Henley South (Inland) Preview

The Henley Hotel was built in 1878 by Mr J. Stewart of Port Adelaide, at which time it was believed that the Henley Jetty would be constructed opposite the site of the hotel. Sadly, for Mr Stewart this didn't happen and the Jetty was built further north some years later.

Mr Stewart foresaw the need for a hotel in the newly developing area of Henley Beach and had the hotel built near the foreshore on the sand dunes - where it stood isolated for many years with its large verandahs overlooking sand dunes and the sea. This exposed site meant the hotel was susceptible to storm damage, and in 1892 a thunderstorm caused the almost complete demolition of a dancing hall at the rear of the Hotel. The end walls were blown out completely, the roof was lifted off and huge sheets of galvanised iron were sent flying onto Military Road.

As one of the first buildings in Henley Beach, the hotel reflects the early development of Henley and Grange as seaside resorts – and it was the focus of many events.

From the 1870s to the mid-1920s the Adelaide Hunt Club often met at the hotel to “wet the whistle” before riding through the surrounding sand hills and paddocks. There were about 40 riders and many more following the hunt along the roads.

In 1923, 'The Advertiser' newspaper reported:

"The 'Adelaide Hounds met at the Henley Beach Hotel this afternoon, ran to Richmond via Glenelg and Cummins and experienced a delightful outing. Floods were responsible for a portion of the run being cut out, as the Master intended to start at Fulham, but a nice run with varying conditions was the result. Before the start we were invited by Mr. McRae at the Hotel to wet our whistle. Mr. McRae has been a keen supporter of the Club for years.”

Lancelot Hurcombe recalls that in the early 1900s:

" I remember father going into the Henley Hotel for a tot and purchasing me a bush biscuit, then he would take me out to the sand hills opposite where he could have a yarn with Billy Lewis or a Crimean War veteran …..”(H&GHS Journal 1982)

From 1911 to 1922 the hotel was named Whallin's Henley Hotel. In 1912 the Whallins built the elegantly designed 2 storey Ozone Tearooms next to the hotel, near where the bottle shop now stands.

The Register newspaper described the new café as having “the most modern design, and presents a pleasing aspect… the eight leadlight windows in both stories can be opened. The first floor is set apart for temperance drinks, sweets, cigars and so on…. “

In 1914 electric lights were added and the surrounding garden became an outdoor lounge with “sunshades”. The name of the tearooms reflected the popular view of the seaside being good for your health because of the higher ozone concentration. Ozone is a different structural assembly of oxygen atoms which causes it to have a "fresh" smell - a principle reason for the building of hospitals and convalescent homes in beachside areas.

As described in the Advertiser Newspaper in 1923 ......

“Everyone should be a patron of the seaside. Here nature is lavish with her gifts and entrancing in all her moves. The intense purity of the atmosphere, filled with health-giving ozone, carried on the wings of ocean breezes make every breath a pleasure.”

In the 1960s and into the 1980s the hotel operated as Harvey's Hotel, so named for the proprietor, Lloyd Harvey.

Dr Merv Allen has always lived on the Esplanade. As a leading surgeon and active community member, Dr Allen has played a significant role in Henley – working for over 30 years at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, including as Director of Emergency Services, and 6 years as a Henley and Grange councillor. He had observed that people returning from the beach, often accompanied by children – had difficulty safely negotiating the busy bike and walking path, and road. On bringing his concerns for the safety of beach-goers to Council’s attention, Council responded by providing this new landing with a widened area, seating and shower, and named it Merv’s Landing.

When growing-up on the foreshore, Merv came to know many of the families on the highly desirable Esplanade and Seaview Road. These were large, well-appointed villas, with distinctly Australian features - wide verandah’s, cellars and maid’s quarters, designed for enjoying the seaside-setting and entertaining in style.

• Merv well remembers his neighbour, Governor Willoughby Norrie and his children with whom he played when they had holidays in a rental property on the Esplanade. During the 1940s, Merv also came to know the chauffeur who would collect the Governor’s children as Johnnie Althorp. Johnnie Althorp was later to become equerry to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II (a personal attendant in the royal household), before becoming the 8th Earl of Spencer and entering the House of Lords in 1975. The man that Merv knew as the Governor’s chauffeur and was later the Earl of Spencer, was the father of Princess Diana and grandfather to Prince William and Prince Harry.

• Merv also remembers Carl Laubman and his family who lived on the Esplanade. Carl’s optician business, Laubman and Pank commenced in 1908, and introduced the first visiting service to the remote areas of Australia. He was so highly regarded that the government sent Carl to Germany in 1927 to consult with Nobel prize winner Albert Einstein. In the 1950s Carl developed the world’s first plastic lenses – these were scratch-resistant, lightweight and led to bifocal and progressive focus lenses. By the 1970s he had established a subsidiary company called SOLA (Scientific Optical Laboratories of Australia), which became one of the world’s largest makers of optical lenses. The first men on the moon in 1969 wore lightweight eye lenses made by Carl’s Adelaide company.

Other neighbours that Merv remembers well include:

• P.K. Lee - an accomplished baseball player, who was also the captain of Norwood, a League footballer and an Australian Test cricketer.

• Sir Walter Duncan and Lady Duncan also spent their holiday time on the Esplanade. He was known as a pastoralist and politician – serving 44 years as a respected member of the SA Legislative Council. As a Director of BHP (Broken Hill Proprietary), he was instrumental in the industrial development of Whyalla. He also served as chair for AMP (Australian Mutual Provident Society) and Goldsbrough Mort and Co. During his long association with the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of SA, he oversaw the move from North Terrace to the Wayville Showgrounds. In 1962 an exhibition hall bearing his name was opened at the Wayville Showgrounds.

• Harold Lightburn and his family lived on Seaview Road. After starting a business in the backyard, the Lightburn company was launched in 1945, producing household goods such as washing machines and small industrial products. They had over 500 employees by 1950. Thinking many Australians would like the convenience of a small second car, in 1963 Harold created a cheap “runabout” – the Zeta. This was a front-wheel-drive car with a two-stoke engine, with fibreglass body and Perspex windows. Top speed was 75 kph. There were three models - the runabout, a sports model and a ute. However, the Zeta was not a success and production ceased after 3 years. Today it is recognised as among the most idiosyncratic Australian vehicles produced.

• The Cawthorne family, who lived on Seaview Road had a sheet music business in the 1880s, importing sheet music from Germany, France and England. In 1911 they opened a store in Rundle Street. When not composing, Charles Cawthorne was active in organising and conducting numerous orchestras and choirs. He also managed and promoted many concerts and talented musicians.