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Building histories

This is the collection of building histories written and maintained by the East Melbourne Historical Society.

You can find a particular history by zooming and panning the map. Or you can search the list with the fields below the map.

Using the map

Zoom and pan using the tools at the top left of the map or by dragging and scrolling with your mouse.

Hovering over a marker will show the title of the building history.
Click on a marker to show a summary and a link to the building history page.

Javascript is required to view this map.

Using the search fields

The list is sorted by title alphabetically:
Suburb first, then Street name, then Street number.

Restrict the list by entering something in one of the form fields and clicking "Apply".
To return to the complete list clear all form fields and click "Apply".

East Melbourne, Albert Street 033

Description: 

According to the Notice of Intent to Build it was 'a house of two rooms and attics, capable of conversion to two houses.'

History: 

Section 27, on part of which this house stood, was largely given over to churches: The Free Presbyterians, the Primitive Methodists and the Methodist New Connexion, but on 16 October 1868 the rest

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  • 3020 reads

East Melbourne, Albert Street 043

Description: 
Two storey terrace style house.
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  • 2394 reads

East Melbourne, Albert Street 045

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  • 23 reads

East Melbourne, Albert Street 045

Description: 
Simple single fronted, single storey cottage with iron lacework verandah
History: 
45 Albert Street was built for Richard Buchan in 1870 by builder, Robert Spencer. The previous year Richard had married Catherine Martin. Both husband and wife came from Perth, Scotland.
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  • 919 reads

East Melbourne, Albert Street 070, Strathroy

Description: 
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.
History: 
John Woods, named most appropriately for his occupation as timber merchant, built 70 Albert Street in 1884.
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  • 3544 reads

East Melbourne, Albert Street 088

Description: 
Brick house with stables and wash house
History: 
The Notice of Intention to Build describes the proposed building as a cottage however according to the Rate books the house started as seven rooms, grew to eight c.1880, then again to eleven c. 1885.
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  • 3347 reads

East Melbourne, Albert Street 092, Coniston

Description: 
A single storey brick house
History: 
The house was first built as a five roomed brick cottage but gained two more rooms c. 1885.
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  • 2707 reads

East Melbourne, Albert Street 102, Ruaru

Description: 
A brick and wooden house.
History: 
The Notice of Intent to build describes the proposed building as a wooden cottage. It first appears in the Rate Books as a five roomed brick and wooden house.
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  • 2855 reads

East Melbourne, Albert Street 108

Description: 
A six roomed brick house.
History: 
Possibly the house referred to in the Notice of Intention to Build as "an additional cottage" The house was built by Thomas Murray, who as a partner in the firm Murray & Hill built many of Melbou
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  • 2659 reads

East Melbourne, Albert Street 109, Burnell

Description: 

Two storey house with a tower, verandah and balcony with central portico, all decorated with arches of Moorish influence.

History: 

The house at 109 Albert Street appears to have been completed c.1877 when it first appears in the Rate Books (Albert Ward) as a brick house of 12 rooms. However there had been a lengthy gestation.

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  • 3717 reads

East Melbourne, Albert Street 112

Description: 
Four roomed brick house.
History: 
Thomas Murray was a contractor who with Peter Hill formed the firm Murray & Hill, contractors and joiners.
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  • 2512 reads

East Melbourne, Albert Street 118

Description: 
Timber house of five rooms.
History: 
Thomas Wright, the owner and builder of the house, was a contractor who built many houses in the East Melbourne area.
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  • 2767 reads

East Melbourne, Albert Street 128, 130

Description: 
A pair of two-storey single fronted houses with cast iron balconies.
History: 
Thomas Wright, who built and owned the houses was a contractor who built many houses in the East Melbourne area.
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  • 3314 reads

East Melbourne, Albert Street 132, 134

Description: 
A rather severe pair of dwellings with simple details. The two storey verandah is virtually completely altered. The six pane sashes to the rear would suggest an early date.
History: 
These two houses were built by John O’Brien for William Lumsden and Eliza, his wife, in 1866. According to his short obituary in the Argus in 1905: [He] came to Victoria in the early fifties.
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  • 1902 reads

East Melbourne, Albert Street 19, 23, Hatton Court

Description: 

Two apartment blocks in the Moderne style

History: 

These two blocks of apartments were designed by architect Leslie J W Reed for sisters Hylda and Sophie Grattan. They were the daughters of William Grattan, a grazier who died in 1917.

