1 February 2019
You might have wondered what these fine #castiron gates on #LonsdaleStreet near the County Court are doing here, since they open onto a modern walkway. The answer is that they’re all that’s left of a fabbo #VictorianMansion that once stood here. It was called #Rostella, and was built in 1869 for eminent surgeon Dr Thomas FitzGerald (knighted in 1897). Not sure why he built his house here at the not very prestigious west end of town, but he did, complete with very tall tower. He ran his own #privatehospital next door, which he rebuilt in 1887, for some reason in the form of three storey terraces, and it’s still there ! At the same time he extended the house, connecting the two, with this gateway in between, both designed by #LloydTayler. The feds owned them both by the 1920s, with the ABC in the hospital and other departments in the mansion, which they demolished unceremoniously in 1972 for a carpark (true !), leaving just the gates. ☹️
The carpark was finally built on with an office block in 2002. There’s a great photo portrait of Fitzgerald c1883 (state library). He was also famous for owning Chloe, loaned to the National Gallery in 1883 when she caused a stir, and quickly given back. When Fitzgerald died in 1907, the proprietors of Young & Jackson bought her, and she’s been there ever since. The last pic is lounge room at the time of the auction of the contents. Most old pics via Facebook, except pic 4, from Old Melbourne Architecture, 1953.
Storey of Melbourne 