The rich history of Scarfe House at Wattle Grove

Retirement Living residents and special guests recently gathered to celebrate the history of Scarfe House at Wattle Grove. 

A new heritage plaque from the City of Burnside was at the centre of the celebration, officially recognising the fascinating story of the beautiful historic home.

Southern Cross Care has been the proud custodian of Scarfe House and Wattle Grove for almost 40 years. 

However, as historian Professor Alan Reid shared during the celebration, the history of the property has much more to it. 

“The first connection involves the First Peoples of our country, it reminds us of the tens of thousands of years the land of the Adelaide plains and beyond, was the home of the Kaurna People,” Prof Reid said.

“After Europeans arrived in 1836, the next five connections of Scarfe House to South Australian history began.”

In the 1840s William Cook, a local flour miller, purchased the property and named it Wattle Grove, building a stone and brick house by 1850 and planting five acres of gardens.

Mr Cook was a successful businessman who owned the Victoria Mill in Grenfell Street.

In 1851, the property was sold to George Waterhouse, a significant figure in South Australian history who served as the sixth Premier from 1861 to 1863 and played a key role in developing the state's first Constitution in 1856. 

He lived in the eleven-room house at Wattle Grove for six years with his wife Lydia and their two daughters. 

George Waterhouse later moved to New Zealand and became their Premier as well - the only person to lead two separate parliaments in two different British colonies.

He sold Wattle Grove to his sister Mary, then in 1880, George Scarfe, a partner in the famous Harris Scarfe department stores, purchased the home at Wattle Grove. 

It was Mr Scarfe who enlarged the home and added the iconic features, including the distinctive scalloped tile turret and the ornate mahogany interiors crafted by Italian artisans.

After his death in 1904, the property stayed in the Scarfe family for a few more years before having three more owners. 

Many members of the Southern Cross Care community may remember the site as the Wattle Park Teachers College, which opened in 1956. 

Famous author Colin Thiele served as the principal of the College for a time, inspiring generations of educators.

In the late 1980s Wattle Grove and Scarfe House were purchased by Southern Cross Care to be converted into a retirement living community.

Residents have been instrumental in driving the recognition of Scarfe House with the heritage plaque and thoroughly enjoyed the celebration of their community’s history.

For more information about Wattle Grove Retirement Living click here.