31 July 2025

Slightly spooky old house in Creswick Street Hawthorn – I knew it was old, didn’t realise how old ! Might be 1845 when JD Pinnock bought this whole chunk of Hawthorn. Or might be a bit later.

Designed by John Gill, an early colonial architect, in a simple picturesque Gothic style, with roughly coursed bluestone walls, little bay windows, entry to the side, and round the back he threw in some battlements ! The style is very similar to the nearby Invergowrie, which dates from c1850, and is possibly also by Gill.

In 1852 it was bought by Henry Creswick, and it stayed a large allotment until Creswick Street was extended through in the early 1920s (I’m guessing the date). It now has flats beside and behind that look 1930s, and maybe it became flats too; it looks rather unkempt and the last sale was 2004, which shows at least 2 very fine rooms, check out that fireplace ! There’s also stables behind, which is a separate flat.

Some real estate pics, and old pics firstly @vic_archives, no date, and @library_vic, 1976, and measured drawings from 1981. The first portrait is Pinnock, Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court, then Mr Creswick. Last pic is Invergowrie.

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