How $4m will buy you Dawley House, a slice of Downer history in Adelaide’s Leabrook
A MANSION built more than a century ago for one of South Australia’s most prominent political families, the Downers, is up for sale — but you’ll need a cool $4m.
A LEABROOK mansion built for the Downer family almost 110 years ago is on the market.
Dawley House was built in 1905 for former Foreign Minister Alexander Downer’s great-uncle, Frank Downer, who would start hunts from the front of the Glynburn Rd house.
It is expected to sell for more than $4 million.
The 4092sq m property includes 15 main rooms, a swimming pool and its own croquet lawn.
Mike and Gabrielle Canny bought the property for $1.8 million in 1999.
“It’s an exceptional house,” Mr Canny, a management consultant, said.
“You do regard yourself as custodians of the property.
“We’ve modernised it with a family room and updated bathrooms to live in the lifestyle (of today) so it’s very different to the original design.”
Mr and Mrs Canny are selling their house now their four children have moved out of home.
Agent Lew Toop, of Toop & Toop, said the size of the property set it apart, as well as the formal, English gardens.
“It’s part of its history that the wealthy of Adelaide would come here for hunts and croquet days on the front law,” Mr Toop said.
Adelaide’s top sales this year have been 4 Victoria Ave, Unley Park, for $5.1 million in June, and The Myrtles, in Medindie, for $5 million in May.
SNAPSHOT of a prominent political family
ALEXANDER Downer, Australia’s longest-serving foreign minister, was born into one of the state’s prominent established political families.
HIS father, Sir Alick Downer, reached cabinet rank in federal politics and was High Commissioner to the United Kingdom between 1964 to 1972.
HIS grandfather, Sir John Downer, was twice Premier of South Australia and a senator in the first federal Parliament in 1901.
ALEXANDER’S mother, Mary, Lady Downer (née Mary Gosse), is descended from early immigrants to South Australia.
Source: Wikipedia
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