Mossgreen
The Collection of Warren & Bunty Bonython - 806 lots
The Collection of Warren & Bunty Bonython
-
Auction House:
-
Reference:#MG019
-
Description:The Warren & Bunty Bonython Collection
Charles (Warren) Bonython and Cynthia (Bunty) Bonython were married for 71 years and lived most of their married life at Romalo House in Magill, Adelaide. They held their wedding reception at the grand estate in 1941 and went on to have three children: Veryan, Simon and Alice and four grand-daughters.
Warren's life was very prominent as a well-known hiker, explorer and conservationist. He began bushwalking while living in Melbourne in the 1940s and during his lifetime completed many of the most renowned treks around the world, including Mt Kilimanjaro when he was 75 years of age. In his early years Warren owned the first MG in South Australia and set a speed record on Sellicks Beach. Warren is credited with conceiving the Heysen Trail, an extraordinary trek through the Mount Lofty and Flinders Ranges – it is no coincidence that this collection is rich in the work of South Australia's most famous artist, Sir Hans Heysen.
Terry Kreig, who shared with Warren the venture of being one of the first white men to walk right around Lake Eyre, described him as "the toughest person I've ever met". Warren passed away at the age of 95 years in 2012.Warren's grandfather was Sir John Langdon Bonython, a politician philanthropist and founder of The Advertiser. His father, John Lavington Bonython, was influential in newspaper management and became Mayor of Adelaide. His brother, Kym Bonython, was one of Australia's most prominent art-dealers.
Cynthia Eyres Young, known throughout her life as Bunty, was the daughter of Mr and Mrs Frank Young, who were a prominent Adelaide family. Romalo House was bought by the young Bonython's from Bunty's family. Bunty met Warren Bonython in Adelaide but it was not till the wedding of her sister in Melbourne in 1940 that the young couple really connected and the romance blossomed. It was Bunty who formed much of the collection that is to be sold in this catalogue and in particular it was her passion for tribal and Persian rugs that led to this extraordinary collection. Bunty was also very active in the South Australian community, writing books on the history of Beaumont House and St Georges Church in Magill. On the occasion of their Diamond wedding anniversary in 2001, Warren and Bunty received letters of congratulation from the Queen, the Prime-Minister of the day John Howard, the Governor General and from the leader of the opposition at that time, Mike Rann.
Bunty Bonython, now unable to live in the grand-home that is Romalo House, has decided with her children that the time has come to disperse the collection that she formed with Warren over her lifetime. Mossgreen is honoured to have been entrusted with the sale of this important collection.
History of Romalo House
In 1839 Patrick Auld purchased 129 acres of land, bounded by what is now Penfold Road, The Parade and Magill Road from Sir James Malcolm, where Auld established his Auldana winery. The western side of the land was subdivided and re-sold. In 1858 Elizabeth Longbottom bought 23 of these blocks, on which she and her son William built a house which they called Home Park (the present Romalo House). There is evidence that leading Adelaide architect Edmund Wright was the original designer of Home Park, but additions made by the Longbottoms in 1870 suggest a more obvious stamp to Wright's work. In 1909 Leon Edmond Mazure, a French Vigneron and winemaker at Auldana vineyard and winery, acquired the estate. More alterations were made and the house was renamed "La Perouse", after the French explorer who had made discoveries around Australia. Edmond Mazure was one of the first vignerons in South Australia to make champagne on a large scale (in 1896), to preserve olives and to introduce levures into the making of wine. The first champagne in South Australia was believed to have been made and bottled in the Barns of Romalo House. In 1922 the property was transferred to Australian Sparking Wines Ltd, and a winery was set up on the south west corner of the property. Mazure continued to live in the house. The name Romalo was transferred to the house, taking on the name of the winery. In 1924 Romalo House and 8 acres of land was sold to Mr Frank Young, and all but the land on which the winery stood was subdivided. In 1948 Warren and Cynthia "Bunty" Bonython bought the property from Mr Young (Bunty's father). Bunty and Warren lived most of their married lives at Romalo House. -
Sale(s):04 May 2014 ~ 11am
The Ballroom
The Sebel Playford Hotel
120 North Terrace
Adelaide, SA 5000 Australia -
Viewing:02 May 2014 ~ 10am - 6pm
Romolo House
24 Romolo Avenue
Magill, Adelaide, SA 5072
Australia
03 May 2014 ~ 10am - 6pm
Romolo House
24 Romolo Avenue
Magill, Adelaide, SA 5072
Australia
04 May 2014 ~ 8am - 10am
Romolo House
24 Romolo Avenue
Magill, Adelaide, SA 5072
Australia
Prices realised in this sale include buyers premium of 24.200%.
