17 August 2024
A walk round a block of South Melbourne at the northern end of Montague / Ferrars Streets, some streets at odd angles – hadn’t realised theres so many narrow side streets, and so many timber cottages variously altered. Most looked like they havnt been touched since the 1980s maybe, some distinctly wonky, unkempt gardens, fences various periods, plenty of not very correct ‘restored’ verandahs (eg no 4 has 1970s one-piece aluminium lace). Such variety, some 1850s probably, some 1880s or Edwardian, some right on the street, some with side gardens, a very elaborate 1920s house, a couple with 50s brick facades added, some newer contextual or bunker-like houses, one that looks 60s, some late pomo elderly housing, all Quite Interesting. Love the 1st one with its vaguely Chinese verandah, like to think original but probably 1910s. Also just discovered you can post more than 10, just as well.
A rather strident polychrome terrace pair in Coventry Street South Melbourne. Probably tuck pointed originally. Love it.
The ex-Marine Hotel cnr York and Morris Streets South Melbourne looking splendid in the winter sun, showing off original signage. A fine design in Queen Anne-ish red brick with scrolled pediments, it was built in 1892 replacing the 1858 original, and designed by the rather prolific Sydney Smith. It was delicensed in 1920, and looks like it might be a rooming house now. A couple of blocks away on Dorcas Street is the Star & Garter, built 1877 in a more elaborate classical style, which my photos don’t capture well (pics 4,5). It was still going until 2000, now it’s three units. And two blocks along there’s the former Queens Arms hotel (pictured 6), looking rather sad but notable as the area’s first hotel, opening in 1854, closing in 1883. Then in 1887 the boarding house across the narrow side street became the Prince of Wales hotel (pic 7) – like many inner suburbs, you didn’t have to go far if you were thirsty ! Last pic not mine.
More on that delightful house in Nelson Road, South Melbourne – the current owners @brigidniall tells me that it was built by local builder Allan Sommers as his family home, so he put everything into it, and it took him 5 years, starting in 1928. Great brickwork, fence included, and shingles that end in a curve, two gables and projecting windows. It possibly took so long because the whole thing is perched up on a concrete slab, creating a large basement workshop – found sale pics from 2014, showing the inside is just as good, lots of great woodwork including elaborate parquetry floors. Fantastic. And quite a modest size too.
Storey of Melbourne 