East Melbourne, Victoria Parade 338, Tara

This house was built in 1856 for Michael Curtain, J.P., who arrived in Melbourne in 1839. The architect was Patrick Scanlan who advertised for tenders in December 1855 to build a two storied house and out offices. Patrick Scanlan had recently completed St. Patrick’s College, East Melbourne, where Curtain’s sons, Patrick and Robert, went to school. The house was advertised for sale in 1875, following Curtain’s death in 1872. It was then described as having ‘eight rooms, kitchen, laundry, stables’ and ‘replete with every modern convenience.’ The house apparently did not sell as Mrs. Curtain was still listed as the owner in 1881, the year of her death.

The house remained in the hands of her executors until its sale, c.1886, to Henry McDonough, grain and produce merchant. It was probably McDonough who gave the house its elaborate cast iron verandah as the 1866 De Gruchy & Leigh isometric map of the area shows the house with a much simpler facade.

According to Tom Hazell who remembers it, "Tara was a splendid house..... beautifully furnished, everything had been bought at the great exhibition of 1880. So all of a piece, all French, all wonderful" Henry's unmarried daughters continued to live in the house until their deaths when it was sold and demolished. "The sisters used to have musical soirees. One would play the harp and one would play the violin. ...They wore Victorian dresses ... the house was still lit by gaslight".

Henry McDonough had ten children: Henry, in the family business; John, dentist; George, solicitor; Isaac, doctor who moved to UK; Charles, gentleman; Mary, home duties; Sarah and Catherine, both pharmacists at St. Vincent's Hospital; Margaret, entered Good Shepherd convent and Elizabeth, home duties. The boys attended Parade College and Xavier, and the girls went to Catholic Ladies College.

Marion Horwood has clear memories of the house:

'I visited this home as a small child 9 yrs old, my godmother was the live in housekeeper for the two remaining ladies. Her name was Blanche Barrett. I sat with Miss Sarah only on one occasion before her death, when I was allowed afternoon tea, I remember her as very old, dignified and very Victorian, I had to be on my best behaviour. I remember every room in that beautiful house, the sitting room, the drawing room where I played with a French sewing table full of gadgets and drawers. The massive old kitchen which I stepped down into from the main hall, with its stone floor, massive table and stoves.The stairs from the kitchen to the main first floor had been closed at ceiling height. I had asked why and [was] told that Miss Sarah's father had done it because the young ladies on numerous occasions had come home late and attempted to go upstairs via the kitchen to avoid waking their father. I was upset when they demolished it. I adored that house.
I also remember the Veranda across the front of the house, it was totally Tessellated, even the pathway down to the front gate.
On Miss Sarah's death she left money for Miss Barrett to either live comfortably in a flat for life or Money to return to England which she did, but later regretted leaving Melbourne, as the England she left as a young woman was no longer. I remained in contact with Miss Barrett till her death.

Miss Barrett was dearly loved by Miss Sarah and her sister, she was a gentle, kind and devoted Catholic and had come to the ladies after many years' service as housekeeper to Parish Priests in Inner Melbourne.'

The house was compulsorily acquired c.1965 for 35,000 pounds for the construction of the proposed ring road which was to run along Clarendon Street. The road was successfully opposed and the house was apparently then sold to developers. It was demolished c.1969 to make way for an office building.