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Cummins House

Cummins House is an important State Heritage Place in the South Australian Heritage Register. It is located in Novar Gardens in the western beachside suburbs of Adelaide and is one of South Australia's earliest extant buildings. It was the residence of South Australian pioneer and politician John Morphett, purpose-built for him and lived in by five generations of the Morphett family until sold to the State Government in the 1970s. There are very few residences in South Australia occupied by one family for such a long period. Morphett was of considerable significance to the establishment and development of the Colony of South Australia.

Today Historic Cummins House and garden are carefully tended by the dedicated volunteers of The Cummins Society Inc. who run regular guided tours with Devonshire afternoon tea on the first and third Sundays of the month from February to November at a cost of $15pp. For Sunday bookings from 1-6 people book with Trybooking https://www.trybooking.com/CKTYP for bookings with more than 6 people, or Club and Social group weekday tours, please phone 0417 852 320. Gift shop and Plant nursery sales are CASH only.

If you would like further information, contact Heritage South Australia on (08) 8124 4960 or email DEWHeritage@sa.gov.au

Map

Video gallery

Lyrebyrd Consort performing in the Drawing Room

Recitals Australia introduce Raindance Trio

Roses, Mermaids and Music garden event

In November 2020, we helped stage an activating heritage event in the garden and drawing room of Cummins House, and here are the video documentaries.

Made possible through a collaboration with the Cummins Society, Recitals Australia, the Victoriana Society and SA’s leading rose societies, the event was also a family reunion of sorts for the house.

Descendants of the Morphett family attended to share their memories of living there and to help recreate a special piece of family history: ‘Bessey’ at the piano.

Marianne Legoe, the family’s senior representative, wrote and recorded the script, with her nephew Andrew Morphett filming and kindly sharing the results.