A symmetrical single storey, double fronted weatherboard house. The front is executed in blockwork to imitate ashlar stonework. It has a particularly steeply pitched hipped slate roof and a timber verandah with convex iron and timber posts with cast iron frieze. The verandah may be a later addition. This is possibly a prefabricated building from Kent or Essex. There is an intact early timber fence.
This is one of the only two weatherboard buildings extant in east Melbourne, and is representative of the large number of similar buildings that were built in East Melbourne in the 1850s and early 1860s.
The house was built for a Mrs. Egan. Mrs. Egan's first name has not been confirmed but is presumed to be Ann (wife of Hugh) as two of Ann's daughters, Mary Ann Elizabeth Middlemo and Ellen Whorlton were subsequent owners, and later her grand-daughter, Mary Ellen Sherlock. The family association ended in unhappy circumstances sometime after Mary Ellen's death in 1928, when her husband, Charles Sherlock, transferred the house to Mrs. Mary Ellen Smith as a gift, on the understanding that they would live together. But in July 1934 she sold the house for 650 pounds and moved to North Melbourne. Sherlock asked to move in with her there and when she refused he attacked her with a kitchen knife and a tomahawk. Weakened from a recent stroke he did not inflict much damage but was charged with attempted murder, or intent to do grievous bodily harm. However he was found not guilty and discharged.
The Whorltons occupied the house between 1879 and 1885, and the Sherlocks were occupying it at the time of Mrs. Sherlock's death, but the house was mostly occupied by short term tenants.
The Egan family also owned a similar, slightly older house two doors to the south, then next to the Boundary Hotel, and the Whorltons lived there for a few years prior to moving to No. 1151.
1865-1875: Mrs. Egan
1876-1883: Mrs. Middlemo, (Mary Ann Elizabeth) daughter of Ann and Hugh Egan, and sister of Ellen, below.
1884-1912: Ellen Whorlton, wife of Thomas Whorlton, mariner and carpenter; and daughter of Mrs. Ann Egan (wife of Hugh)
1913-1928: Mary Ellen Sherlock, wife of Charles Sherlock, stevedore, night watchman; and daughter of Ellen Whorlton.
1928-1934: Charles Sherlock and Mary Ellen Smith
Australian Heritage Database: http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl
Burchett Index, City of Melbourne, Notices of Intent to Build,14 June 1865, Reg. No. 920.
City of Melbourne Rate Books, La Trobe Ward, 1866, No. 1276 (first entry)
City of Melbourne Roll of Citizens 1886.
Argus, 11 May 1870, p.4, Marriages; 7 Dec 1876, p. 8; 13 July 1895, p.9; 30 July 1928, 3, col.7; 4 Sept 1934, p.5; 18 Sept 1934, 5.
Index of Births, Deaths and Marriages (online): https://online.justice.vic.gov.au/bdm Search Criteria: Birth of Ellen Egan, 1849, No. 3808; Death of Hugh (son) Egan, 1895, No. 6984.
Inventory in the Administration Papers of Ann Egan,68/164. VPRS 28, P0002, 486.
Trove digitised newspapers,probate notice for Robert Tobin gives Michael Collins' address: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/cite/217136/5776027