East Melbourne, Clarendon Street 023, Holcombe

23 Clarendon Street, known as Holcombe, was built for William Henry Hull in 1855 to the design of John Gill.  Gill advertised for tenders in December 1854. 

William Henry Hull, the son of William Hull and Anne Notley, was born in London in 1818.  With his parents and his seven brothers and sisters he arrived in Melbourne in 1840.  William senior, a wealthy wine merchant, became a keen advocate for Separation, a magistrate and MLC 1860-1866.  William junior was a clerk in the Treasury rising to chief clerk and receiver and paymaster of the Treasury, and for some years was acting under treasurer.  He married Caroline Perry in 1859 and had four daughters.  

When William Henry Hull’s name first appears in the Sands & McDougall Post Office Directories in 1858 where his address is given as 4 Clarendon Street.  The block was one in from the corner of Victoria Parade.  Soon after the address became 111 Clarendon Street and finally in 1890 it became No 23.  Hull had bought the block, Allotment 10 Section 9, at the first East Melbourne land sales on 18 Nov 1852 for £270.  On his death in 1891 the property was valued at £2500.  His widow continued to live in the house until 1897.  It was then sold to Barnett Hyman Altson, a tobacconist, who moved in with his wife, Rose, and their young children, and also his father David, a retired saddler.  David died in 1920 and the house was sold again in 1923.  At this time it was advertised as follows:

EXCEPTIONALLY WELL BUILT and COMMODIOUS BRICK and. CEMENT RESIDENCE. "HOLCOMBE.". 23 CLARENDON STREET, EAST MELBOURNE
GEORGE G HENDERSON PTY. LTD Equitable Building (In conjunction with PATTERSON and SONS. 311 Collins Street), will SELL as above, by instruction of B. H. Altson, Esq., that VERY FINE RESIDENCE, "HOLCOMBE" in Clarendon street. East Melbourne, close to Victoria parade, and the Fitzroy, gardens, containing, on GROUND FLOOR, sitting-room, 18 x 14; dining-room, 20 X 15; billiard-room. 27 x 18½: oak panelled, oak cupboards, and leadlight windows; library, breakfast-room. 25 x 13: kitchen, scullery, servery, with sink and cupboards.
UPSTAIRS 7 bedrooms (18 x 14. 18 X 16, 18 x 14, 20 x 15, &c, &c), 2 bathrooms, 2 sleep-out verandahs.
Outbuilding comprise brick laundry and wash-house, tool-house; wood shed, and work-shop.
LAND 82ft. 6in. x 132ft. along a right-of-way, laid out in beautiful garden.
The position and accommodation are most excellent, and render the property of particular value to institutions requiring proximity to the city, or for flats, and it is in close proximity to the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Scotch College, Victoria parade trams, and the Fitzroy Gardens. [Argus, 3 Feb 1923, p.4]

After the sale it was converted to a number of small flats.  It was sold again in 1950 when it was bought by the Master Builders’ Association.  The following year it was demolished to make way for an office building to accommodate the headquarters of the MBA.