“In the days before air-conditioning, the summer heat of the Adelaide Plains could only be escaped by moving to the relatively cool slopes of the Adelaide Hills. The towns of Aldgate, Stirling and Crafers have many examples of grand summer residences of Adelaide’s wealthy. From the earliest days of the colony, the Governor of South Australia also had a summer residence. The first was built at the Government Farm in Belair, now Belair National Park, in 1860. Prior to this, a humble worker’s cottage, modestly renovated, had served as the unofficial summer residence.

“William Jervois became Governor in 1877, a time of economic boom in South Australia. He led the drive for a grander residence. The site was chosen for its commanding views.