A SIGN at the entrance to a Kalangadoo farm simply reads Lowan 1868, but largely hidden behind the trees is one of the South East’s earliest grand properties.
The Victorian-period mansion has never been open to the public aside from a few weddings and open gardens.
But next month, interested people will get their chance to step inside the oldest two-storey house in SA south of the River Murray.
They will also be able to stroll around the sprawling grounds with their manicured hawthorn and English box hedges and tall Norfolk Island pines.
Custodians Gary and Wendy Kilsby are opening Lowan Homestead for its 150th celebrations.
SE pioneer William Allen Crouch, a trained architect, built Lowan between 1868 and 1870 for his wife and seven children.
It was built from 550,000 clay bricks made on the property and hand-sawn timber beams.
The 3690-hectare run had a flock of 8000 sheep and many more cattle and horses.
Mr Crouch was also a successful surveyor, planning local roads, the nearby Allendale town and even the early idea for the SE Drainage Scheme.
Lowan remained in the Crouch family until 1919.
The Kilsby family are just the fourth owners with Gary’s grandfather Alick purchasing it in 1940 for 10 pounds an acre.
Gary, who has lived in the house all his life, says it was his late mother’s wish that Lowan be restored to its former grandeur.
“We had three options – either sell out and go, let it fall down or try and save it, so we decided that we would restore it,” he said.
“The whole lot was gutted and we started from scratch.”
The servants quarters were too far gone and were replaced with a modern conservatory but the 20-room house and surrounding garden has been painstakingly restored over six years.
The couple are proud of the result finished about eight years ago.
“I just think that Gary has really preserved history and hopefully it will go on for another 150 years now,” Wendy said.
“The feedback and positive reaction from people has made it all worthwhile and it is still our home,” Gary added.
Kilsbys open Lowan for charity weekend
THROUGH the years, Kalangadoo sheep and beef producers Gary and Wendy Kilsby have had many people ask to have a look at their home.
So to coincide with Lowan Homestead’s 150th anniversary, they are holding a charity weekend for the Royal Flying Doctor Service on November 3 and 4.
“It is a wonderful service and it covers all walks of life,” Gary said.
“I’ve used it when I broke my back – I don’t remember much about the way up but they also brought me home.”
It will be a hive of activity for all ages including live music, food and wine stalls, a vintage car display, historic photos, high tea on the verandah and guided tours of the house. For the children there will be pony rides, a farm animal nursery, face painting and giant games.
The Lord Mayor of Adelaide Martin Haese, a descendant of homestead builder William Crouch, will unveil a commemorative plaque on the Sunday.
Lowan Homestead will be open from 10am to 6pm on both days.
- Details: 08 8739 3143 or visit the Lowan Homestead Facebook page.
