Eclectic fun in Elwood

11 May 2021

De Mont Rose, 1 Broadway, Elwood, 1934, an early project by #EsmondDorney, who would go on to do many like this, and many uniquely styled Art Deco blocks, in Elwood and adjacent burbs, and then totally unique houses in post WW2 Hobart. This one is 1920s eclectic, a bit Tudor, a bit Spanish, a bit wacky, and a bit #WalterBurleyGriffin, for whom he had worked in the late 20s – the angular balusters are sort of WBG. Dorney started out doing apartment conversions on relatives’ houses in Elwood, and this looks like it’s built in the front garden of an earlier house. The upstairs front flat is fabbo inside ! And there’s a lovely fountain courtyard.

21 April 2025

It’s up for sale – as a development site ! It’s definitely heritage protected, but it’s clearly very cracked up and abandoned, so maybe the owner has already got some kind of approval from the City of Port Phillip (update : none I can find). But then, I’m sure it’s repairable, if costly. Some townhouses have been built next door, don’t know if that’s made it all worse.

It’s an early work by J Esmond Dorney, from 1934, placed in front of a house that was only 8 years old by the owners, maybe they went onto the nice flat ? (Update : the great grandson says yes, thru moved into the fab flat!). Entry was via that archway to a nice courtyard, very Melrose Place (if you remember that series). Thanks to @bslowb for alerting me.