This morning I received an email from Nydia of Thorngrove Manor telling me that the nearby Heritage listed Wairoa had just come on the market and my mind immediately went into overdrive! This stunning property was purchased in 1880 and the house was completed in the early 1890's. It has a strong connection to Robert and Joanna Barr Smith who we now know were one of the biggest international clients of Morris & Co. One of their sons Thomas Elder Barr Smith lived in the property from 1896 - 1941 and it was his wife Mary Isobel who embroidered this stunning piece that is now in the collection of the Art Gallery of South Australia.......
And this very pattern is still available as furnishing fabric or wallpaper from Morris & Co and is pleasingly named 'Mary Isobel' after her. But back to this magnificent house Wairoa in the Adelaide Hills. My grand dream (or should I say overdrive thoughts!), were that just maybe by some major miracle a kind entrepreneur would come and purchase it and then restore it to its former glory......then maybe it could become an "Adelaide William Morris Museum" and house our entire Art Gallery Morris collection!! There are still original Morris furnishings in the house including some stunning Peacock and Dragon woven wool curtains complete with the unique edge trim which was a feature the Barr Smiths frequently asked for. All the photos come from the Harris Real Estate website so do visit the link to see more. The roof clearly needs replacing but what a stunning residence waiting for someone with vision and the means to purchase......
One can only dream such a grand dream and I pray that the heritage listing means it will be protected. Another unique property has also recently come on the market just a short stroll from where we live. It is an Anglican church and coincidentally a church my late mother always wanted to get married in! Back in those days it was miles from where she lived on the southern outskirts of Adelaide. She would pass it on the way to frequent summer holidays by the sea. You can see more of the church interior on this website here: The church on the hill. I have often dreamed of living in a chapel conversion so we took some photos last week but I am not so sure I would want the graves so close by!.........
Larry checking out the size of the backyard graves and all.......
We will watch both these properties with keen interest......I just hope that some very wealthy entrepreneur has a William Morris vision for Wairoa......I will manage it all of course!! One can dream can't one??! Back to the real world and our very special celebration a few days ago. Dear little Wade turned one and how far he has come in that 12 months from weighing just 1kg (2lbs), and coming 3 months early.........
His party in the park on Sunday was wonderful but I am not sure he really knew what it was all about!........
The look on his face with us all singing to him was priceless.........
The next day being Monday October 29th was Wade's actual birthday and it was on this day that we handed over the AU$1600 cheque - the proceeds from my donated quilt that I mentioned in my last post. These funds will go to the Flinders Medical Centre Neonatal Unit where Wade spent the first 10 weeks of his life. It was lovely that Ross Verschoor the Executive Director of the Flinders Foundation and the Unit Manager Nicole were there to witness this special occasion. Ross is standing on the right of the photo in the check shirt along with Nicole, Larry and myself and of course little Wade and his Mum Sophie........
On another quilting note it was today that I received this beautiful photo from Patricia of her version of the 'My Renaissance' pattern......and what a gorgeous version it is. Thankyou so much Patricia for sending me the image.......
So my apologies once again for concluding with yet more images of the garden...the roses are bringing us so much pleasure.......
Till next time take care x
when I started reading your post about the house, I thought you were going to say you would buy it!! Tis' a shame that we don't value the old buildings like they seem to do in other countries.xxxx
ReplyDeletewouldn't you just love to win a lottery and be able to buy that property!! lovely place would love to have it myself! So pleased at the progress little Wade has made - to come from 2 pounds and now be about the size of any other little one year old and getting into all the mischievous that they do. Sophie looks well and happy - it has been a stressful year I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteGlorious house, I understand your dream, what a magnificent property and a shame if it is not maintained. Happy birthday Wade, so satisfying to see him happy and chubby!
ReplyDeleteWell Michele - this is when you set up a "Go Fund Me" page and crowdfund the purchase of Wairoa. You write a great description of how you could restore the home, and people from all over the world chip in $10-$100. You'll have the money in no time!!!!
ReplyDeleteOn another note - Wairoa is a Maori word meaning "long water". I wonder how it got a Maori name? Is it near a stream?
What a fabulous estate! Hope your dream comes true of a William Morris Museum. Amazing progress by Wade - he's not so little now. I love that first photo of him getting into the car. As always, beautiful roses. Blessings,
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is a beautiful building and I hope it is given the love and care it deserves. The roses are lovely Michele, such gorgeous colours. Wade has grown so much, the birthday cake was a hit by the looks!
ReplyDeleteThanks again for sharing with us all. Take care,love from me 😍😍