Dr Ray's row houses, later Elizabeth House and Melville House, 52-54 Collins Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Title:
Dr Ray's row houses, later Elizabeth House and Melville House, 52-54 Collins Street, Melbourne
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Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 102165
Level of description:
Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
Type of materials:
Graphic materialsTextual material
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Series: Central City (BIF-CITY)
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UnrestrictedOpen access.
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UnrestrictedPlease contact City of Melbourne Libraries about obtaining permission to reproduce images.
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Period: VictorianConstruction date: 1881 facadeNotable features: 1. Arcaded verandahArchitect: Billing & Son (facade)Owner of first stage: Dr W. Campbell; second stage Dr. Robert Ray.ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER:.Victorian Heritage Register H0607What is significant?Melville House assumed its current facade in 1881 when alterations and additions to an existing building were designed by Billing & Son architects for the owner Dr Ray. The work was carried out by the builder Henry Yeo. Melville House consists of a pair of three-storey, stuccoed brick structures that originally served as residences and professional premises. Stuccoed details include the first floor round-headed windows framed by columns, and at second floor level the decorative band beneath the windows and the hoods. The surviving original portions of the facade of Melville House are typical examples of domestic so-called Boom Style architecture. A balustraded parapet completes the composition. New shop fronts were incorporated into the ground floor in 1927 and the two buildings were linked at an unknown date.How is it significant?Melville House is of historical and architectural significance to the State of Victoria.Why is it significant?Melville House is historically significant as one of the few surviving nineteenth century residences in the central city area. It is representative of the more domestic scale buildings that were occupied by professionals such as doctors and lawyers at the top end of Collins Street.Melville House is architecturally significant as an excellent example of the so-called Boom Style architecture of 1880s Victoria. The lavish use of stucco decoration is typical of the style but is a rare surviving example of the type in the city..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites MURPHY ARCHITECTS, JOHN AND PHYLLIS 1976. HISTORIC BUILDINGS STUDY OF PART OF THE C.B.D. MELBOURNE : { AREA 1} WITH MURPHY, JOCK, FOR HISTORIC BUILDINGS PRESERVATION COUNCIL. ,p2 1881 `Building of Interest';.LEWIS, M- AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURE INDEXRecord 74508 Campbell, Hon William Melbourne VIC Houses Sutherland, James H C 1876 11 30 7012 MCC registration no 7012 [Burchett Index]. Fee 4.0.0house Collins near cnr Collins & SpringRecord 74538 Billing & Son, Ray, Dr R Melbourne VIC alterations Yeo, Henry - Wright St Richmond 1880 08 5 8460-MCC registration no 8460 [Burchett Index]. Fee 1.15.0 alterations and additions Collins east - Dr Ray's premises.History of homeopathy web site:http://www.historyofhomeopathy.com.au/`An Englishman from Sussex who had visited Australia in 1853 (or 1852) at the age of 25. In 1859 he studied medicine in London and in 1862 became a Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians and was a member of the Royal College of Surgeons. In 1862 he was convinced to return to Australia by his brother who was using homœopathy in the goldfields around Ballarat. (It is likely that this brother was Dr James Ray.)In September 1862 he advertised that he was a consulting homœopathic physician, surgeon, and accoucheur, late house-surgeon to the London Homœopathic Hospital, at 90 Collins Street East (the premises of the homœopathic pharmacy, Gould & Co). His private practice operated from 10am to 5pm.At the same time, he provided free consultations before 10 o’clock at the Melbourne Homœopathic Dispensary, at its first location at 90 Collins Street East. He was its first consulting physician and surgeon.In 1863 he is listed in the Sands and McDougall’s Melbourne and Suburban Directory at 90 Collins Street East, at the premises of the homœopathic pharmacy, Gould & Co.The following year, in 1864, he moved to 105 Collins Street East, between Russell Street and Stephen Street (now Exhibition Street), next door to other homœopaths Henry Madden and Sidney R. Robinson. He remained there until 1869, when he returned to work from 90 Collins Street East (the pharmacy now called Gould & Martin). His private residence was on the corner of Chapel Street & Argyle Streets. Melbourne. In 1867 he was specifically listed as a homœopathic physician.The Homœopathic Directory of Great Britain & Ireland for 1872 and 1873 listed him as a practitioner in Melbourne. The 1873 edition also listed Dr Ray as practising at Ballarat.(see image 52 Collins St (right side of pair), home & surgery of Dr Robert Ray, Photo courtesy Peter Torokfalvy)The directory of 1873 recorded him as being at 131 Collins Street East, described as “homoeop.”