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  • 1409 reads

East Melbourne, Albert Street 246, Sherwood

Description: 
See sources below
History: 
The Argus of 30 March 1940, p. 22 ran a block advertisement describing Sherwood, 246 Albert Street as 'New Modern, Dignified City Home' just completed.
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  • 2557 reads

East Melbourne, Albert Street 268, Woollahra

Description: 
Large free-standing house.
History: 
'Joe' Thompson was a bookmaker and in 1873 he was also the owner of a horse named Don Juan (bought for £50 at Kirk's bazaar) who won the Melbourne Cup that year.
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  • 3144 reads

East Melbourne, Albert Street 332, 334

Description: 
A pair of two-storey, single fronted houses built as mirror twins, with front doors side by side under arched porticos. Verandahs on the ground floor, no balconies. Regency influence.
History: 
The first owner of this pair of houses, John Alfred Porter, Prothonotary of the Supreme Court, built his own house at 332 Albert Street first and then a matching one two years later as an investment.
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  • 3152 reads

East Melbourne, Albert Street 340, 342

Description: 
Matching pair of two storey houses with verandahs below, no balcony.
History: 
340 Albert Street was built as a family home for Abraham Goldberg while its neighbour, 342, was an investment property, probably leased as a lodging house.
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  • 4440 reads

East Melbourne, Albert Street 366

Description: 

The house is built to the footpath, unusual for its time and in the East Melbourne area.

History: 

The house at 366 Albert Street East Melbourne was built in 1909 for the Rev Llewelyn David Bevan (1842-1918).

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  • 189 reads

East Melbourne, Albert Street 392

Description: 

One of an unusual terrace of 16 houses which is built around a corner site, with some of the houses in Albert Street and others in Lansdowne Street.

History: 

To come.

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  • 795 reads

East Melbourne, Albert Street 412, Mentmore

Description: 
Modest single storey house but with extravagantly scaled 4 fluted composite columns to verandah across front, swags, etc. Eight rooms on land 33 feet by 160 feet.
History: 
The house is listed in the rate books as being next door to the Medical Society and next door but one to the Victorian Artists Society, across Morrison Place.
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  • 3055 reads

East Melbourne, Albert Street 472, 476

Description: 

A pair of houses of classical design with a covered carriageway between.

History: 

This pair of houses, together known as Fairmount, were built in 1874 for James Garton, livery stables proprietor, by Robert Huckson to the design of architect George Browne.  

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  • 1461 reads

East Melbourne, Berry Street 040, Cotswold

Description: 
Two-storey brick house
History: 
"Cotswold was built in 1891 by W. Parks, Contractor, and Philip E.
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  • 4972 reads

East Melbourne, Burchett Lane 015

Description: 
The structure is almost invisible. It presents as a large brick cube covered in Virginia creeper.
History: 
In 1868 the Church of England completed its first East Melbourne vicarage on land granted to it on the south side of Hotham Street, near Hoddle Street, one half acre in all.
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  • 1 comment
  • 1059 reads

East Melbourne, Clarendon Street 017, St Hilda's

Description: 
Large two-storey house, built of red brick, with red tiled roof; a corner turret; balconies. [For detailed description see City of Melbourne i-Heritage database]
History: 
St. Hilda's was built in 1907 by R S Phillips for James Griffiths. The architects were Ward and Carleton.
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  • 4355 reads

East Melbourne, Clarendon Street 023, Holcombe

Description: 

Large two storey house of rendered brick

History: 

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. 

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  • 691 reads

East Melbourne, Clarendon Street 036, Mosspennoch

Description: 
A two-storey, double fronted Italianate mansion of render on brick construction.
History: 
Mosspennock was built in 1881 for James Liddell Purves, Q.C. and was designed by Charles Webb. It is unusual for the curved glass in its front bow windows.
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  • 2 comments
  • 9844 reads

East Melbourne, Clarendon Street 060, Gnaroo

Description: 
Large two storey brick house, with tiled roof, large verandahs and no chimneys
History: 
The house was built in 1912 for Charles Tait by builders, Morley & Whelan, to the design of architects, Klingender & Alsop.
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  • 1828 reads

East Melbourne, Clarendon Street 068, 070, Vizard House

Description: 
A pair of single fronted two storey houses of red brick with cement dressings. The verandahs and balconies are in the form of arcaded galleries and there is a gable above.
History: 
Sir Austin Chapman (1864-1926) was an important participant in the push for Federation.
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  • 8667 reads

East Melbourne, Clarendon Street 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, Fitzroy Terrace

Description: 
A row of six three-storey terrace houses.
History: 
Fitzroy Terrace, was a row of six three-storey terrace houses. Three were built in 1855 for Samuel Ramsden. Then in 1864 Ramsden lodged a notice of intention to build a further four houses.
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  • 3060 reads

East Melbourne, Clarendon Street 150, Clarendon House

Description: 
A large two-storey house with colonnaded balcony and a balustrade around the roofline.
History: 
Sir William a'Beckett, Chief Justice of Victoria, and his wife were the first owners of Clarendon House.
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  • 4696 reads

East Melbourne, Clarendon Street 162, Belmont

Description: 
Large three-storey house built to the street.
History: 
Belmont was built in 1873 for William Taylor, auctioneer, who lived there for thirty years. He died in 1903 leaving the house to his wife until her death.
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  • 2530 reads

East Melbourne, Clarendon Street 180, Stanford House

Description: 

A photo of c.1934 shows a large symmetrical house. The central section has a steep roof with attic windows, and is flanked by Italianate pavillions, each with a bay window.

