The David Roche Foundation House Museum

The David Roche Foundation House Museum in North Adelaide is one of the finest decorative arts collections in a private institution in Australia. With a collection of over 3,500 items it spans two centuries of European design from the early Rococo of France to Faberge in Russia.

The David Roche Foundation was established in 1999 by the late Mr David J Roche AM (1930–2013) to be the recipient and custodian of the exceptional collection of antiques, paintings and objets d’art accumulated by him over his lifetime and to be preserved for future generations.

A devoted collector of antiques and fine art, David was acknowledged both in Australia and abroad as a renowned collector. He often referred to himself as an ‘enthusiastic buff’. As such, he was made very welcome by antique merchants from emporiums around the world. His entire life was spent acquiring mostly what he thought essential and all items were acquired with a place in mind.

From toys, money boxes and naïve items to the finest of porcelains, paintings and furnishing items – he loved them all. It is fair to say that David rarely let a day go by without adding another ‘essential’ piece to his collection. It was his heartfelt wish to gift his collection to the people of Australia with a hope that visitors would leave having found a favourite piece to remember.