Oaklands McKinlay Avenue
| Place type: | Building |
|---|---|
| Address: | McKinlay Avenue |
| Town or Locality: | Gawler East |
| Used for: | Private Residence |
Oaklands, on McKinlay Avenue in Gawler East, is a distinguished home built by pastoralist James Pile in the late 1860s, known for its wide verandahs, elegant gardens. Explorer John McKinlay married Jane Pile, the daughter of house owner James Pile, at St George’s Church of England, Gawler, on 17 January 1863. John lived with his beloved Jane at Oaklands until his death at the early age of 53 on 31 December 1872. Jane, only 34 at the time, continued to live at Oaklands for a further 42 years until she died childless in 1914. Both are buried at the Willaston Cemetery.
After James Pile’s death, his wife Isabella (née McCauslin), remained in the home with her children, including the youngest child, Miss Jessie Pile. Jessie went on to outlive the rest of her immediate family and remained at Oaklands alone. Over time, she developed a reputation in Gawler as a colourful and somewhat eccentric character. She preferred to wear clothing styles from an earlier era, and kept mostly to herself, allowed only her fierce dogs to patrol the grounds. Jessie lived this way until her death in June 1931, at the age of 85.
At a later stage, the house was subdivided into two residences. One of the residences sold in 2018. Even divided into two homes, Oaklands still unites stories of exploration, wealth, and family history. The large underground well has a lot of history and still exists to this day
Please click here for photos of Oaklands, listed on Town of Gawler's Local Heritage list.
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