Carved into the high side of Clarendon's main street like it was born of the land itself, Toondilla is a striking C1885 Victorian villa that stands as both home and historic landmark.
Commissioned by Henry Morphett on land gifted by his pioneering father Richard, Toondilla is a masterclass in Victorian craft - from its sheltered verandah and sandstone quoins to its ornate cast iron fencing and domed stone water tanks.
Built directly on bedrock, this enduring home - featuring a bevy of bedrooms and grand living zones - has held firm for nearly a century and a half - as graceful and grounded now as the day it was sculpted.
Inside, the home is a treasure trove of hand-finished details and crafted ornamentation. Think towering skirtings, hand-grained timber doors, coved cornices and not one, but eight fireplaces, including five with marble surrounds and original decorative tiling.
Ceiling roses bloom overhead, while elaborate hallway arches and a stained-glass-cloaked art nouveau bay window in the 1912 dining room addition create focal points as opulent as they are personal.
A walk-in roof loft and a wine cellar carved into the hillside remind you that functionality wasn't left behind in favour of aesthetics.
While Toondilla has remained remarkably faithful to its beginnings, it was also expanded, adapted and improved over the decades - its central, super-functional kitchen and bill-busting solar panels prime examples.
With so many original features intact, Toondilla invites the next custodian to honour its past while thoughtfully bringing it into a new era - whether that's a gentle restoration, creative revival, or simply letting it breathe again.
Tucked into the Onkaparinga hills, Clarendon feels like a village lifted from another time - leafy, peaceful, and proudly local. And yet, it's just minutes to McLaren Vale's cellar doors, the southern coastline, and a straightforward run to the city. To be continued
Move to love:
- C1885 Victorian villa on historic Morphett family estate
- Flexible floorplan
- A truly enduring home - without a crack in sight
- Unique domed stone rainwater tanks and large walk-in roof loft
- Cellar carved into the hillside ideal for wine storage
- Updated kitchen and main bathroom
- Separate laundry
- Bundles of storage
- Beautifully established gardens with over 90 species of plants
- Positioned in the heart of Clarendon village
- Just 15 minutes to McLaren Vale wine region
- Around 20 minutes to southern beaches
- Scenic commute to Adelaide via Chandlers Hill
- Close to local cafes, general store, and Clarendon Primary School
Specifications:
CT / 5798/578
Council / Onkaparinga
Zoning / TN
Built / 1890
Land / 700m2 (approx)
Frontage / 21.32m
Council Rates / $3,361.67pa
Emergency Services Levy / $256.20pa
SA Water / $314.40pq
Estimated rental assessment: $650 - $700 p/w (Written rental assessment can be provided upon request)
Nearby Schools / Clarendon P.S
Disclaimer: All information provided has been obtained from sources we believe to be accurate, however, we cannot guarantee the information is accurate and we accept no liability for any errors or omissions (including but not limited to a property's land size, floor plans and size, building age and condition). Interested parties should make their own enquiries and obtain their own legal and financial advice. Should this property be scheduled for auction, the Vendor's Statement may be inspected at any Harris Real Estate office for 3 consecutive business days immediately preceding the auction and at the auction for 30 minutes before it starts. RLA | 343103
