National Trust of South Australia return to long links with Ayers House: 2021 eviction reversed by Labor government

The National Trust of South Australian campaigned against the state Liberal government evicting the trust and its museum (see lower images) from 1846 Ayers House on North Terrace, Adelaide city, in 2021.
Images courtesy National Trust of South Australia

The National Trust of South Australia’s long association with Ayers House on North Terrace, Adelaide city, was officially revived in 2024 when the state Labor government overturned by law its eviction by the former Liberal government in 2021.

Formed in 1955, the National Trust of South Australia found its first headquarters at Ayers House in 1964. Previously, as it developed its structure and policy, and grew its membership from 509 in 1957 to 1,816 in 1964, the trust had office space provided, initially rent-free, by Geoffrey Clarke, in his accounting practice at 77 Grenfell Street, Adelaide city. The firm’s typists, Barbara Brumitt and Winsome Taylor, assisted with the work and one of Clarke’s two sons, Jeffery, became trust honorary secretary from 1958–64; later appointed to its council and executive committee member until 1969.

Some National Trust members had participated in the earlier delegations urging South Australian premier Tom Playford to save 1846 Austral House (the former name for Ayers House) from being demolished and first president Arthur Rymill was keen for the National Trust to occupy it. Playford kept his promise to consider the trust’s case when the building was vacated by Royal Adelaide Hospital nurses.

In 1964, Playford’s last year as premier, the trust’s headquarters were moved to the Coach House at Austral House. This signified “recognition that the trust has become firmly established and is making steady progress”. The National Trust became Ayers House caretaker in 1972 after being granted the site by premier Don Dunstan, The National Trust of South Australia set up and managed the Ayers House Museum, recreated a 19th Century mansion, with staffing largely by volunteers and displaying thousands of donated objects.

In  2021, after deciding to replace the Ayers House museum with $6 million offices for its History Trust of South Australia, the state Liberal government served a 30-day eviction notice on the National Trust. The trust’s museum at Ayers House was closed in September that year. The National Trust launched a petition and legal action against the order from then-environment minister David Speirs but was unsuccessful.

The new Labor environment minister Susan Close said the History Trust of South Australia plans for Ayers House had been shelved and, after a “comprehensive review”, the National Trust could move back to the property. She said the government was supporting the National Trust “to have a permanent home in Ayers House and we will work with the trust to return to running Ayers House as a place that brings to life South Australia’s history.

Close said the former government “waged war with those who care about heritage, including approving the demolition of Shed 26 in Port Adelaide and of the state heritage listed Waite Gatehouse, and evicting the National Trust after it spearheaded community campaigns against these decisions.”

The History Trust of South Australia, after being housed at the Torrens Parade Ground on King William Road, found a new home, also on North Terrace, in the former Kelvin House.