Original post 4 Feb 2021:
A bit of #perspectivecorrect makes this archway look very impressive, but then it is ! And it’s at the end of my street. It’s called #Ripplesmere on #GreyStreetStKilda, built 1884, designed by one of faves #FrederickdeGaris, who did a few really OTT #HighVictorian at it’s highest – though actually this is a standard #terracehouse form but every element is extra ornate and detailed. Restored c1998 as a number of flats, though there’s been an office downstairs for some time me. All for rent so I guess whoever owns it is hanging on to it.
July 2026
Posted not long ago but Ripplesmere does look good and spooky at night ! It’s a very large terrace-style house on Grey Street St Kilda, built 1883 for CC Arnell, who clearly did rather well out of his tobacco business.
The architect is uncertain, might be Fredrick De Garis, who did other work for the firm, or Norman Hitchcock who did pretty crazy elaborate stuff, but either way it’s great – all banded rustication and vermiculation, plenty of cast iron and a big pedimented parapet with unique cubic urn things. Found a pic from c1998, just before it got heritage listed and restored into flats, though it was flats / rooms to rent since Mr Arnell died in 1912.
Storey of Melbourne 