Worked from the historic reference
The 1870s photograph gave the team a clear visual guide for the verandah and balcony proportions, roof form, post placement and decorative rhythm.
Heritage Restoration, Glenelg
Rebuilding the traditional verandah and balcony of Seafield Tower from an early photograph, while retaining the original cast iron posts and period detail.
Project overview
Bringing a 150-year-old photograph back to life.
Seafield Tower is one of Glenelg's significant heritage buildings, originally designed as a pair of substantial summer residences for Sir Henry Ayers and Sir Thomas Elder. For this project, Adelaide Heritage Renovations was engaged to rebuild the traditional verandah and balcony so the finished work would sit naturally with the building's original architecture.
The reference point was a historic photograph from the 1870s. Rather than treating the verandah as a modern replacement, the work was approached as a careful reconstruction: reading the proportions, roof pitch, fretwork, balcony rhythm and period detailing from the image, then translating those details into a durable structure suitable for the coast.
The original cast iron posts and decorative features were retained wherever possible. New work was matched to the existing fabric with close attention to profile, material, spacing and finish, so the rebuilt balcony feels like part of Seafield Tower's history rather than an addition placed on top of it.
What we did
Restoration guided by evidence, craft and restraint.
Heritage work depends on more than replacing what is missing. On a building like Seafield Tower, each decision has to respect the original design while giving the structure the strength and finish it needs for long-term use.
Retained original cast iron
The existing cast iron posts and period features were protected and worked back into the rebuilt structure, preserving the craftsmanship that gives the building its character.
Built for another century
Materials, fixings and finishes were selected and installed with longevity in mind, balancing heritage accuracy with the practical demands of a prominent coastal building.
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