MCEGGS (Merton Hall), 82 Anderson Street, South Yarra
Gould, Meredith3/9/1984
Archives
Total copies: 1
Title:
MCEGGS (Merton Hall), 82 Anderson Street, South Yarra
Creator:
Date of work:
3/9/1984
Reference number:
BIF-SY 100426-1
Level of description:
Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
Type of materials:
Graphic materialsTextual material
Part of:
Series: South Yarra (BIF-SY)
Access restrictions:
UnrestrictedOpen access.
Use restrictions:
UnrestrictedPlease contact City of Melbourne Libraries about obtaining permission to reproduce images.
General notes:
Style: Victorian/Queen AnneDate of construction: c.1900Description/Notable Features: Notable features include the fence, verandah decoration, verandah roof and structure and unpainted decorative brickwork. This building has the form of a Victorian house but the materials and detailing of the Queen Anne period. The Victorian influence can be seen in the polychrome brickwork and the symmetrical facade but the two flanking gable roof wings are embellished by gable end shingles (possible retaining original paint), elaborate eaves brackets and groupings of tall double hung windows. The roof is clad with terracotta tiles which are believed to be original. As such they are an important early use. The perimeter brick fence with sandstone dressing is significant as are the mature tree plantings in the front garden. The building is designed by Oakden, Addison and Kemp in the newly popular Queen Anne or Federation style. This office had pioneered the form, primarily through the work of Kemp, with designs appearing in building magazines as 1887 (Tibbits G "The so called Melbourne Domestic Queen Anne", Historic Environment, Vol. 2, 1982) and executed works appearing soon after. An early example with more Victorian flavour is the ANZ Bank Clifton Hill, 1889 where a similar window form is used and is reminiscent of the English work of Richard Norman Shaw. The Merton Hall building has a more domestic quality than the bank however, and can be more fruitfully compared with "Dalswaith" Kew 1900. Like Dalswaith, Merton Hall is dominated by a terracotta tile roof over a symmetrical facade with gabled side wings, a colonnaded ground floor in the central recess and a first floor verandah with central roof feature. Merton Hall departs from the more formal and flat character created by the need for a third floor at the school building. The polychromy is also unusual in association with the Queen Anne style, particularly at this late time. Merton Hall is substantially intact externally. It is an unusual example of the middle period of the Queen Anne works of Oakden Addison and Kemp.In 1892 a private school for girls was started in South Yarra by Miss Hensley and Miss Taylor. These two Cambridge graduates had come out from England in 1890 to take up supervisory positions at Trinity College Hostel on a two year contract. When the contract expired they were persuaded to stay and open a 'high class boarding and day school for girls' at a house, called St Mungo, in Domain Road, South Yarra, (now 249). The new school was named "Merton Hall" after the old house in Cambridge where Newham College began. In 1898 the school was sold to Mr W E Morris, Registrar of the Diocese of Melbourne, who appointed his daughters, Mary and Edith as co-principals. Mr Morris bought land at 82 Anderson Street from Mr William Cain and buildings for a new school were begun. Consisting of a boarding house, schoolroom and three classrooms, they were formally opened in December 1900 and were ready for occupation for the beginning of the school year, in 1901. Negotiations were in progress between Mr Morris and the Provisional Council of the Church of England and in 1903 the school was bought by the Diocese of Melbourne and named officially The Melbourne Church of England Girl's Grammar School. Although commonly used to describe the whole school, the name 'Merton Hall' has been officially reserved for the original school and buildings at No.82 Anderson Street which are used by the Senior School as classrooms and gymnasium. Based on extracts from 'Nisi Dominus Frustra', official history of the school.
Related material link:
Building in MCEGGS (Merton Hall), 62-108 Anderson Street, South Yarra (BIF-SY 100426-2\\)MCEGGS (Merton Hall), rear 86 Anderson Street, South Yarra (BIF-SY 100426-3\\)Chapel, MCEGGS (Merton Hall), 62-108 Anderson Street, South Yarra (BIF-SY 100426-4\\)Phelia Grimwade House (Boarding house), MCEGGS (Merton Hall), 84-86 Anderson Street, South Yarra (BIF-SY 100426-5\\)Pavilion and change rooms, MCEGGS (Merton Hall), 233-279 Walsh Street, South Yarra (BIF-SY 100426-6\\)MCEGGS Tennis Pavilion, 233-279 Walsh Street, South Yarra (BIF-SY 100426-6-1999\\)
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Form/Genre:
Record types:
Research and reports
Record number:
1195257
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 100426-1 | 1 PDF : 1.3 MB ; A4 | Single Item (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |