Short and Morgan's houses, 7-9 Leveson Street, North Melbourne
Butler, Graeme14.01.1985
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Title:
Short and Morgan's houses, 7-9 Leveson Street, North Melbourne
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Date of work:
14.01.1985
Reference number:
BIF-NORTH 105604
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Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
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UnrestrictedPlease contact City of Melbourne Libraries about obtaining permission to reproduce images.
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GRAEME BUTLER 1983, CONSERVATION STUDY FOR THE CITY OF MELBOURNE OF NORTH AND WEST MELBOURNEGrading as at 1985 : BPeriod : Early Victorian 7 - 1855, 9 - 1868Grantee : R B Chomley 1852.History- The two former row houses which make up a restaurant in 1985 (Café Popolare) were built quite some years apart. Although 7 Leveson Street was first occupied c1856, there is no listing for an owner before Thomas Short in 1860. Four years' later, ownership passed to a Mr. Morgan, who had 9 Leveson Street built next door in 1868. Alexander Stewart of Berkeley Street, North Melbourne then owned the house until at least 1895. A number of the tenants stayed for long periods of time, e.g. John Bewsher, a storeman, lived for nearly twenty years in number 7; David Bell occupied 9 Leveson Street for over ten years.Description- A basalt masonry, two-storey residential pair with quoins to corners and the symmetrically placed openings. A finely executed bracketted cornice is used at the parapetted roof line: the pair are constructed at the building line. Given the rate description, it is probable that the facade was renovated when 9 was added.Integrity - The doorway to 7 has been converted to a window, destroying the symmetry, and the four-panel door to 9 has been replaced.Streetscape - Aligns with 5 Leveson Street (qv) in age, scale and site placementSignificance- Architecturally, recognisable from an early date; using a rare wall material which was used in a brief period of Melbourne's history, finely detailed; and one of two adjacent buildings from an early date. Linked with long tenancies, such as John Bewsher (qv, refer 30 Chapman Street).Recommendations• Restore doorway (7) and door (9);• repaint trim in original coloursReferences:(RB= Rate book; D= Melbourne or Victoria Directory)1. RB 1856, 272; RB 1860, 345; RB 1864, 4022. D. 1884, RB 1869-70, 594-53. RB 1861, 365; RB 1875-76, 1388,9; RB 1885-8, 1370,1___________________________RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2025:Note: probable that both house built 1868.__________________________________________________GRAEME BUTLER 1983, CONSERVATION STUDY FOR THE CITY OF MELBOURNE OF NORTH AND WEST MELBOURNEBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM 1985___________________________Public Records Office of Victoria (PROV)Probate:12/032 Richard B Chomley: Grant of probateGiven name : Richard B ; Family name : Chomley ; Residence : Malvern ; Occupation : Gentleman ; Nature of grant : Probate ; To whom committed : Arthur W ChomleyDate of grant: 16 Jul 1874 ; Date of death: 21 May 1874___________________________LEWIS, M- AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURE INDEXNumerous entries for Thomas and Alex Short as builders in City of Melbourne 1850-1874…___________________________NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)1874about The will of the late Mr. Thomas Short, a very old colonist, and owner of a large quantity of city property, showed an estate worth £23,128....1876https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5908078LAW REPORT. SUPREME COURT. NEW COURT-HOUSE —MONDAY,…Before his Honour Mr. Justice Molesworth)BROOMFIELD V. SUMMERFIELD.This was a suit instituted for the of having the estate of Mr. Thomas Short, formerly of West Melbourne, administered under the direction of the Court. The object of the suit to obtain the opinion of the Court on the construction of the will.His HONOR, in giving judgment. SaidIn this case I have to deal with some points as to the will dated April 13, 1874. of Mr Short, died April 15 1874… (long article).1886https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/6084721Property listings of Short.___________________________
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| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 105604 | 1 PDF : 803 KB | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |