Marble Hill

OK - so we all know about Old Government House in the Belair NP - built in 1861  as a summer residence and general getaway for the Governors of South Australia. 

They used it for roughly 20 years, until it was deemed too small, too close to the government farm (right across the road) and nowhere near grand enough for the (self perceived) ever increasing importance of the  Governor of South Australia.  So they built this place - a 16 room mansion called Marble Hill.  Unfortunately Marble Hill burnt down in the bush fires of 1955 - almost incinerating the incumbent Governor of the day.  He and his family escaped with just the clothes on their back.

Fast forward 25 years or so, and it's now in private hands, but the terms of the sale are such that it must be opened to the public for 7 days each year. 

It so happened that our volunteer support unit had their annual "volunteer thank you day" and they held the event at Marble Hill.

The weather was perfect and we all had a wonderful time.  The new owners of the mansion must have very deep pockets - I can see this restoration costing upwards of $5,000,000.