August 2026
Maybe James Aiken, the owner of this place in Albert Road South Melbourne, said to his architect in 1890 – Splendid, but can I have a bit more verandah ? In fact I want it to be like that nice house over in St Vincent Place please (pic 8), but …. extra.
The architect, who might have been Frederick De Garis, said sure ! But actually it’s even more lopsided than back then because the other projecting bit was eliminated at some point. Possibly when it was a private / maternity hospital, 1920-47. I’m told it was gone by 1968.
I kind of like the weirdness though, a section of narrow verandah with nothing behind it. And the layers of cast iron, the verandahs with curving bits and sunflower motif balustrade at ground level, sitting right behind the cast iron fence.
Found a pic from 1973, and some blurry old real estate pics of inside.
