This is the collection of building histories written and maintained by the East Melbourne Historical Society.
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East Melbourne, Victoria Parade 458, Dorijo
A three storey building of rendered brick containing 12 apartments in the Art Deco style. As it faces Victoria Parade it is a symmetrical building with the main entrance at the ground floor level of the central element, and above French doors opening onto balconies. The balconies diminish in width as they progress up the building giving a sense of increased height.
History: Rupert Stanley Joseph, auctioneer, became the registered owner of the land now known as 458 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne, in 1919 (Certificate of Title Vol 4196 Fol 131). In 1932, aged in his mid-50s and by then calling himself an investor, he married Doris Lilian Meinardi (Ancestry).
East Melbourne, Victoria Parade 488
Single story, double fronted house
The house was built in 1870 by G. Griffiths for Thomas Parslow as a four room cottage. Parslow sold if four years later when he returned to England. It was bought by John Ryan, a grazier with a property on the Darling River called Walloo Station. He called the cottage Walloo. He died in 1876 leaving his widow, Mary Teresa Ryan, as owner and occupant.
East Melbourne, Victoria Parade 514, 516, 518, 520, 522, 524, Royal Villas
A row of six terrace houses. The central four each have a triple arched verandah and two windows above, while the two end houses have an arched porch over the front door and one window downstairs, and two windows above.
J Knipe notified the City Council of his intention to build a row of six 8 roomed houses in Victoria Parade on 1 December 1876. The builder was to be James Carlton. By June 1877 they were advertised to let for £750 each.
East Melbourne, Victoria Parade 548
Fine Renaissance Revival single storey ashlar render residence. Elaborate eaves detail with timber brackets and render motif. Heavy cast iron frieze and brackets to verandah. The brackets have an unusual snake pattern. The slate roof is steeply pitched with fine render chimneys.
The house was built for William Phillips in 1869. Phillips was an iron moulder at the Victoria Foundry, Victoria Street, Carlton, and it is probably he who designed and cast the unusual iron brackets to the front verandah.
East Melbourne, Wellington Parade 002, 4, 6, 8, 10, Wellington Terrace
A terrace of five two-storey houses of simple design. The terrace displays regularly spaced windows on the upper level, three to each house, and below a verandah with concave roof supported by a central column, and simple iron frieze and brackets.
This early terrace was built by Samuel Amess and Alexander McLaren, both building contractors. Their partnership broke up soon after. In 1864 Amess was elected to the Melbourne City Council and was mayor 1869-1871. Amess Street in Carlton is named after him.
East Melbourne, Wellington Parade 012
A clinker brick, two-storey building of simple classical design with ornamentation limited to an Art Deco decorative feature at the roofline and stylised lettering on the side wall facing an access lane. It appears almost two dimensional in denial of its difficult triangular site. It could be a stage set.
In 1900 two 2-storey brick houses on this site were sold for demolition and removal to make way for the new extension to the Inner Circle railway line which opened in 1902. The railway line cut diagonally through the land leaving the cramped, triangular site we see today. This unused land remained vacant until 1939 when the current building was completed. Although no advertise
East Melbourne, Wellington parade 042
Large two storey brick house with balconies and verandahs
On 11 January 1864 A Stombocco gave notice to the Melbourne City Council that he would build for Benoni Salway a villa in Wellington Parade opposite the Police Barracks gates. By 3 November the same year the Salway family had moved in and Mrs Salway gave birth to a son at the house they named Torrington Villa.
East Melbourne, Wellington Parade 108, Tullyvallin
The house contains upon the ground floor drawing-room 23ft. 6 x 20; diningroom, 20 x 15.9”; spacious hall, 20ft. x 7; library, 11ft 6 x 7ft.; coffeeroom, 16 x 14ft. 3; pantry, 11ft. 6 x 7ft.; kitchen, 18 x 14ft. 3; servants’-room, 14ft 2 x 13; servants’-hall, 11 x 11. First Floor – Bedroom No. 1, 20ft. x 19; No. 2, 20 x 19; No. 3, 16 x 11 6; No. 4, 16 x 12; No. 5, 11ft 9 x 7; No. 6, 11ft.
This very grand house was built for James Simpson,Commissioner of Lands, and the man after whom Simpson Street is named. Dr. Miles Lewis states that the house is consistent with the style of Charles Laing. Dr. Lewis also cites an advertisement in April 1856 in which Charles Laing calls for tenders to build a house for Francis McDonnell in Wellington Parade.
East Melbourne, Wellington Parade 110, 112
A pair of matching terrace houses, although built three years apart for different owners. They had timber verandahs and no balcony.
In 1885 110 was purchased by George Shaw, the owner of the large, neighbouring house, Tullyvallin, 108 Wellington Parade, as a descendant writes, "to provide extra accommodation when needed and to ensure the use of a right of way to his stables".
East Melbourne, Wellington Parade 118, Rolyat
Large two storey house, currently used for a medical clinic.
The original house built for W.T. Trollope, solicitor, was single storey. The Rate Books up until 1867 give his name as the owner and occupier, and then the owner becomes T.W. Trollope, also a solicitor, until 1881. During the latter's ownership the house was rented out. It would appear that the two owners were in fact one and the same. Other members of W.T.
East Melbourne, Wellington Parade 124, Park House
Two storey single fronted house with cast iron verandah and balcony.
Built for Captain Arthur Devlin, in the Rate Books of 1864 the house is described as having six rooms plus shed. For the next ten years the number of rooms fluctuates between six and seven. The land is given as 33 feet by 165 feet. In 1873 Hugh Junor Browne became the owner and made additions to the house. The architect was F.M.
East Melbourne, Wellington Parade 136, 138, 140
Three shops with residence above
The building at 136-140 Wellington Parade was built in 1924 on a site previously occupied by a single brick house. It was designed by architect Nahum Barnet for Walter Joseph Williams, a chemist who had previously rented premises on the opposite corner since c.1915.
East Melbourne, Wellington Parade 148, 150, 152
Two shops and seven roomed brick villa
150 was one in from the SW corner of Powlett Street. It was a pharmacy from about 1896 to 1924. The first chemist there was Patrick McLean; he was followed about two years later by Edward Maurice Gibbs; then for about ten years from 1903 by Harry J. Massey, chemist and dentist; and finally Walter J. Williams, chemist and optician, purchased the business about 1913.
East Melbourne, Wellington Parade 154, Maisonette
Eight roomed, double fronted, brick villa
Owned by Eliza Jane Sprigg at time of her death, 1916. At which time it was valued at one thousand pounds and rented to Mr. Ormond at seven pounds a month
Now part of site occupied by apartment block known as 1 Powlett Street
East Melbourne, Wellington Parade 160, Parkview
A two-storeyed brick residence containing nine rooms.
Owned by Eliza Jane Sprigg at the time of her death in 1916. At that time it was valued at 939 pounds and was rented to Mr. Cornell at 30 shillings per week. Its street number was then 158.
Now part of site occupied by apartment block known as 1 Powlett Street
East Melbourne, Wellington Parade 166, The Cymyn
A large two storey brick house, with an arcaded timber verandah below and a timber balcony above; and an octagonal turret with elaborate cement decoration beneath the eaves. A bungalow behind.
Eliza Jane Sprigg (maiden name: Eliza Jane Louis James) married first, William Hodgson, artist; and second, (1902) William Gardiner Sprigg. Eliza Jane Sprigg also owned the neighbouring properties 148, 150, 152, 154 and 158 Wellington Parade, now all demolished and the site redevloped as 1 Powlett Street Apartments; and 17 Powlett Street [qv].
East Melbourne, Wellington Parade 176, Mere House
Large stone house. Immediate neighbour of the Parade Hotel, on the eastern side.
So far it has not been possible to confirm the original owner of this house. Captain Arthur Devlin was there from 1857, then renting it out from 1859. Hugh George was owner and occupier from 1872. During Devlin's and George's time the house was known as Park Villa. James Mirams rented the house from 1888.
It was advertised for sale in 1904 under the name Rosenberg.
East Melbourne, Wellington Parade 190, Gwyllehurst
Single storey bluestone cottage with 4 french windows at the front, side entry, concave fabric roof verandah & side entry porch, both with openwork wood pilaster columns. Dressed stone quoins with rough faced stone beween. [Melbourne Mansions Database]
John Gill built the house in 1853 and lived there until 1860 when he sold his furniture prior to leaving for England. On his return he lived in Spring Street, Melbourne, where he died in 1866. He left his estate to his wife, Joanna, who retained ownership of Gwyllehurst until 1874. The For Sale notice in the Argus at the time described it as
East Melbourne, Wellington Parade 192-198, Cliveden
Large three storeyed house of 100 rooms.
Cliveden was built for Sir William J. Clarke, landholder and MLC. The Illustrated Australian News 5 March 1887, proclaimed the house to be "One of the largest private residences erected in the Colony". It included 28 bedrooms, five bathrooms and 17 servants' bedrooms, and a ballroom 100 ft by 50 ft.
East Melbourne, Wellington Parade South 039, 041
No 41 is a late example of terrace house construction executed in red brick with yellow brick bands and render dressings. The principal feature of the facade is the elaborate Dutch gable like parapet. No 39 was built as its pair but now has a Georgian inspired cement rendered facade with a portico replacing the original verandah and balcony.
These two houses were built for William Brooks Hoffman by F R Ratten and designed by William H Cleverdon. William Henry Cleverdon (1855-1930) was born in Richmond. After his marriage to Emma Toon in 1877 he lived in Hawthorn and then Kew while having offices in Collins Street. In 1893 he moved to Geelong where the best known examples of his work can be found.
Jolimont, Agnes Street 013, 015
A pair of 2 storey tuck pointed polychromatic brick terraces with single storey concave verandah supported by a timber frieze with cast iron panels. The yellow bricks have been used to form quoins to the first floor and an elegant corbelled parapet. Six pane sashes are used to first floor windows.
The houses were built for Jabez Bryant, who in 1864 was an employee outfitter. Shortly after, he attempted to set up his own business but was brought before the insolvency court in 1867, and discharged in 1869. Yet he was able to build these two fine houses only four years later. He owned them until 1886 when Henry Martin bought them. Bryant lived in No. 15 from about 1881 until 1886.
Jolimont, Agnes Street 019, Roseville
A single-storey, double-fronted, rendered nineteenth century villa with a hipped slate roof. Timber-framed double-hung sash windows flank the central entrance, which has narrow sidelights. A verandah extends across the facade between wing walls, supported on timber posts and embellished with cast iron lacework. There are two rendered chimneys with rendered moulded caps.
The house first appears in the Rate Books as a five room brick house on a 33' by 120' allotment. It was owned by George Dean, who initially rented it to John Pitts. A number of short term tenanats followed. George Dean owned the house until his death in 1923. The sale notice in the Argus that year gives the house's name as Roseville.
Jolimont, Agnes Street 021, Fintona Villa
A single-storey, symmetrical, double fronted rendered nineteenth century villa with a hipped slate roof. The house has two chimneys with rendered stacks and moulded caps. The original verandah has been removed, and the windows flanking the central entrance have been altered. The front fence has also been removed.
The house first appears in the Rate Books in 1868 when it was described as a brick house with seven rooms, pantry and bathroom, valued at 86 pounds. Thereafter it was described as six rooms. It was originally owned and occupied by Mrs. Mary Ann Wilson (widow of Thomas Wilson), who lived there until her death in 1887.
