Graham's Castle

Graham's Castle

The site of Grahams Castle was purchased by a Mr. Abraham Graham in 1862, which was formerly owned by Messrs. Prankerd and Stuckey. The building was developed that year and titled ‘Castle’ Nelcoongal, this is where Mr. Graham lived with his family for a few years until they moved to a Mill Cottage in Goolwa. It was in 1885 that he built ‘Barrange’, a short distance from the Castle on the main Goolwa to Port Elliot Road, where it still remains.



How to get to Graham's Castle

Unfortunately the years showed on the Castle, being subject to frequent and hasty transactions, until it was eventually purchased by the WEA in 1962. During this time, it was the limestone build with thick walls that had enabled the Castle to maintain its overall structure. The Castle had, before this, been home to many inhabitants such as Mr. Charles Tucker, Mayor of Adelaide; numerous holiday makers during the occupancy of the Bradford’s; and also as a club house for the Goolwa Golf Club. The land had even been used for grazing sheep. It was in this state that the WEA made the purchase and took on the enormous task of fixing it up. At this point, there were no doors, no windows; the ceilings had been scored with axe marks, walls and floors burned from fires. As well this, animal and bird droppings, moldy mattresses and a lizard inhabiting the fireplace! Due to the number of previous ‘squatters’, every scrap of material, furniture and fittings had been removed from the property. 

 

Mrs. Pash, Member and Executive of the WEA, was the initiator of the purchase of Graham’s Castle as she came across the building while visiting a friend in Goolwa. She retold her experience of viewing the Castle to Colin Lawton, former WEA Secretary and representative of the University of Adelaide, Mr. A. O. Thiele, former President of the WEA and Eric Williams, former General Secretary of the WEA. From this, the proposal was put up to the WEA council, and after a few productive meetings, the decision for purchase prevailed. The strongest opposing argument was financial but was overruled by the enthusiasm of the potential for the Castle.

 

 

Mrs. Pash took on the mission to fix-up the castle armed with only 500 pounds to furnish the building. She had informal assistance from Mr. Thiele who successfully enlisted Frank Jarman, who was a local builder, as well as fund raising support from groups such as the WEA Ramblers and the Art Club. Ms. Pash made the effort of hunting for two years to find authentic colonial furniture, searching through second-hand stores all over the city. Some beautiful pieces were discovered, very little of which remain. Elbow grease and many working bees were acknowledged for the progression of the building that was very much depleted.  
 

Fortunately a Government grant of £5,000 allowed for a proper architectural scheme to be created, including a caretaker’s house and two accommodation blocks that were separate from the house.
 

The opening of Graham’s Castle in 1964 coincided with the fiftieth anniversary of the WEA of South Australia. It was a huge success, the building looked beautiful and was wonderfully decorated, fitted with pieces such as a lamp donated by the Art Club, a clock by the Ramblers and Graham’s cupboard. The WEA was praised for the courage and foresight in setting up the first residential college in Australia.

 

 

The Castle ran popular summer schools organized between the WEA and the Adult Education Department of the University. These ranged from painting, bird watching, sculpture and so on, and attracted a list of well-known Adelaide identities such as Brian Seidel, Ruth Tuck and Joan Paton.
 

Summer School 1966

 

 

Unfortunately, there were restrictions and difficulties in regards to finances and satisfactory staffing, as well as this; long distance organising made it uneconomical for the WEA to maintain the Castle. In terms of the structure now, the interior has seen many changes, but much has been left undisturbed and has been regarded as maintaining its original character and dignity. Very little of Mrs. Pash’s lovingly donated furniture remains. The WEA’s sole souvenir from these times is the lamp, once donated by the Art Club.

 

 

A stalwart of local history, over 100 years on, Graham’s Castle’s still flourishes, this time in its current incarnation is as a quaint Bed and Breakfast.