East Melbourne, Hotham Street 020, Alistair Hall

The value of development in 1932 was given as £2,500. The 7 flats were furnished with picture rails, red pine mantles, pre-cast flower boxes outside. Alistair Hall was built for “Byrne, Peatt & Lynch” of 123 Grey Street, East Melbourne, and built by J.E Peatt . Not much is known of these individuals. James Ernest Byrne, John Leo Lynch and his sister, Cecilia, and mother, Maria, all lived at 123 Grey Street. Byrne was a traveller, and the two younger Lynches were drapers. Mrs. Lynch died in 1930 and possibly it was at least partly inherited funds that John and Cecilia invested in Alistair Hall. James Ernest Peatt was married and lived down the road at 21 Grey Street. He described himself in the electoral roll at the time as a manufacturer, but earlier he had used the term boot dealer. He was one of a large family of boot makers all connected with the William Peatt who, in the 1860s, started a successful boot manufacturing company with premises at 64 Wellington Street, Collingwood. The heritage listed building is still there although the business has long gone. Electorial Rolls show that on completion of the building John and Cecilia Lynch and James Peatt moved in, all living there until 1950. The two latter are given as owners during that time, then Ernest Edward Wagstaff became the new owner. In the same year Wagstaff purchased Elmsmore, 66 George Street [qv]. He died in 1965 but the property remained in his estate until 1996 when all his assets were liquidated and the money passed to his beneficiaries, the Eye and Ear Hospital and the Royal Institute for the Blind. The flats have since been strata-ed and are now individually owned.