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Jolimont, Agnes Street 027, Morpeth Villa
Double fronted, single storey, brick house with verandah
The house first appears in the Rate Books in 1869 as a four roomed brick house and lists William Walker as owner. The Argus tells us that 'On the 23rd inst. (May 1872), at Morpeth Villa, Agnes Street, Jolimont, Mrs. William F. Walker [had] a son.' William Walker and his family lived in the house until 1875, but he remained owner until 1886.
Jolimont, Agnes Street 031, Herschell's
Large two storey house with 1920's warehouse style extension to the front.
The house started as a two room cottage but expanded as the owner's family grew. The Chalker family owned the house until 1919 when Miss Marie Chalker was the occupier. In 1925 Charles Richard Herschell bought the building as the home for his film production company, Herschell's Pty. Ltd. and it was then that he added the warehouse extension to the front of the Victorian building.
Jolimont, Agnes Street 033
Double fronted brick house built as four rooms and later extended to seven.
The four roomed house was built for William Klaws by Philip Orleman and completed in 1865. The address in the Building Register was given as Jolimont Square and for two years the Rate Books gave the address as Jolimont Road. Agnes Street was yet to come. In 1888 the number of rooms was increased to seven.
Jolimont, Agnes Street 033, Marlion House
This 2 storey tuck pointed red brick warehouse with render bands is given a residential character by the use of suitable scale double hung windows at ground and first floors, and the division of the facade into small bays. The ground floor has been "rusticated" by recessing every fourth brick course [i-Heritage]
No building application seems to exist for the original erection of the property, but in January 1927 The Herald & Weekly Times applied to convert the existing stables on the site to motor garages.
Jolimont, Agnes Street 037, 039
A pair of four roomed brick cottages.
The houses were completed in 1867 for William Peebles next door to his own residence immediately to the north. William Peebles was a clothier with premises in Bourke Street, Melbourne. He died of consumption aged 49 in 1871. His wife remained the owner of the properties until at least 1890. The houses were rented to short term tenants.
Jolimont, Agnes Street 041, Athol Villa
A double fronted brick house of five rooms on land 80ft. x 70ft.
The house was built fo William Peebles, a clothier with premises in Bourke Street, Melbourne. He died of consumption aged 49 in 1871. His wife remained the owner of the property until at least 1890. In the International Exhibition of 1880 Florence J. Peebles won a prize for her wax flowers. From 1887 the house was occupied by C.J. Pavia.
Jolimont, Agnes Street 045, 047
A pair of two storey ruled render terraces with classical details to window openings, party walls and parapet. A single storey verandah shades tripartite windows on the ground floor.
The houses were built as investment properties and were never occupied by their owner, Thomas Watts, who lived at Spring Hill Terrace, Wellington Parade, East Melbourne. Names of some of the occupiers are listed below. Watts owned the houses at least until 1890. The house was owned by A.R. Wilson in 1940 when it was advertised for sale as part of his estate.
Jolimont, Agnes Street 049, Bourgoyne Cottage
Symmetrical, single storey, double fronted brick house, with cellars beneath. The front door opening is arched. The verandah has been added.
François Monichon was born in Burgundy, or Bourgogne, France, hence the name he gave to his cottage. He arrived in Melbourne in 1855. He had been one of the chefs to Napoleon III and on arrival in Melbourne opened a restaurant in Flinders Lane and later moved to Flinders Street. He became chef-de-cuisine at the Melbourne Club then at Scott's Hotel.
Jolimont, Agnes Street 057, Larnook
Simple symmetrical single storey, double fronted rendered building with hipped slate roof and slate roof verandah on timber posts.
The house was built for Thomas Y. Harkness. It was built on land bought from Thomas Lambert, who at the time also owned the houses next door at Nos. 53 and 55. The Rate Books to 1885 describe it as 5 rooms. In 1885 the owner and occupier was given as Mrs. Espinasse. By 1890 it was described as nine rooms and still owned and occupied by Mrs. Espinasse. In 1889 Mrs.
