Posts Tagged ‘1888’

Dorset Terrace: 136-144 St John Street, Launceston, Tasmania

Dorset Terrace

As far as terraces go, Launceston is definitely one of Australia’s most suprising cities.  Its inner streets could be straight out of inner Sydney or Melbourne, all in a city a tenth the size of Adelaide such was the popularity of this housing style during its boom period.  Despite all this, almost all prominent texts on the subject point to one example, Alpha Terrace (which will be posted in due course possibly due to its bizarre mix of Sydney and Melbourne idiosyncrasies), though in my personal opinion there are many more notable examples of the style, some on the same St John Street stretch, such as the spectacular heritage listed1 “Dorset Terrace”2 a row of five homes erected in 1888 and likely  named after Dorset county in south west England, possibly overlooked due to its self aggrandizing Melbourne style.

57-69 Spensely Street, Clifton Hill. Melbourne, Victoria

Terraces (59-69) and Corner Shop (57) in Spensely Street, Clifton Hill

The Clifton Hill estate was developed in the 1870s and with its own railway station opening in 1888 quickly sprouted a number of boom terrace rows.  This row of seven (including corner shop) erected the same year in the Queen Anne style and is one of the most consistent and richly decorated in suburban Melbourne.

They were developed by T Smith for Charles Abbott in 18881

333-337 Lydiard Street North, Soldiers Hill. Ballarat, Victoria

333-337 Lydiard Street North.  Soldiers Hill.  Ballarat, Victoria

333-337 Lydiard Street North. Soldiers Hill. Ballarat, Victoria

This row of three single storey double fronted red brick Victorian era terraces mid way along the block is probably most notable for sporting a rare piece of Australiana – a kookaburra motif in its iron lacework.  According to expert on cast iron lacework Graeme Robertson, just a couple examples of this pattern in use exist, and one of them, at 16 Chatsworth Road, Prahran was demolished a couple of decades ago.  This may be the only row of houses existing in Australia with this pattern.

Hughgendon Terrace: 49-59 Gower Street, Kensington. Melbourne, Victoria

Hughendon Terrace: 49-59 Gower Street.  Kensington, Victoria

Hughendon Terrace: 49-59 Gower Street. Kensington, Victoria

Hughendon Terrace is a long row of eight double storey boom style terrace houses in Kensington.   The elegant white terraces on flat ground form a classically inspired regency style row.   The parapet is plain with the exception of a prominent cornice punctuated only by pronounced arched pediments with crested mouldings.  Each pair of terraces shares a large roof and the pediment is designed to hide the gable behind as well as giving the appearance of wider individual houses.  The name of the terrace is curved inside the first two pediments of the row, one with signage of “Hughendon” and the other “Terrace”.

Cook Terrace: 249 Coronation Drive, Milton. Brisbane, Queensland

Cook Terrace: 249 Coronation Drive.  Milton, Queensland

Cook Terrace: 249 Coronation Drive. Milton, Queensland

Cook Terrace is a landmark along the Brisbane River at Coronation Drive.  It is a three storey row of six Victorian buildings dating back to 1888-1889.

Cook Terrace is currently used as offices as part of a prominent business park, however the terrace has had a long and interesting history.

It was originally built as flats rather than terrace houses by builder Joseph Blain Cook to exploit a loophole in the Queensland Undue Subdivision of Land Prevention Act of 1885 and avoid subsequent penalties.   However like similar houses in Melbourne and Sydney, the row was aimed squarely at well-to-do tenants.

Nathan’s Terrace: 1-11 Shields Street, Flemington. Melbourne, Victoria

Nathan's Terrace. 1-11 Shields Street. Kensington, Victoria

Nathan's Terrace. 1-11 Shields Street. Flemington, Victoria

Nathan’s Terrace is one of the most interesting single storey terraces you’ll find anywhere in Australia.  Nearly identical neo-baroque boom style villas front both Shields and Wellington Street in Flemington.  The mid terrace is crowned by lions and a coat of arms atop an exageratted pediment and squat corinthian columns flanked by prominent balustrades, urns and corbels verandahs with cast iron filligree and fences.  A bay of flanking villas are topped by a giant broken crown round pediments in a Palladian motif with round arch openings and double arched windows with a small awning form a temple style in an elaborate display of exaggerated Victorian Mannerism.

Avonmore: 26-42 The Avenue, Randwick. Sydney, New South Wales

Avonmore: 26-42 The Avenue.  Randwick, New South Wales. Image by J Bar licenced under CC-SA
Photo by: J Bar licenced under (CC-SA)

Avonmore: 26-42 The Avenue. Randwick, New South Wales.

Avonmore Terrace is currently a boutique hotel located opposite Alison Park in Randwick.  Built in 1888 by John Walsh the triple storey row of nine terraces contains 23 rooms rich in interior detail.  Pictured above is the middle terrace which is its most interesting feature.  A central Italianate style tower helps the terrace to appear as one massive mansion.  The mid terrace is the width of two terraces plus the tower and entry.  The entry features a keystoned arch with banded columns topped by a brief flat arched loggia with balustrade.  A single round arched window with keystone and voussoir is flanked by prominent classical pilasters with entablature.  At the top of the tower, an open bottom pediment with the name Avonmore is topped by a cross motif.   Every third terrace has a triangular pediment on the parapet to give symmetry and a point of reference in between.

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Recent Comments
  • Ben: Beautiful, functional terraces (inside & out) within a great location. Clever use of space with enormous...
  • Leah: Hello I live at 15 Simpson Street. It has been lovingly preserved. 15 Simpson Street is divded into four...
  • timothy walker: Is this property for sale or rent. How much garden area is there?
  • timothy walker: I am interested in moving to Castlemaine. Is this property for sale or for rent?
  • MarkD: I’ve seen them hundreds of time and always known them as Shakespeare Terrace, but Shakspeare Terrace is...