CONTRACTORS are preparing to demolish what is thought to be Millicent’s last private maternity home.
Known to many as Mrs Mott’s nursing home, Boneham Aged Care Services bought the adjacent dwelling on Williams Road from the Groot estate in April.
The stone house on Williams Road was licensed as a maternity home by the State Government until the 1920s and was then a private home.
It had been operated by Lucy Mott, who had previously been the matron of Millicent’s Thyne Memorial Hospital from 1900 to 1915.
Boneham Aged Care Services board of management chairman Greg Nitschke said it was unfortunate this piece of history would be lost.
However, Mr Nitschke said there were concerns vandals could damage the unoccupied property.
He said the Boneham board had no immediate plans for the land.
“We are always looking to create better services for the community,” Mr Nitschke said.
“The land will be ready for use if our plans change.
“The whole facility (house and garden) will be totally cleared.
“It is cheaper to do it all at once than in stages.”
A Millicent resident with a special interest in the situation is Fay Dunn, who was married to Les Dunn from 1953 until his death in 2007.
Ms Dunn has told The South Eastern Times of the information passed on to her.
“Les never spoke about it, but my late mother-in-law May Dunn (nee Nitschke) told me that Les was born at Mrs Mott’s nursing home,” Ms Dunn said.
“Les was born in October, 1928, and his family was living at Tantanoola.
“Demolition of Mrs Mott’s nursing home is one of those things.
“It is too far gone.”
The South Eastern Times put out a call on social media for people who were born at Mrs Mott’s nursing home and a number of responses were received about the birthplaces of those still alive and now deceased.
This newspaper has been told Boneham Aged Care Services resident and Bateman family matriarch Joy Hann was born there in July 1920.
Her cousin and fellow Boneham Aged Care Services resident Margaret Agnew (nee Holland) was born there in 1926.
Among the others are Pearl Hawke (nee Peters, born in 1920), Douglas Bowman (born in 1922), Mary Mann, Joe Bridges(1920), Inez Millhouse (nee Jordan), Donald Williams (1916), Drake Sutherland (1924) and his wife Kathleen Sutherland (nee Williams, born in 1926).
As was common practice across South Australia, Millicent formerly had a number of maternity homes for expectant mothers and they were also known as lying-in homes.
A local agent handled the sale of the Williams Road house on behalf of the Groot estate.
It stands on an 1800 square metre block and is bordered immediately to the north by Boneham Aged Care Services.
The property had been on the market for several months following the death of last occupant Nell Groot.
Under the Groot family ownership, the garden was well known for its private gatherings of musicians.