Jolimont, Charles Street 019, Home
This early (1870) render dwelling with parapet and vertical 4 pane windows intact was altered by the addition of a concrete verandah. However, the addition has contributed to the appearance of this building and should remain. The cyclone gate and scenic leadlight of this building (1920 section) are intact. [i-Heritage]
When Charles La Trobe, lieutenant-governor of Victoria, left Melbourne to return to England in 1854 he left his friend, Dr James Palmer, to sub-divide and sell his Jolimont estate. Palmer bought the Jolimont Square section himself and subdivided the rest of the land around the periphery of estate for sale to individual buyers. The section in the middle of the estate which was occupi
Jolimont, Jolimont Road 110, Laloa
This is an unusual tuckpointed brick and render residence with bay window and projecting side entry porch. The render mouldings, swags etc have an extremely crisp appearance but appear out of scale with the proportions of the rest of the building. The verandah over the entry is an exact reproduction of the porch creating an unsettling effect. [City of Melbourne, i-Heritage database]
The house was built for Mrs Margaret Henningham who was the widow of Ralph Neppard Henningham. He had died in 1883 at the age of 47 leaving her with several young children. At a sale of her furniture and effects in 1894 the house was described as having a drawing-room, dining-room, breakfast room and six bedrooms. It appears that from that time the house was leased as a boarding house.
Jolimont, Jolimont Road 112, Grassmere
A double fronted single storey house with a verandah at the front and built of dark brown brick with cream brick trim.
Alexander Britton, married and with his first child on the way, made plans to build a house. On 23 December 1869 builders, Little & Boyne, lodged notice with the Melbourne City Council that they would build a house in Jolimont Road, next to Morton’s.
Jolimont, Jolimont Road 136, Yewsley
A symmetrical double fronted single storey house with centrally placed steps leading to a verandah at the front.
The house was completed in 1870 for owners Edward Thomas Slack and his wife Rosetta. Thomas was superintendent of mail services at the GPO. He died in 1907 and the house passed to Rosetta. She died in 1921. At this time the inventory of her assets described the house as 'a very old house of nine rooms three of which are of brick and six of wood'.
Jolimont, Jolimont Street 050, Devon House
Two storey single fronted house in polychrome brick.
William Stembel was born in Frankfurt, Germany and arrived in Melbourne in the early 1850s. He moved soon after to Bendigo where he established a business as a chemist. He later switched to the restaurant trade and ran the refreshment rooms at the Bendigo and Kyneton railway stations. While he was in Melbourne he ran a restaurant at the top end of Collins Street.
Jolimont, Jolimont Street 066, 068
Originally a pair of two single storey cottages now combined into one office building, with parking below.
'Henry Apperley was a sculptor who worked on the London Houses of Parliament prior to emigrating to Australia in 1854 as part of the gold rushes. He worked in Melbourne producing sculptures and in 1868 moved to Sydney where he worked on the Rookwood Mortuary Station.
Jolimont, Jolimont Street, 88,86
The house appears as a wide 2-storey rendered house with gently hipped slate roof and bearing a modern verandah.
Although this building appears as a single house it started out as two small cottages. On 30 November 1864 John Sinclair notified the Council that John Holmes would build him a cottage. The Rate Books subsequently listed the cottage as having four rooms.
Jolimont, Jolimont Terrace 012
Two storey single fronted house, built of blue stone with cream brick and terracotta dressings.
Built in 1868 by Thomas Newton for Alexander Leslie to the design of architects Crouch and Wilson. The verandah and balcony are not original and the house probably had a single storey verandah originally. The two storey rear service wing was added circa 1920.
