The Hans Heysen Project

SA Underpinning entrusted with the restoration of an iconic piece of South Australia's history!

The Cedars - Hahndorf

SA Underpinning is very proud to have been invited by the South Australian Government to undertake the restoration of a key section of this iconic South Australian landmark.

The Cedars is the artistic and spiritual home of Sir Hans Heysen (1877-1968), one of Australia’s most noted landscape artists. It’s also one of the country’s most intact and best-preserved historic homes.

Built in the 1870s this colonial style villa was home to Sir Hans, his wife and their eight children from 1912. The famous chalet style studio in which he worked has recently been identified as the Nation’s oldest surviving purpose-built artist’s studio (1912) while the homestead has a grace and charm that speaks of the style of a bygone era.

His car, a Model A Ford, which he used for his painting trips to the Flinders Ranges, is on display in the Garage which also houses the former maid’s quarters, although this building has suffered over the years and is in urgent need of repairs.

Work begins late 2021 and will continue through 2022. 

The Project

Restore the Garage & Former Maid's Quarters to their former glory!

After extensive preliminary inspections, the SA Underpinning team is bringing its combined decades of expertise to all aspects of this project – from our core underpinning services to masonry and brickwork repairs, timber replacement, roof renovations, tree removal and improved drainage.

With tradespeople skilled in each area, we’re using traditional materials and building methods to deliver a faithful renovation that’s completely sympathetic to the original construction.

The Work

Here’s a small selection of the work being undertaken at The Cedars.

We also provide the same level of care and attention to all our projects, no matter how large or small.

  • Initial underpinning as required
  • Repair and replace brickwork
  • Repair eroded mortar joints
  • Repair and replace missing and loose render from brick parapets
  • Replace missing timber floor boards to match original
  • Replace rotted door and frame
  • Repair timber skirtings
  • Repair cracks to walls and ceilings and make good all rendered surfaces
  • Replace missing window
  • Repair brick plinth and repoint
  • Remove and rebuild wall sections with matching bricks and traditional lime mortar
  • Repair and repaint ceilings
  • Repair and replace galvanised iron gutters and roofing
  • Install new agricultural drain
  • Remove trees and re-route storm water away from building

We’ll post more pictures as each stage is completed.