Historic Properties: SWANSCOMBE - 10 Fuller Street Walkerville

 Historic Properties:

 SWANSCOMBE  - 10 Fuller Street, Walkerville

Swanscombe was built in the early 1840s (c.1844). From 1855 it became the home of Charles Burney Young, who purchased adjoining properties to create an extensive garden estate. The estate extended from Smith Street behind St Andrew's Church, along Fuller Street, and slightly west of the house.

Charles Burney Young and his wife, Nora Creina Young, arrived in South Australia aboard the Flora Kerr, sailing from England on 16 November 1854. On their arrival, they were welcomed by Wilfrid Kent Hughes at "Avenel" on Robe Terrace, North Adelaide. Their second child was born there but sadly died in infancy. The family later lived in Ward Street, North Adelaide, before Charles was appointed a draughtsman with the Public Works Department in 1856 and soon afterwards became a government surveyor.

Charles Burney Young was a distinguished surveyor and pastoralist who owned Kanmantoo Station. He is also remembered for recognising the potential of the gifted 13-year-old Aboriginal boy David Unaipon, whom he brought from the Point Pearce Mission to Adelaide to further his education.

Nora was the daughter of Major General Bacon and Lady Charlotte Bacon (1801–1880), who before her marriage was Lady Charlotte Harley. Celebrated for her beauty, Lady Charlotte was immortalised by Lord Byron as "Ianthe" in Childe Harold's Pilgrimage. Nora had married Charles at the age of 16 in Swanscombe, Kent, before emigrating to South Australia.

Lady Charlotte joined her family in Adelaide in 1865 and lived there until 1877, becoming one of the colony's most admired social figures and often described as the "toast of the town". Nora remained at Swanscombe despite losing her sight later in life and lived there until she died in 1925.

researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2026