house was closed as nurses' quarters in 1969, after a new residential wing was built at the back of the hospital. In the 1960s, the National Trust of South Australia campaigned successfully to save the building from demolition since it was "the last of the grand mansions of Adelaide's North Terrace boulevard". In 1970, Premier Don Dunstan overrode his cabinet colleagues to save the mansion's from being demolished. Mindful of its tourism potential, he instigated its renovation as a tourist and cultural centre that included a museum and fine-dining and bistro restaurants. At this time, much of the house was conserved to original condition. Dunstan engaged the National Trust of South Australia to conduct the museum for restoration and public use. Costumes, silverware, artworks, furniture, a chandelier and the original gasoliers were displayed in the museum area. The bedrooms became the "fine dining" Henry Ayers Restaurant; the stables housed a bistro. Four private event rooms were used for weddings and events. In June 2021, South Australian Environment Minister David Speirs announced that the History Trust of South Australia, a government agency, would move into the building after undergoing a $6.6 million makeover to be funded by his government. He stated that he had ended the National Trust's monthly recurring lease and that, although the lease termination letter cited only 31 days, the Trust would be given "several months" to vacate the premises. Critics surmised that the decision to terminate the lease "sounds like punishment" following the National Trust's criticism of the government-approved demolition of a historic structure at Port Adelaide in 2019, and that the government's History Trust "is of course never going to publicly criticise them". The National Trust launched a petition and legal action against the order from Speirs, but was unsuccessful. It then moved to premises in Beaumont. However, the government changed in March 2022. Ten days later, the new Environment Minister, Susan Close, announced that the government was supporting the National Trust to have a permanent home in Ayers House and that once a "comprehensive review" had been completed, the trust could move back to the property. Gallery References External links Ayers House Ayers House Museum Ayers Historic House Artlab - Ayers House Tour Adelaide - Ayers House Visitors' Guide - Ayers House ERD Court - Ayers House Carparking Case Ayers House - Sir Henry Ayers Museums in Adelaide Houses in Adelaide Neoclassical architecture in Australia