East Melbourne, Grey Street 129

Edwin Richard Elliott had been postmaster in Beechworth and circa 1865 he moved to Melbourne and bought a house at what is now 137 Grey Street, East Melbourne. This house he called Grafton Villa. He then purchased the vacant block next door at 129 Grey Street. He commissioned Crouch & Wilson to design a new residence for him. But it seems that when the house was completed he preferred to stay where he was and rent out the new house. James Callaghan was his first tenant.

In 1877 he advertised the house for lease:- EAST MELBOURNE – TO LET, that very superior detached Family RESIDENCE, known as Marathon, situated in Grey-etreet close to Fitzroy-gardons. containing 12 rooms, verandah and balcony front and side, detached kitchen and offices. Apply Grafton villa, next door.

Dr. John Singleton became the new tenant. Singleton was a well known doctor and philanthropist with a family of ten children. Two of his unmarried daughters were determined to run a school and Singleton had been able to buy for them Ormiston Ladies' College which had operated at various addresses in East Melbourne since the 1850s. No. 129 became its last home in East Melbourne before moving to Surrey Hills in 1900. The house became known as Ormiston House. As well as the school Ormiston House was able to accomodate Dr. Singleton's consulting rooms on the opposite side so the two enterprises did not collide.

Elliott was still the owner at his death in 1897 when it was valued at £1500. After the Singletons moved out the property became a boarding house, 'At Ormiston 129 Grey street East Melbourne. private SUITES, good cuisine, hot and cold baths' By 1905 the name had been changed again and the house was now known as Hayling and accommodation was referred to as Flats with 'private kitchens'. It was demolished in the 1930s to make way for the existing block of flats.