Martindale Hall
Encyclopedia
Martindale Hall is a Georgian style mansion
near Mintaro, South Australia
which appeared in the film Picnic at Hanging Rock
. It was built in 1879. The architect was Ebenezer Gregg of London
, and the chief supervisor was Adelaide
architect Edward John Woods. Due to the specialist nature of the work involved, 50 of the 60 tradesmen used were brought from England
, and they returned when it was completed.
It was built for a wealthy bachelor pastoralist, 21 year-old Edmund Bowman Jr. However, debt and drought soon forced the Bowmans to sell all their holdings. William Tennant Mortlock (son of William Ranson Mortlock
) bought Martindale Hall in 1892. His son, John Andrew Tennant Mortlock, developed Martindale Station and built up an impressive collection of artwork which was displayed at the Hall. The Mortlock Family bequeathed Martindale Hall and the estate to the University of Adelaide
in 1965.
The building is currently leased to John Maguire, who has developed Martindale Hall into a heritage museum and boutique hotel. A $A1,600,000 renovation project in 2002 repaired salt damp
damage and returned the Hall to near-original condition. The hall is now located within the 45 acres (18.2 ha) Martindale Hall Conservation Park, which is itself within the original 11000 acres (4,451.5 ha) Martindale Station, still an active sheep station
.
Mansion
A mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. real estate brokers define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms...
near Mintaro, South Australia
Mintaro, South Australia
' is an historic town in the eastern Clare Valley, about 128 km north of Adelaide, South Australia. The town lies at the south-eastern corner of the Hundred of Clare.-History:...
which appeared in the film Picnic at Hanging Rock
Picnic at Hanging Rock (film)
Picnic at Hanging Rock is a 1975 Australian feature film directed by Peter Weir and starring Anne-Louise Lambert, Helen Morse, Rachel Roberts and Vivean Gray. The film is adapted from the novel of the same name, by author Joan Lindsay....
. It was built in 1879. The architect was Ebenezer Gregg of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and the chief supervisor was Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
architect Edward John Woods. Due to the specialist nature of the work involved, 50 of the 60 tradesmen used were brought from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and they returned when it was completed.
It was built for a wealthy bachelor pastoralist, 21 year-old Edmund Bowman Jr. However, debt and drought soon forced the Bowmans to sell all their holdings. William Tennant Mortlock (son of William Ranson Mortlock
William Ranson Mortlock
William Ranson Mortlock arrived in South Australia on the Imaum of Muscat on 9 November 1843. Along with his son, William Tennant Mortlock , grandson, John Andrew Tennant Mortlock , and John's wife Dorothy Elizabeth Mortlock , the Mortlocks have left the Waite Agricultural Research Institute, the...
) bought Martindale Hall in 1892. His son, John Andrew Tennant Mortlock, developed Martindale Station and built up an impressive collection of artwork which was displayed at the Hall. The Mortlock Family bequeathed Martindale Hall and the estate to the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
in 1965.
The building is currently leased to John Maguire, who has developed Martindale Hall into a heritage museum and boutique hotel. A $A1,600,000 renovation project in 2002 repaired salt damp
Rising damp (structural)
Structural dampness refers to the presence of unwanted moisture in the structure of a building, either the result of intrusion from outside or condensation from within the structure....
damage and returned the Hall to near-original condition. The hall is now located within the 45 acres (18.2 ha) Martindale Hall Conservation Park, which is itself within the original 11000 acres (4,451.5 ha) Martindale Station, still an active sheep station
Sheep station
A sheep station is a large property in Australia or New Zealand whose main activity is the raising of sheep for their wool and meat. In Australia, sheep stations are usually in the south-east or south-west of the country. In New Zealand the Merinos are usually in the high country of the South...
.