2 January 2020

Sun Blest – so very #instagrammable – this #VictorianVilla in #BlessingtonStreet, #StKilda shows what was left after (presumably) a built-in verandah was removed, with the internal paint left. But it also has 50s wrought-iron and funny crazy paved stepped walls, shouldn’t be there if it was built in ….maybe artfully rearranged ? A witty 1980s or 90s renovation? The house itself dates from some time between 1873 and 1896, so likely 1880s.

Update : Im told by the current owner this look was achieved by removing the built-in verandah in 1993 by Gary Theodore of #ScanlonAndTheodore

Further update 2 January 2024 after posting again :

The owners from 2000-2022 contacted me and gave the fuller story – it was a boarding house in the 70s, and then (or earlier) the verandah was rebuilt as extra rooms, even pulling up much of the marble paving, and building the crazy paved front fence using bits of the marble; then Scanlon about 1996 removed those rooms, leaving the front looking much as now, and building a rear extension where they reused old lockers as kitchen cabinets. In 2001, the new owners planted the front garden, added a pool out the back, and redid the kitchen (twice!). All through these the Victorian front rooms remained intact, though theyre not very exciting. It was refreshed again recently by @calmlivinghomes, and from the photos the new parts now feel like a like a 50s beach house, and just last year the gold leaf sign was repainted by local artist @doitbabyfactory, first pic..

• victorian