Jolimont, Jolimont Terrace 014
The street numbers in Jolimont Terrace changed c.1950 consequently the house now numbered 14 was previously numbered 40. This has caused some confusion in pursuing its history. Winston Burchett in his research in the 1970s, had it correctly identified as the house built for David Gibson, who owned Gibson's Flour Mills on the corner of Queensberry and Leicester Streets, Carlton.
Jolimont, Jolimont Terrace 016
A two storey cement rendered house in the Renaissance Revival style. It has four windows above a four bay arcaded verandah.
In the late 20th century the house was used as offices but more recently has been converted to two apartments, one up and one down.
Jolimont, Jolimont Terrace 018, The Crib
An unusual turn of the century design, asymmetrical in form and using Queen Anne materials of red brick, roughcast, shingles and terracotta tiles. There is some Art Nouveau influence in the verandah piers which extent beyond the eaves and in the decorative treatment applied to the name and the piers. The garden form is intact and the colour scheme is appropriate. [i-Heritage, link below]
Old street number: 34
This house was built as one of a matching pair in 1859 for Charles Hotson Ebden. On Ebden's death in 1867 his son, Charles John Ebden, inherited the house. He and his mother and sisters had moved to England after Ebden's death and Charles jnr. was very much an absentee landlord.
Jolimont, Jolimont Terrace 026, Marnoo
xxxx
Previously this was number 24
Jolimont, Jolimont Terrace 036, 38
See The Herald, 28 Aug 1940: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/243327898
Jolimont, Jolimont Terrace 28, Bromo House
One of a pair of 2 storey ruled render terraces with quoins to corners and plain moulded string course to parapet. The timber fretwork single storey verandah is believed to be the original form. The stables to the rear are noteworthy. [from i-Heritage Database]
One of a pair of houses built at the same time by the same builder but for different owners. This house was built for John Munro Bruce, father of Stanley Melbourne Bruce. He married, at the house, his wife, Mary Ann Henderson in 1872, and remained there through the birth of their first child the following year, but then moved to St. Kilda.
Jolimont, Palmer Street 001, 003, 005
A row of three two storey terrace houses extensively remodelled.
The three terrace houses at 1-5 Palmer Street, Jolimont were built in 1888 by F McIntosh for Thomas Care. If there were an architect involved his name is not known. However the previous year Thomas Care had the same builder erect a house at 21 Charles Street, which runs at right angles behind the Palmer Street houses.
Jolimont, Palmer Street 009
A symmetrical three storey apartment block finished in rendered brick. The building presents as two projecting wings with the central recessed entry rising through the full height of the building to break the terracotta tiled roof at the eaves line. Balconies extend half way across each level. Several of these have now been built in.
The Hermitage, a block of twelve flats, was built in 1937 by the General Construction Co Ltd to the design of O H Jorgensen for husband and wife, Nicholas and Margot O’Donohue. The Hermitage was so named in memory of the house previously on the site, which was a small timber dwelling annexed to Governor Charles La Trobe’s cottage next door, and used by him as guest quarters.
Jolimont, Wellington Parade South 101, Redcourt
This is a large tuck-pointed red brick dwelling in the Queen Anne style with terracotta tile roof, pebble dash panels and timber strapwork to the eaves. [i-Heritage Database]
As is well known Jolimont was once the home of lieutenant-governor Charles Joseph Latrobe, purchased by him in 1839. When he returned to England in 1854 he left his friend, Dr James Palmer, in charge of subdividing and selling his land. Palmer kept for himself the central part of the property, which became known as Jolimont Square. On it he built five large, two-storey, timber
Jolimont, Wellington Parade South 117, Mornington
Large 3-storey house built of polychrome brick
As is well known Jolimont was once the home of lieutenant-governor Charles Joseph Latrobe, purchased by him in 1839. When he returned to England in 1854 he left his friend, Dr James Palmer, in charge of subdividing and selling his land. Palmer kept for himself the central part of the property, which became known as Jolimont Square. On it he built five large, two-storey, timber