East Melbourne, Powlett Street 022
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Notable features include an elaborate / high standard design of rendered surfaces. A three storey apartment block designed and constructed by the firm of E Jennings, in 1935. It is finished in rendered brick and distinguished by a entry rising through the full height of the building to break the terracotta tiled roof at the eaves line. Windows are disposed in a rigidly geometric arrangement with deeply incised banding between windows at each floor level. The massing and general formal arrangement of the building recalls Georgian sources although the entry draws upon contemporary jazz stylings. [i-Heritage database]
E Jennings & Sons Pty Ltd designed and built this block of sixteen flats for Frank Pentland Watson and Mrs Charles (Elizabeth) Tait in 1935. Work was completed the following year. Little is known about Watson, the electoral rolls of the time list him as having no occupation. Earlier he was described as a traveller. On the other hand Mrs Tait and her husband, Charles, were part of the well known family of theatre entrepreneurs. Charles is probably best remembered as the director and writer of The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906), regarded as the world’s first feature film. Elizabeth acted the part of Kate, Ned Kelly’s mother. The Taits were residents of East Melbourne, living at 60 Clarendon Street. Charles died in 1933 leaving Elizabeth with a large estate to manage. Watson was probably a co-executor. The building has been re-configured and now contains eight much larger apartments.
City of Melbourne Building Permits:
VPRS 11201/P1 Unit 191, Item 15979 (15979)
VPRS 11200/P1 Unit 1809 (15979 (x6) + S, 15982 (x5)
City of Melbourne Rate Books, Albert Ward: 1936/435/
Australian Dictionary of Biography: http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/tait-charles-8738
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