House at 261 North Terrace
Location:
261 North Terrace, Adelaide
Constructed:
1881 to 1883
First owner/occupier:
Arthur Waterhouse
The building is a survival of the time- in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries- when North Terrace was a sought-after residential street. It is a small, but elaborate Victorian villa in the French style, consisting of a porch, sawn ashlar stone, rusticated quoins, disappearing jalousies, mansard slate roof, with an attic and a parapet terminated by urns. The roof, with its attic window, is distinctly French, and although elaborate, is well scaled to so small a house. It has a fine iron fence gate and posts. The verandah has been removed and a later addition obscures the porch.
It was built from 1881-1883 for Arthur Waterhouse to a design of William McMinn, architect.
Current status and listings
ACH Status:
stable
Heritage Protection:
NTSA Listed, State Heritage Listed
NTSA ID:
21
State Heritage ID:
13376
Love this place!


Love the building, hate the palm tree! Garden needs a bit of work, but I’ve always adored this house.
Yes Kat, a little touch of Paris on North Terrace!
I am the Great-great-great( I think that’s enough!) grand-daughter of Thomas Greaves Waterhouse, father of Arthur.
I grew up in Adelaide, in Baliol St initially, near others appropriately named Bagot, Trinity, Malborough, etc.
My father, Ronald Greaves Waterhouse born 1928, died 2013, was a prominent anaesthetist in the town. He researched his family history a lot, found connections that he documented. This information has been lost. Would like anything that you have. Arthur married a Morgan, the Bentley name was attached to Emily his elder sister. Please add
Thanks Janet. We have a little more about the house, but nothing about your family. Have you tried researching on ancestry.com?
Noticed a balcony has been attached to the building. Not sure I’m happy with it, all these add-ons by the latest owners seem like over kill to me.
Hi Janet, I would love to make contact, wud have recently purchased a waterhouse property in nth Adl, and are looking to fill in some gaps
It appears that a multi-level apartment building is under construction behind – but also, in part, attached to this Heritage building. Does anyone have information on how this construction got approval?
Hi Janet.
I am researching Emily Waterhouse. Her son was Walter Owen Bentley the founder of Bentley Motors and the famous Bentley Boys racing team…your Waterhouse family played a significant role in the development of Adelaide…
Hi janet,
So sorry to hear of Ron’s information being lost – I know he did a lot of work. Tim doesn’t have it???
Best wishes, if a wee bit late,
John Waterhouse