Ayers House Museum, Adelaide

Travel back in time at Ayers House Museum, the last surviving mansion of its era. Guided tours, which shed a rare light on the social history of the 19th century, recount the stories of the "upstairs" Ayers family and their servants living "below stairs." Originally occupied by Sir Henry Ayers, who served five terms as South Australia’s premier, an original nine-room brick house was transformed into a mansion in the 1860s. Constructed of local bluestone, the building is believed to have been designed by George Strickland Kingston, a prominent English engineer and architect. One of the first properties in the city to be fitted with gas lighting, the mansion often hosted official government meetings, parliamentary dinners, and grand balls. A visit to Ayers House Museum represents just the start of the adventure when you use our Adelaide journey builder tool to plot your vacation.