HERITAGE LIVING - National Trust of Australia

Heritage Livingnational TRust of South AustraliaAdvocacy: Beresford ArmsLeft to right: Beresford Arms exterior, interior and rear. Photo Marcus Beresford.Restoration of historic inna model approachMarcus BeresfordThe “Beresford Arms” at 188 Gilles St Adelaideis certainly the oldest purpose-built inn in SA,and arguably the oldest intact building in Adelaide.It has remained relatively unchanged since itsconstruction in 1839-40, and although parts ofHoly Trinity Church on North Terrace predate it,that building was completely reconstructed inthe 1880s.It is one of the very few modest private buildingsremaining from the earliest colonial period, withmost survivors being institutional or governmentedifices. As one of the few buildings of the scaleand appearance captured so well by early colonialartist ST Gill in his depictions of Adelaide’sbeginnings, it helps us imagine what living in theperiod was actually like.The site has an impressive pedigree - ColonelWilliam Light acquired town acre 597 in Adelaideby auction in 1837, and his partner and beneficiaryMaria Gandy sold it soon after his death in 1839to a John Martin. Martin constructed what wasprobably initially a single room on the east of thepresent building, extending it to a wide hallwayor bar room with kitchen to the rear, and later along room to the west which became the bar. Acellar underneath was reached through a trapdooron the rear east veranda, or down a (now closed)narrow stair from the bar area.Now just up Gilles Street from Pulteney St, theinn with its rare original Georgian-style frontfacade was once strategically located by the GreatEastern Road, then a dirt track snaking throughthe bush which still covered that part of Adelaide.The origin of the name is uncertain, but waspossibly after General William Beresford whowas famous for his conduct of the bloody battle ofAlbuera in Portugal during the Peninsula Wars.Col. Light fought alongside him, as would haveother local veterans of these wars. In any casehe was a popular hero of the time (equivalent topresent day league footballers or Shane Warne)with tobacco cards carrying his image even inthose days.Despite its State Heritage listing, the property wasin a serious state of disrepair until recently, whenit was purchased by the Adelaide City Counciland conservation works undertaken with Stategovernment grant assistance. The previous ownerhad sought its de-listing with a view to sale. Tracesof the original signage were found when the façadewas stripped back, along with the painted name ofthe publican of 1846, William Moorehead. One ofthe front double doors was found elsewhere on thepremises, and re-instated with a matching copy.Inside the slightly uneven and bumpy “coffered”plaster and lath ceilings remain, giving immediateatmosphere along with the mixture of new andoriginal floorboards. Signs of a fire to woodworkhave been retained in the kitchen area, and asection of wall has been left bare, showing theheavy limestones used and mud mortar.Interestingly the cellar had been filled in, and uponrestoration was found to fill with 30cm of waterduring winter, so a sump and automatic pumphave been installed to keep it dry.The property has been advertised for tendersaround the low $400,000s, and it is understoodseveral offers are under consideration. Thefuture development or use of the property and itsmoderate-sized back yard will be partly controlledby its listing. The story of this building and itsrestoration is an outstanding recent model of howthe community and government can work togetherto ensure a good outcome for important heritage.page 16