Estcourt House has been a landmark along the seafront, on Military Road, since 1882. It was built by Frederick and Rosa Bucknall and reported to have cost £15000. Estcourt house was given Frederick's second name. 

The House

Estcourt House was built for the large Bucknall family, with 17 rooms to accommodate eleven children and eight servants. The house is in the area now known as Tennyson, but when it was built the suburb was part of Grange. It was reported that the location was chosen because of Frederick Bucknall's interest in a scheme to connect the Port River to the sea by constructing an artificial canal, and the house was built with a view to the location of the planned canal. 

It was designed by architect Ernest Bayer, built 'in the English style', with walls over 18 inches thick constructed from Dry Creek stone. A large slate verandah surrounded the house. The Bucknall family coat of arms was installed in the hallway. 

Frederick Bucknall 

Frederick Bucknall was a well known local businessman. He arrived in South Australia around 1860, and set himself up in Port Adelaide. Here Frederick built a boatshed and established the South Australian Club Hotel. He married Rosa Haussen, the widow of Henry Haussan of the brewers, Haussen and Company, in 1874. The marriage led to Frederick's partnership in the Hindmarsh Brewery, and also to his growing family's need to relocate. 

While the canal scheme never came to fruition Frederick was also involved in various projects that saw the development of Henley Beach and Grange, including the building of their jetties. Along with his business interests Frederick played an active role in local sporting communities, acting as President for Hindmarsh Cricket Club and establishing what is now the Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron. He served as Mayor of Hindmarsh Corporation from 1881-1883, and was an MP from 1881-1884.

A home to Many

Frederick Bucknall sold Estcourt House to the Australian Mutual Provident Society (now AMP) in 1886 due to financial difficulties. The building was then empty until the James Brown Memorial Trust purchased it in 1894 and turned Estcourt House into a home for the elderly and for disabled children. A long write up in the Adelaide Observer that same year extolls the virtues of the home, detailing the arrangements made for the 27 'inmates'. Schooling was provided for the children staying at Estcourt House, and over the years the number of children resident increased.  

By 1931 Escourt House was operating as a convalescent home for children, with no elderly residents. The home provided a place for children recovering from medical treatment, or suffering from a serious illness or medical condition. It is referred to in various newspaper reports with reference to the 'Children's Hospital', which built a new ward at Escourt House that year to accommodate 28 patients. After several years of working closely together Escourt House was formerly taken over by the Adelaide Children's Hospital in 1955. 

The House continued to provide a home and care in various forms for most of the twentieth century. In 1978 the government-run Strathmont Centre took over Estcourt House to accommodate adults with intellectual disabilities. In 1981 Ru Rua Nursing Home took over and renovated the building to house children with intellectual disabilities. Estcourt House closed in 1989.

Recent Years

Estcourt House remained empty for some years following its closure as a home. The building received heritage listing in 1990. Epic Group owner Peter Jurkovich substantially renovated the building in the late 1990s. His recent development plans to knock down the building have sparked an outcry in the local community and media.