Kingston Park is a small beachside suburb, 17 km south of Adelaide. Kingston Park is within the City of Holdfast Bay and neighbouring suburbs are Marino, Seacliff and Brighton.-Overview:...
. The house was built in two stages, firstly in 1840 and then in 1851. As such it is the oldest building in Holdfast Bay City Council
City of Holdfast Bay
The City of Holdfast Bay is a Local Government Area in the south western coastal suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia.-Origins:The council was formed 1 January 1997, when the former councils of Glenelg and Brighton were amalgamated by the State government...
and one of the oldest in the state of South Australia.
In 1840 Kingston leased the premises to fellow Cygnet passenger, Robert Bristow, who began the first hotel in the Brighton-Marino district. Bristow was granted a licence to sell beer and wine in September 1840. Patronage for the inn was expected from fisherman, quarrymen and sailors given the nearby fishing village, newly opened quarry and newly built pier. Management changed hands in late 1841 to Mr Burslem who maintained it as the Marino Hotel and Boarding House until 1843. From then until 1851, Kingston leased the land to farmer Samual Oakley.
In 1851 Kingston undertook extensions and renovations in preparation for this to become his family's seaside holiday abode. Ownership was passed down to his son, Charles Kingston
Charles Kingston
Charles Cameron Kingston, Australian politician, was an early liberal Premier of South Australia serving from 1893 to 1899 with the support of Labor led by John McPherson from 1893 and Lee Batchelor from 1897 in the House of Assembly, winning the 1893, 1896, and 1899 state elections against the...
, Premier of South Australia.
Government ownership 1919-
The land and building was purchased in 1919 by the State Government of South Australia, upon Lucy Kingston's (widow of Charles) death. A major restoration was undertaken in 1983.Current status
The building is now set on a 3 acres (12,140.6 m²) reserve sitting atop the Kingston Beach Cliff FaceKingston Park, South Australia
Kingston Park is a small beachside suburb, 17 km south of Adelaide. Kingston Park is within the City of Holdfast Bay and neighbouring suburbs are Marino, Seacliff and Brighton.-Overview:...
. The grounds have stunning views across Adelaide's metropolitan beaches and Gulf St Vincent. The house is surrounded by a small park, with picnic tables, barbecue facilities and a small playground. Tennis Courts are available for hire. The house is open Sunday afternoons for devonshire tea, and is also available for hire for private functions.