Struan House near Naracoorte was built between 1873-75 for Henry Smith and Thomas Agar.
Designed by WT Coke it is a fine example of a Victorian mansion (most of the rooms have beautiful marble mantelpieces) and is now part of the Regional Veterinary Laboratory for the South Australian Department of Primary Industries.
I called in there today on the way home from Adelaide to take these pictures.
Interestingly, I struggled to find anything on the web about its history as the Struan Farm School orphanage, where there were reports of abuse against children that were revealed in the Mulligan inquiry.
History has a way of obliterating bad news.
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Struan Farm School was not an orphanage, but a home for boys who needed to be trained in farming practises. They were usually boys in the justice system who either were ‘ratbag’ in trouble with the law or families that had been split up. My father spent 4 yrs as Dept Superintendent before moving back to Adelaide and then coming back for the last 10 years as Superintendent. It closed in 1969 when my father had been in charge for 10 yrs by then. I grew up with a lot of these boys. They had respect for our family. When I had my own family the boys idolized my children, I think they missed their own families. My father always made us treat the boys as part of our family. If any staff hit the boys, they were usually dismissed on the spot. No questions asked. To this day I still have fond memories of living at Struan. I have a lot of info on when the Robertson family owned the property.
Do you have any info re a son of Robertson and Sophie Turnbull please? thanks
Anne. I haven’t heard of this Robertson & Sophie Turnbull. Are they related to the ‘Struan’ Robertsons. I do have sme history of Struan but, don’t recall mention of these names. Sorry.
In my Struan history the large house was designed by WT GORE, not WT Coke as is mention in the about story on Struan.
Marilyn Manton.
hi Marilyn, thanks for your perspective on the more modern day life of Struan House. i have a family interest in knowing more about the Robertson son/s could you please get in touch so i could learn some more? Thank you, Judy
Judy What do you want to know about the Struan Robertsons. Where do you live, I might be able to photcopy some of the stuff I have and send it to you.
that would be wonderful thanks Marion. i live close by in Murray Bridge. Could you please send anything you have to DECD Murray Lands Office, 20 Beatty Terrace, Murray Bridge SA 5253. i am happy to reimburse you for any costs. i’m only starting out on the Robertsons info so am really happy for anything. Thank you, Judy
Hi Marilyn,
I work at the Struan Research Centre and also live up the road. Could you possibly email or post me any information you have on the history of the house and the Robertson family. Happy to reimburse any costs. Thank you, Natalie
Natalie, you can contact me by email to marilyn1938@bigpond.com.
The most Majestic House to have shared part of my life with,Very interesting to find people interested in the Struan topic, I was one of the boys at Struan, I was there for approx 3 years early 60′s, some of the best times of my life were spent at Struan, I learned everything I have ever needed to survive from the wonderful staff, example, Mr Copley, Richard (Dickie)Watts, Tex Vergo,Mr (forgot his nickname)and Mrs White, Mr Donald Glazbrooke and his family,(and of course their daughter was the dream princess of every boy in the place, and of course not to forget the wonderful memories of Mr Arnold Giles and his wife, at Struan I gained exp in Domestic and Culinary operations,Diesel engineering, welding,Power Plant operation, poultry farming, beef cattle, sheep farming incl shearing/crutching and tailing etc.,construction, dairy farming and production,crop farming, fruit and veg farming,Agricultural machine operation, learned to drive in the landrover, red Bedford truck and on tractors,pig farming, Fencing, Stockyard construction, can still remember how to do it all and have exellent on the spot memory of the day i learned the skill and who from,Heard The Beatles for the First time which turned me into a lifelong Profesional Musician and songwriter Poet.I was a bit of a rebel so i had my share of the legendary 6 across the backside with the cane from Don(I deserved it everytime)He used to run at you like he was bowling at a cricket match but it was really done for drama not impact, when I left Struan I was happy but very sad to leave also as it was like the family who cared,(Still miss the place believe it or not).and made a few friends that I later kept contact with for a while, what I and most of the guys took away from Struan has been the real foundations to my life and hopefully theirs.
To whom this may be of interest.– I, out of interest have today in general research, been reading reports of serious physical and sexual abuse at Struan Farm School in the 60′s, in the time I was there I can say I witnessed no such thing happening between students or staff other than punishment which was at the worser a caning for misbehaviour or wrongdoing, I myself was a regular reciever of the cane and not on any occasion would I to this day consider it was over the top or undeserved taking into account the time and era, and as far as sexual abuse by staff or bigger boys ,if such were the case I would have been a easy target as although a young rebel I was at the time a slight boy and not well built or muscular,I also do not believe any of the staff at Struan in the years while I was there were of the type of character described in the reports of abuse and never felt, heard of, or experienced the danger of such behaviour in all my stay at Struan, I believe anyone making such claims of that time proximity were doing so to gain in some way or another,as in a couple of reports that relate to the years I was there I would sure like to know who they involve because I believe an injustice was being done against staff members and or students in a no. of these reports, (Although I did suffer serious physical abuse by two general staff members (unrelated to struan)at Magill(Mcnally prior to going to Struan.) I had friendships with a no. of the boys I was at Struan with in later years and never heard a mention of such incidents or the knowledge of.
Norman.
Can you please get in touch with me via email. I am Marilyn, daughter of Arnold & Nina Giles. Would love to be able to get back in contact with you. Of all the employees at Struan only Dick Watts is still alive. Glad to here you are sticking up for the staff. I also agree that no abuse was conducted at Struan. Regardless of what has been said in the press. Good On You for putting this comment up.
Kind Regards.
Marilyn (Giles) Manton.
If there is anyone who has any information on Struan I would absolutely appreciate it if they could email me on maddels77@hotmail.com.
I am a descendant of the Robertsons and was given a tour of the house several years ago when it was opened up for descendants and since then I have become quite curious.
Thank you so very much.