The building possesses an asymmetrical plan with a bayed front room and a verandah fronting the balance of the façade. Most of its decorative impact is confined to the parapet entablature. Both portions of the façade's parapet have central pediments which surmount a balustraded parapet, atop a cornice mould with scrolled console brackets and rosettes under. There are numerous panels of vermiculation - both above and below the cornice mould. The iron palisade fence is intact, except for the gate (the iron gate posts, their friezes and post caps dominating the small frontage of pickets). The chimneys have heavy cornice moulds. [City of Melbourne i-Heritage database]
John Woods, named most appropriately for his occupation as timber merchant, built 70 Albert Street in 1884. At the time he died in 1900 he owned 40 properties, mainly in the inner suburbs including his large timber yard in Fitzroy, but also some in regional Victoria, however Albert Street was not among them. By this time Arthur Woods, his son, was owner and occupier, and it could be that John had given the house to Arthur as a wedding present. Arthur was married in 1895.
In 1929 Miss Emma Glasson, saleswoman, became owner and occupier. Around 1944 she married Arthur Reginald Thompson, engineer, and she remained there with him throughout his life, and later as his widow until shortly before her own death in 1979 at the age of 89 in Hawthorn. She still owned the house she called Tresco. It was described at the time as “a 6 roomed brick residence very old in bad repair” and valued at $45,500.
Owners
1880-1895: John Woods, timber merchant [citz] (including vacant land, before house was erected)
1900-1928: Arthur Woods, jeweller [citz]
1929-1942/43: (Miss) Emma Glasson
1944/45-1974/75+: (Mrs.) Emma Thompson, nee Glasson, wife of Arthur R. Thompson. [Death Index]
Occupiers:
1884: vacant
1885: James Travis
1890: Mrs. Fanny Musgrove
1895: Alexander Gellatly [?]
1900-1901: Arthur Woods
1905: A.H. Montgomery
1910-1915: Percy John Ridgeway, solicitor [Dir], barrister [E 1915]; Charlotte Caroline Ridgeway.
1920: Charles H. Carr, clerk; Charles Seymour Carr, accountant; Jane Carr, Home Duties. [E 1906]
1922: Frederick Charles Duncan, licensee of Prince Patrick Hotel, Victoria Parade, Collingwood [Argus]
1925: Jane G. Carr
1930-1940: Miss Emma Glasson
1944-1969: Arthur R. Thompson
1974: Mrs. E. Thompson
City of Melbourne, i-Heritage database:
http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/BuildingandPlanning/Planning/heritagepla...
Burchett Index: City of Melbourne Notice of Intent to Build, 20 Oct 1883, Reg. No. 545.
City of Melbourne, Citizens Rolls (Citz.)
Electoral Rolls (E)
Sands & McDougall Post Office Directories (Dir)
Public Records Office of Victoria: Wills and Probate: http://prov.vic.gov.au/Research
Trove digitised newspapers: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/home