The history of Elder Mews

On the frontage of 220 Frome Street there is a plaque “AWH” signifying the original name of the cottages. (A photograph of the plaque is on the introduction page to this website.)

In the mid 1960s the Adelaide City Council acquired the cottages and demolished 35 of them as part of the Frome Street extension scheme. The 13 remaining cottages were to be sold for subsequent demolition but were saved by a Council “stimulated by conservationists”. In 1973 a public tender for the purchase and renovation of the cottages was won by Cityscape Pty Ltd, the work being completed by the end of 1974. Now known as the Elder Mews the 13 cottages are separately owned and maintained by their owners and through a registered co-operative which represents the owners’ common interests.

In the early 1970s the cottages were listed with the National Trust as being historically significant. There is still a National Trust plaque on the front wall of 222 Angas Street. In the early 1980s the South Australian Heritage Act, 1978 (now the Heritage Act, 1993) created the State Heritage Authority. This Authority replaced the role of the National Trust and the cottages were listed on the State Heritage Register.

The cottages are also listed on the Local Heritage List, which is administered by the Adelaide City Council. As a part of the Adelaide City Council Heritage Plaque program a blue and white enamelled plaque has been erected at the corner of Frome and Angas Streets recognising the heritage listing of the cottages.

Read about how a trust was set up to build the Adelaide Workers’ homes.

You can also read the 1984 heritage study concerning Elder Mews.