Ayers House, Adelaide

Ayers House, originally known as Austral House, is a historic mansion located on North Terrace in Adelaide. The mansion is a significant example of colonial architecture and has been preserved as an important heritage site. Named after Sir Henry Ayers, a prominent figure who served as Premier of South Australia five times and was a successful industrialist, the house was his residence from 1855 until he died in 1897.

The mansion was originally built in 1846 for William Paxton, an Adelaide chemist, as a modest nine-room brick cottage. Its design is attributed to Sir George Strickland Kingston, a notable architect of the colony, who likely drew inspiration from the work of British architect Robert Kerr. The house is constructed of local bluestone and reflects the Regency style, a popular architectural approach of the period.

Sir Henry Ayers leased the property in 1855 and undertook significant expansions during the 1860s, transforming it into a grand 40-room mansion, with the final touches completed in 1876. The mansion's interiors are lavishly decorated, featuring hand-painted ceilings, stenciled woodwork, and examples of trompe l’oeil, a technique that creates the optical illusion of three-dimensionality. These decorative elements, along with the memorabilia from the Ayers family, underscore the wealth and status of its occupants.

Ayers House also played a role in South Australia's political history. During Ayers' tenure as Premier, the mansion hosted cabinet meetings, parliamentary dinners, and grand balls. It was one of the first properties in Adelaide to be equipped with gas lighting, and Ayers even commissioned a basement to escape the intense heat of Adelaide summers.

The house was officially listed on the South Australian Heritage Register in July 1980, ensuring its preservation as a key part of Adelaide's historical and architectural heritage. Today, Ayers House stands as the only surviving mansion on North Terrace, offering visitors a glimpse into the opulent lifestyle of one of South Australia's most influential figures and a fine example of 19th-century colonial architecture.