History: 

The house is believed to be the first built in East Melbourne after the first Crown land sales of 1852 opened the suburb up to the public.

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  • 4871 reads

East Melbourne, Clarendon Street 206, Valetta House

Description: 

A stucco-faced dwelling in a restrained version of the Regency style, remarkable for Palladian massing with two axes of symmetry and corner pavilions.

History: 

The house was erected by R. Jones for John Gray in 1856.The first we know about John Gray is his marriage to Eliza (nee Abrahams) the widow of William Pyke in 1853.

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  • 6740 reads

East Melbourne, Clarendon Street 208, 210, 212, Clarendon Terrace

Description: 
A terrace of three two storey houses designed to look like one house. The central house has an unusual portico of giant order Corinthian columns.
History: 
Clarendon Terrace was built in 1857 by Robert Huckson, to the design of Osgood Pritchard for Charles Lister, wine and spirit merchant and brewer.
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  • 3531 reads

East Melbourne, Clarendon Street 220, Victoria House

Description: 

The building is a modern derivation of the Tudor style.

History: 

Philip Hudson, A.R.V.I.A, Stalbbridge Chambers, 443 Chancery lane, Melbourne also designed the Shrine of Remembrance, St. Kilda Road, called tenders for residential flats cf.

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  • 946 reads

East Melbourne, Clarendon Street 226, Rathmore

Description: 

The house is double storey, asymmetrically planned and constructed of red brick. At ground floor level a single wide arch screens the verandah from the street.

History: 

The house at 226 Clarendon Street was designed by H W & F B Tompkins in 1911 for Margaret Ethel Leslie (nee Stephenson) and built by W H Bullows. 

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  • 67 reads

East Melbourne, Clarendon Street 228, 230, Clarendon Flats

Description: 

This two-storey building was designed as a block of six self-contained flats.  It is constructed of red brick and forms an important part of the red brick group of 226, 224, 222 and 220 Claren

History: 

On 9 Aug 1912 The Herald ran a short article stating that,

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  • 74 reads

East Melbourne, Darling Street 002, 004, 006, 008, 010

Description: 
A terrace of five cottages
History: 
The terrace was built house by house over a number of years, presumably as the owner's finances grew. The first two houses to be built were Nos. 8 and 10, and the last was No.
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  • 2272 reads

East Melbourne, Darling Street 012, 014, The Old Police Station

Description: 

Not known

History: 

Initially described in the Rate Books as six rooms, the following year the description changes to five rooms, pantry, bath and shed, and by 1875 it has become seven rooms.

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  • 2593 reads

East Melbourne, Darling Street 024

Description: 
Cottage
History: 
George William Paterson sold his four room cottage very soon after its completion to Andrew Bell who added another room. Bell lived there until at least 1900.
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  • 1998 reads

East Melbourne, Darling Street 028, The Workshop

Description: 
Workshop
History: 
First listed in the Rate Books as a workshop but by 1895 the useage had changed to stables. James Peel Browne owned the building until his death in 1905.
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  • 2682 reads

East Melbourne, Darling Street 032

Description: 
Cottage
History: 
The Notice of Intent to Build gives notice of a cottage to be built by and for Abraham Priest. However the Rate Books from 1870 until at least 1900 give the owner as James Priest.
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  • 2863 reads

East Melbourne, George Street 032, Bradoc House

Description: 

A block of eighteen flats. Built of brick with a Tudor-Byzantine exterior, with Spanish influence. Decorative brickwork and painted incised render. Art deco interiors

History: 

From construction in the 1930s until late 1989 privately owned rental investment residential flats. Nine one bedroom flats; three two bedroom flats; six bed-sitters.

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  • 3572 reads

East Melbourne, George Street 040, 042

Description: 
A pair of two storey, single fronted houses of brick and stone, now cement rendered
History: 
Two four roomed houses were built by William McLean to separately accommodate his father, Peter McLean, and father-in-law, Andrew Arnot.
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  • 2864 reads

East Melbourne, George Street 046

Description: 
Stone house
History: 
Originally built as five rooms, a sixth room added in 1882 and a seventh in 1888. William Niven, stationer, arrived in Melbourne in 1857 on the King of Algeria with his wife, Isabella, and young daug
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  • 2052 reads

East Melbourne, George Street 048, 050

Description: 

The houses at 48-50 George Street comprise a pair of semi-detached, nineteenth century, Italianate single-storey residences with basements.

History: 

This pair of houses was built in 1861 by and for William Crawford of Melbourne.  Nothing further can identify this particular William Crawford with any certainty.  The houses, in the Burc

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  • 458 reads

East Melbourne, George Street 054

Description: 

Two storey double fronted house with simple facade

History: 

Abraham Kellet married Ellen Russell in 1857 and was no doubt anxious to provide a home for his new bride and what turned out to be his large brood of children.

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  • 1296 reads

East Melbourne, George Street 088, 090, Cornwall Terrace

Description: 
Pair of two storey brick houses
History: 
Not known
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  • 1900 reads
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