Posts Tagged ‘heritage overlay’

45-53 Chaucer Street, Moonee Ponds. Melbourne, Victoria

Freestanding terraces at 45-53 Chaucer Street viewed from the north.  Photo by Ian McWhirter (all rights reserved) used with permission.

Freestanding terraces at 45-53 Chaucer Street viewed from the north. Photo by Ian Macwhirter (all rights reserved) used with permission.


We’re extremely lucky to have such an avid readership and one passionate reader Ian Macwhirter, responded to our call for contributions with a photo and well written piece about a beautiful boom style freestanding terraces of Chaucer Street in Moonee Pond and provided permission to publish them here. Ian writes:

Chaucer Street is in a neighbourhood of streets named after famous British poets. This row of six free standing double storey terraces was built between 1888 and 1890. Similar rows of free standing terrace houses are rare in Melbourne and this row of six is unique to the area. The availability of land in this area at the time of building could account for the row’s design.

Keady Hill Houses 554-556 Swanston Street, Carlton. Melbourne, Victoria

Keady Hill Houses 554-556 Swanston Street, Carlton

Like a number former terrace houses around inner Melbourne, this row of two former homes since 1995 has been used as a brothel1  (known as “Manhattan Terrace” and 556 formerly as “Club 556″).   The otherwise elegant Victorian Italianate pair were built in 1880 and unlike many used for similar purposes appears to be in remarkably good condition externally, with their elaborate detail and symmetry, including their parapet urn and balustrade largely intact (although the windows, doors and transoms have been modified).

Riversleigh: 3-5 Nicholson Street. Bairnsdale, Victoria

Riversleigh: 3-5 Nicholson Street. Bairnsdale, Victoria

Riversleigh is Bairnsdale’s most majestic pair of terrace houses. Built in 1883-4 and attributed to R T Vincent1 tThe semi-detached pair was built to maximise views across the magnificent Mitchell River on the northern edge of the central business district. It is part of a heritage precinct which includes neighbouring Wahroonga mansion and the Bairnsdale courthouse.

Currently the terraces are operated by Choice Hotels as the Comfort Inn Riversleigh and was renovated to the theme of its original character for adaptive reuse in 1987.2

Moran’s Terrace: 100-104 Mollison Street, Bendigo. Victoria

Moran's Terrace: 100-104 Mollison Street, Bendigo. Victoria

On the southern edge of Bendigo’s CBD is this gem row of three double storey houses built and named for Maurice Moran in 1873 (as inscribed on the tympanum of the parapet).  Moran was a well known and respected resident who started as a printing foreman for the Bendigo Advertiser, Bendigo City Councillor, real estate developer and agent before moving to Melbourne and later Sydney.1 The design of residential architect T.A Nicholls2 produced a simple but stunning classically inspired row, with the most interesting features being the extensive vermiculation single storey verandah.  Unfortunately it is difficult to photograph due to a mature evergreen situated right in front of the mid terrace.

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

8-14 Morang Road, Hawthorn. Melbourne, Victoria

Terrace Houses: 8-14 Morang Road, Hawthorn. Melbourne, Victoria

Despite being some of the architecturally most impressive in the area, this row of five double storey Hawthorn (polychrome) brick houses is scarcely mentioned in official heritage studies, particularly the Morang Road precinct1, although neighbouring single storey terraces are.  Perhaps it is assumed.  In any case these boom style Italianate terraces were erected in 1887 (as indicated on the parapet) as a speculative development, exploiting the proximity to Hawthorn railway station which had increased in prominence with the line’s extension to Camberwell.

Bodford Terrace: 21-27 Drummond Street, Carlton. Melbourne, Victoria

Bodford Terrace: 21-27 Drummond Street, Carlton. Melbourne, Victoria

Despite the name (along with the date of construction) appearing centrally on its parapet, confusion over the naming of this terrace parallels its sketchy history.  Today this row of four classic double storey Victorian houses is recognised by the name “Bodford Terrace”, however even during its early years it was also referred to as “Bedford Terrace”, perhaps a case of mistaken identity.  The origin of the name and its developer, most likely is obscure.  What is known is that it is among Carlton’s earliest terraces, erected in 1868, predating the 1880s boom, however since its initial construction it has gone through signficant stages of appreciation and neglect.


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...