Estcourt House was built in 1883 near the beach at Grange, by Adelaide businessman Frederick Estcourt Bucknall. He lost the property in 1886 due to financial problems that led to bankruptcy. The new owner, Australian Mutual Provident Society (AMP) had trouble selling the mansion due to its isolation and it remained empty for a number of years. Eventually the mansion was bought and became a convalescent home for children.
James Brown Memorial Trust (1894 - 1955)
In 1892 Estcourt House was purchased by the James Brown Memorial Trust. The trust was established by Mrs Jessie Brown, widow of James Brown, a wealthy pastoralist, to help people in need. In 1894 Estcourt House was opened and by December there were eight children, aged between four and twelve, and twenty three visually impaired elderly people in residence. By the turn of the century the number of residents had increased to forty five. The children at the home received their schooling from members of staff until 1918 when the Education Department provided a teacher. In 1931 Estcourt House became a convalescent home for children recovering from medical treatment, and it also provided specialist care for survivors of tuberculosis, poliomyelitis and children with rheumatic fever. It could look after up to forty children at one time.
Adelaide Children’s Hospital (1955 – 1978)![Adelaide Children's Hospital patients were accommodated in convalescent wards at Estcourt House between late 1950s and early 1970s. [ Zoe Schaffer ]](http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1151/543569045_d45ff0e9d8_m.jpg "Adelaide Children's Hospital patients were accommodated in convalescent wards at Estcourt House between late 1950s and early 1970s. [ Zoe Schaffer ]")
During the 1920’s and 1930’s Estcourt House developed a close relationship with the Adelaide Children’s Hospital. Many of the children at the convalescent home were referred directly from the hospital. In 1955 the Adelaide Children’s Hospital bought Estcourt House. They spent a large amount of money on renovations and additions so they could accommodate up to one hundred children.
Ru Rua Nursing Home (1978 – 1989)
In 1978 the South Australian government bought Estcourt House and it became part of the Strathmont Centre. In 1981 the home was upgraded and convalescing children were moved from the Ru Rua Nursing Home at North Adelaide. Estcourt House became the Ru Rua Nursing Home and operated until 1989.
References
Find your way home: with SA Link-up. 2005. [online].[Accessed on 30th April 2007]. Available from the World Wide Web: http://salinkup.com.au/media/pdf/9_miscellaneous.pdf
June 24th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
I have a Frederick Estcourt in my family tree and i was wondering if you have any history about the Frederick Estcourt who built Estcourt house?
Thanks!
Rebecca
email address: rebeccamillman@mediumalifebetweentwoworlds.com
June 27th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Hi Rebecca
I couldn’t find much about Frederick Escourt Bucknall the businessman who built Escourt House. However,the following State Library link under ‘Grange - Estcourt House’ provides some information on him.
http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/manning/pn/g/g8.htm#choose
Hope that is of help.
July 26th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
My father suffered from TB and was at Estcort House around 1912-1916 as a young boy.
Is there any way I can find records of this time?
Thanks Jenny Raper
August 7th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Hi Jenny
There are no admission records available for Estcourt House during that period that I am aware of. However, I contacted Dennis Chamberlain the CEO of the James Brown Memorial Trust and he said they have minute books and other material from that period. He suggested calling him (ph:8278 5444) and he might be able to help.
State Records of SA (www.archives.sa.gov.au/index.html) has a Visitors book (1896 - 1955) for Escourt House. Archive reference GRG 78/129. It gives dates, names, addresses and remarks. Most of the visitors are official but some may be parents of patients.
I hope that is of some help.