Turner Street 3
| Place type: | Building |
|---|---|
| Address: | 3 Turner Street |
| Town or Locality: | Gawler East |
DESCRIPTION:
This grand, elevated High Victorian villa is situated on a generous allotment overlooking an escarpment to Duffield Street. It is constructed of overpainted rubble sandstone with overpainted brick dressings. The hipped roof is clad with corrugated galvanised iron. Windows are timber-framed, double-hung multi-paned sashes. The return verandah is elevated and features carved timber detailing and balustrade. A large double-storey stone and brick stable and small shed, to Turner Street, are also of note.
STATEMENT OF HERITAGE VALUE:
Constructed in 1868 by notable builder to Gawler, WS Turner, the fine high Victorian era villa at 3 Turner Street, Gawler East, dates from Gawler’s initial boom period and demonstrates the uptake and development of the ‘Nob Hill’ area with premium residences for the town’s successful businessmen. The property is associated with a number of prominent people including WS Taylor and Mrs Ina ‘Pat’ Harbison.
BRIEF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
The site comprises a portion of Allotments 397 and 402 of Section 4 (Hundred of Nuriootpa) laid out as Gawler East. The combined allotments are bounded by Duffield and Turner Streets.
At the time of incorporation Gawler East (East Ward) comprised the area between Murray Street and the western boundary of the glebe land and from the North Para to the South Para River.
In August 1849 E N Emmett & Co auctioneers announced that on 13 September they would be conducting an auction on behalf of William Paxton esq. of 500 allotments of land averaging from a quarter to five acres each. Late the property of Messrs Jermingham (sic) and Wright. 100-200 of the allotments were located in the vicinity of Calton’s Old Spot Hotel with the balance one and five acre plots adjoining. A tent was to be erected at the rear of Mr Calton’s Hotel and a good Old English Lunch was to be provided at the proprietor’s expense.
Between 1858 and 1865 various bundles of allotments and properties were offered for sale on behalf of Mr Auld (and later his estate) and Mr Paxton, with interest and demand increasing in the latter years.
In Jan 1867 the allotment (with others) was purchased by William Stephen Taylor (1826-84), builder and councillor for East Ward (1870-71 ). The original dwelling was built in 1868 by Taylor who established the building firm of Taylor and Ponder (later Taylor and Forgie) in the 1860s and was active in the business until his death. In the early 1870’s Taylor and Forgie extended their business to include undertaking in addition to carpentry and building, which is still in operation in Gawler today.
The property transferred to Henry Charles Taylor, William Roe Lewis and Peter Lewis in 1891, followed by Eliza Taylor (later Inkster) also in July 1891. On her death in 1914 it transferred to Henry Charles Taylor and Arthur Leslie Jaffrey, then briefly to Thomas Berrett (Barossa Goldfields farmer) in January 1915 and then to Margaret Day in February 1916.
In June 1958 it was purchased by John Harbison (medical practitioner) and his wife Ina ‘Pat’ Harbison. At the age of 50, after initially working as a teacher and raising four children, Pat undertook a Master’s Degree in Environmental Studies, later forming her own consultancy ‘pH environment’ monitoring water quality and marine pollution. At the same time Pat was very active in the local community, particularly on issues pertaining to the protection of the historic and natural environment. She was a member of Gawler Council’s Central Ward for seven years (1979-1985) rising to the positions of Alderman and later Deputy Mayor of Gawler and is notable for her involvement in drafting a ‘Tree Policy’ for the town of Gawler.
Following her retirement in 2002, she took an active interest in Gulf St Vincent, starting the community group ‘Friends of Gulf St Vincent’ and co-authoring the publication ‘The Natural History of Gulf St Vincent’ in 2008. In 2012 she was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to marine conservation in South Australia.
Please <click here> for photos of 3 Turner Street.
Acknowledgments
This report has been prepared by the following people:
• Nancy Cromar (Flightpath Architects)
• Deborah Morgan (Flightpath Architects)
• Kate Paterson (Flightpath Architects)
• Douglas Alexander (Flightpath Architects)
The study team would like to acknowledge the assistance of the following people:
• David Petruzzella (Strategic Planner; Town of Gawler)
• Jacinta Weiss (Cultural Heritage Centre Coordinator; Town of Gawler)
• Jane Strange (Senior Development and Strategic Policy Officer; Town of Gawler)
Gawler History Team Inc. thanks:
Flightpath Architects, Ryan Viney and the Town of Gawler for allowing us access to this important document of Gawler History.
www.flightpatharchitects.com.au
Please <click here> to read a Bunyip newspaper story regarding 3 Turner Street being heritage-protected (9 Dec 2020).
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Related Articles
References
- Gawler Rate Assessment Books East Ward
- LTO Certificate of Title CT 95/60
- Hignett & Co 1981
- Register 5 June 1857 p3
- Adelaide Times 27 March 1858 p4.
- Observer 7 May 1859
- Advertiser 5 March 1861 p4
- SA Advertiser 6 June 1865 p2
- SA Gazette & Mining Journal 30 Aug 1849
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