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Manresa Cottage

Manresa Cottage at Athelstone was built by the Hersey family circa 1860’s. Henry Hersey (Snr), his wife Sarah and their three children, Henry (Jnr), Anna, and William Lysander, arrived at Port Adelaide in July 18391. There had only been three Hersey’s when the family sailed from Liverpool, William was born on the high seas during the journey. Hence his middle name, Lysander, after the vessel that brought them to South Australia. In 1866 on November 7th, Henry Hersey senior died aged 722. His wife Sarah died at Athelstone on the 7th of December 1878, aged 853.

Henry Hersey State Library of South Australia [B 8235/1/7V]

In 1862 Henry Hersey (Jnr) purchased land at Athelstone part of Section 11164.  In 1864 he purchased part of Section 8135. Both of these parcels of land were on the corner of Gorge Road and Schulze Road at Athelstone. Henry Hersey Jnr. kept diaries for 40 years. On seeing an article on Trinity Church, his daughter, was reminded of one of these entries. Her father had been employed as a plaster boy, working on the Trinity Church. During a funeral service at the church, young Henry respectfully stopped work, only to be sacked for idling6. In 1872 Henry Hersey nominated as councillor for Athelstone Ward and was elected unopposed7. Henry Hersey Jnr. died on 6th June 1893 leaving 7 sons and 4 daughters8.

Anna Hersey married William Hughes of North Adelaide. He was the son of Jabez Hughes. The Hughes family had formerly lived at Fourth Creek9.

William Lysander Hersey became the licensee of the Corio Hotel at Goolwa in 188010. For many years after that he worked in the north-west of the state. He was at one time the manager of Carriewerloo Station near Port Augusta. On returning to Adelaide he managed the old tramways sheds at Walkerville. He held this position until the introduction of the Electric tramcar system11.  In an interesting twist of fate, William Lysander Hersey married Maria Eleanor Dundas

Beatson Mottley, who was also born onboard a sailing vessel. Her father was a Captain in the Royal Navy, and she was born on board the British man ‘o’ war H.M.S. Victory12.

Manresa Cottage, Athelstone. Campbelltown Library Local History Archive.

The new owners of ‘Manresa Cottage’ were the Lorenz family. The family consisted of Gustav his wife Caroline Wilhelmina and their two boys Albert Edward and Adolph Gustav. They were from Brandenburg in Prussia, and came to South Australia in the sailing ship ‘Esther’ in 1876. Gustav Snr. Took up gardening at Athelstone. At the time of their arrival Albert Edward was 2 years old and Adolph Gustav was six months old.

Four other Lorenz children were born into the family here in South Australia. They were Charles Henry Lorenz, Anna Maria Elizabeth Lorenz, Mary Elizabeth Lorenz, and Amelia Matilda Lorenz.

In 1888 Gustav Lorenz Snr. died in an unfortunate accident, at the age of 4413. His wife, Caroline Wilhelmina Lorenz died in February 1935 aged 85 years14.

Passenger Manifest of sailing ship Esther 1876 which lists Gustav, Caroline, Albert and Adolph Lorenz as passengers. State Archives of South Australia.

Researched and compiled by Jim Nelson, a volunteer with the Campbelltown Library “Digital Diggers” group.

If you have any comments or questions regarding the information in this local history article, please contact the Local History officer on 8366 9357 or hthiselton@campbelltown.sa.gov.au

  1. 1939 'Mr. A. E. Lorenz', Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), 3 August, p. 47. , viewed 06 Jan 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article92448592
  2. The Adelaide Express (SA : 1863 - 1866) Wednesday 7 November 1866 p 2
  3. 1878 'Family Notices', The Express and Telegraph (Adelaide, SA : 1867 - 1922), 13 December, p. 2. , viewed 06 Jan 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207584404
  4. 1862 'Advertising', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 21 May, p. 4. , viewed 06 Jan 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50158065
  5. 1864 'Advertising', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 7 September, p. 4. , viewed 06 Jan 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39126406
  6. 1913 'OLD TRINITY CHURCH.', The Mail (Adelaide, SA : 1912 - 1954), 26 July, p. 9. , viewed 06 Jan 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63802664
  7. 1872 'CAMPBELLTOWN, JULY 1.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 8 July, p. 3. , viewed 06 Jan 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39265371
  8. 1893 'Family Notices', The Express and Telegraph (Adelaide, SA : 1867 - 1922), 10 June, p. 4. , viewed 06 Jan 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article208450799
  9. 1856 'No title', Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904), 8 March, p. 5. , viewed 06 Jan 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article161257528
  10. 1880 'Advertising', The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), 17 June, p. 1. , viewed 06 Jan 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article73193820
  11. 1917 'Obituaries.', Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 - 1931), 23 June, p. 17. , viewed 06 Jan 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article168289472
  12. 1917 'Obituaries.', Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 - 1931), 23 June, p. 17. , viewed 06 Jan 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article168289472
  13. 1888 'The Border Watch, PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY MORNING.', Border Watch (Mount Gambier, SA : 1861 - 1954), 21 January, p. 2. , viewed 06 Jan 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article77499058
  14. 1935 'Family Notices', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), 23 February, p. 14. , viewed 06 Jan 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37268859

Photographs

Henry Hersey Junior. B8235/1/7V. Courtesy of State Library of South Australia Pioneers Mosaic.

https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/

Manresa Cottage Athelstone. Courtesy of Campbelltown Council website “Our Fruitful Record, Land.” https://www.campbelltown.sa.gov.au

Passenger Manifest of sailing ship Esther 1876.

https://archives.sa.gov.au/ Passenger List 1876 Esther