. He acquired the building in 1872, and he was also the owner of the 12 roomed house at 133 Collins Street East. In 1881 he had new houses build on the site – 2 three-storeyed terrace houses. Nos 54 and 52 Collins Street Melbourne (left & right side respectively). Prior to the 1890s when Melbourne’s street numbers were altered, these were originally Nos 131 and 133 respectively. They are next to the Melbourne Club, which is on the right hand side. Originally there was an 1850s brick house, which in the mid-1870s was occupied by Dr Robert Ray, one of the founders & Honorary Medical Officer of both the Melbourne Homœopathic Dispensary and the Melbourne Homœopathic Hospital.This terraced pair was created in 1881 for Dr Ray by extensively altering the existing brick house. Each terrace offered house and surgery to a single practitioner. Dr Ray occupied No 52 (on the right) until his death in 1883, after which it was occupied for a while by his son Dr William Ray, who also provided services at the Melbourne Homœopathic Hospital. In 1989 the front portions of these buildings were renovated & incorporated into a new office building. It is now called Melville House.He was one of the founders and honorary medical officers of the Homœopathic Dispensary in Collins Street Melbourne. He was also one of the first physicians of the Melbourne Homœopathic Hospital. His son, Dr William Robert Ray, gave a stained glass window to the hospital, in honour of his father.He was killed in 1883 when he was travelling along St Kilda road. His horse bolted, and he fell off his horse and suffered a fractured skull.Barbara Armstrongwww.historyofhomeopathy.com.au'.National Trust of Australia (Vic)(Hermes 64643)Melville House. 52-54 Collins Street, Melbourne, was erected in 1881. The building consists of a pair of three-storey, brick and stucco structures and originally served as residences and professional premises. Stuccoed details of note include the first floor round-headed windows framed by columns, impostand at second floor level the decorative band beneath the windows and the hoods.The surviving original portions of the facade of Melville House are typical examples of domestic Boom Style architecture. The decorative features, particularly the combined architrave and impost moulding, which doubles as an entablature, are interesting, but not distinctive. The building is one of the few surviving nineteenth century residences in the Central Business District of Melbourne.New shop fronts have been incorporated into the ground floor.Classified: 15/07/1976Revised: 11/02/1985.HERITAGE BRANCH, MINISTRY FOR PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT 1987 CITY OF MELBOURNE CENTRAL CITY NOTABLE BUILDINGS CITATIONSA pair of three-storey residences and professional premises, Melville House was erected in 1881. Only the front facade survives of the building which is important as a typical example of domestic boom style architecture and for its complementary role with the adjacent Melbourne Club..NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954)Saturday 19 May 1883 - Page 7https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/221751236Fatal Accident to Dr. Ray.An inquest was held on Tuesday at the United Service Club hotel, Collins street east, upon the body of Dr. Robert Ray, of 133 Collins street east, homoeopathic physician, who met with a fatal accident about half-past 10 on Sunday morning, near the toll- gate on the St. Kilda road. He had been on a professional visit to St. Kilda, and was on his way back to town in his buggy with his groom, when one of the reins broke, and the horse at once bolted. Dr. Ray told his groom to jump out of the conveyance at once, and the man did so, thereby escaping any injury ; but all efforts of the doctor to pull the runaway up were futile, and he then essayed to jump out, but fell on his head on the road- way, and the concussion with the hard, road fractured his skull, causing laceration of the brain. Mr. Tuckett, who was passing in his carriage, observed the occurrence, and conveyed Dr. Ray to the latter's residence. Dr. Wilmott was soon in attendance, and pronounced the case to be a hopeless one. Dr. James afterwards saw Dr. Ray, who was then sinking, and who expired about 7 o'clock on Sunday evening. The deceased was an old resident, and widely -known practitioner. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death. The funeral took place on Tues- day afternoon. The procession, which was a large one, started from the residence of the deceased shortly after 4 o'clock, and was joined by several hundreds of persons at the Melbourne cemetery. The pall-bearers were Messrs. Richard Shann, Cleverdon, Hunt, Johnson, Braested, and Padbury, secretary of the Homeopathic Hospital, and the burial ser- vices were conducted according to the forms of the Plymouth Brethren, of which order the deceased was a prominent member. A prayer was read, several hymns were sung, and an address was delivered by one of the brethren, after which the son of the deceased thanked those present for the respect they had shown to his father. The mortuary arrangements were under the direction of Mr. A. A. Sleight, of Collins street..Table Talk (Melbourne, Vic. : 1885 - 1939)Thursday 10 November 1904 - Page 8https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/145936199`...Representative Melbourne Medicos.No. 58— DR. W. R. RAY.(see portrait)Dr. William Robert Ray, M.D. of Collins street, is a son of Dr. Robert Ray, a well-known practitioner of Melbourne, and was born on the 21st of April, 1859, prior to the arrival of the family in Australia. He received his early education at the Scotch College, afterwards at the Wesley College, and completed his general course at the Hawthorn Grammar School, which was then under, the control of Professor Irving. ..He matriculated, at the Melbourne University and entered the Medical School, where he spent two years, after which he proceeded to the Boston University, U.S.A., and took the degree of M.D. in 1882. During his absence from Victoria, and at the close of his medical studies, he devoted some time to travel through the United States and on the Continent of Europe—inspecting the hospitals and making himself acquainted with the latest developments in the medical schools. On returning to Australia, Dr. Ray, settled down in general practice in Collins-street. Dr. Ray has held the position of honorary indoor physician to the Homoeopathic Hospital over since his return from Europe —now upwards of twenty years ago —and has be- come quite an integral part of that useful institution. He is also honorary secretary to the Melbourne Homoeopathic Medical Society. Dr. Ray married Miss Barker, a daughter of Mr. Stephen Barker, of Boston, Massachusetts, and has one daughter. He has a large practice, and is a well known figure in society.Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954)Saturday 17 May 1913 - Page 13 (portrait)https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/222606842.SOCIAL REFORMER WRITER AND ARTIST MRS SCOTT BROAD.Mrs Scott Broad (Adelaide) has come to Melbourne. Many women may not have heard of her, but sooner or later this inter-State visitor will make her presence felt. As a social reformer, she is a regular tornado in petticoats. She is a daughter of the late Dr Robert Ray, of Collins street and in her early twenties married Mr Scott Broad, a South Australian artist.She might have been one of our pioneer women doctors, for she studied medicine and was only prevented from this profession by the opposition of a sensitive old-fashioned mother, who objected to one of her daughters earning her livelihood by "cutting people to pieces." Art. music, and literature all appealed to her imaginative temperament, but it has been as an essayist and lectures that she has made her mark. In her school-girl days she preferred to do pencil sketches of legendary knights and beauteous maidens of fairy lore instead of mastering the rules of multiplication. She found that weaving romances in story form was a more interesting pastime than remembering the ascension dates of a long line of British conquerors. She knew that Christopher Columbus discovered America and Henry VIII. had eight wives. After acquiring so much historical knowledge she rested secure in the belief that "sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."Distinction with a Difference.At 18 her unconventional style of writing raised the indignation of the principal of a seminary for young ladies. Her seething rebuke being that, "Miss Ray's essay was written more in the style of a woman journalist than that of a young lady. At 19 she found herself a regular attendant at the church of the Plymouth Brethren, and a contributor of fervently devotional articles in a New Zealand religious paper. Hitherto her reading had been limited to such tolerated Sabbatarian publications as the "Leisure Hour" and "Chatterbox.' Her immature theological treatises had hell fire and the bottomless pit for fundamental themes. The writer herself described them as articles of the "zeal-without- discretion variety.""This mental attitude was the morbid, melancholic strain," she explained, "induced by the religious teaching in some families, 30 years ago." Mrs Broad was reared in a home environment of Puritanical simplicity. As a small child she remembers a gay colored sash being shorn from an elder sister's party frock by an irate parent, who thought the decorative effect was only a vulgar pandering to vanity and worthlessness. "Before I was 23," she confessed, "I found my world much enlarged, and I made a study of pastels and other branches of painting." Since then she has been a regular and a much appreciated contributor as a writer of reflective articles, both in British and Australian journals. Her first novel is now in the hands of the publisher, and "The Sex Problem," a series of essays, which really deals in a sane and practical manner with the better and broader education of both men and women, is being sold at the book shops.Change of Curriculum.Mrs Broad has made a special study of the education of girls. The following are a few of the reforms she has re- commended;- — That a Lady Director of Feminine Education be appointed in South Australia. That the Education Department shall always consist of an equal number of men and women. That the present system of educating girls and boys together, after the ages of 11 or 12, be discontinued, and each be trained separately for their respective lives as men and women. That the beginnings of life be taught early in the shape of botany and entomology, and continued under the name of nature study until the boys and girls are separately taught the specific responsibilities of parenthood. That the examination test of capability be entirely dissociated from the education of girls, and all unnecessary stimulus to mental exertion. That memorising in schools be largely discontinued, and that short, bright, interesting lectures, with the aid of the blackboard, be substituted. That girls be thoroughly taught, both in principle and practice, household management, care of infants and children, and division of income. That University diplomas be given in domestic science similar to those given in New Zealand. That Froebel's principles with regard to outdoor schools, nature teaching, physical exercise, and games, be adopted by our education system, and eliminate much non-essential academic work. That boys and youths shall also receive training for parenthood, to be under the supervision of the director of male education. That private schools and colleges be asked to fall into line with such State reforms and improvements, and so ensure greater efficiency to the race. These reforms were voiced in an ad- dress given by Mrs Broad in South Australia before representatives of "The Kindergarten Union, S.A.," "The Domestic Arts Centre," "The School for Mothers," "The W.C.T.U.," "The State Children's Department," "The S.A. Branch of the British Science Guild," of which Mrs Broad is a member; "Y.W.C. Association," "W, Non-Party Political Association," and the Education Department. . The suggestions, as a whole, met with the approval of the meeting, and some of them are now being considered. Speaking on the subject of women jurors, she remarked that: "Many of us in South Australia are feeling that women need to be represented as lawyers, jurors, and even judges (at least, as special magistrates in children's courts). I feel that we need a proportion of women with trained intellect to fill some of the positions of trust and responsibility if the nation is not to be one-sided. In no fewer than six American States women jurors have been voted an un- qualified success. The Attorney- General of Wyoming made the statement that 'A guilty person never escaped a just punishment when tried by women jurors.' The Chief Justice of the same State said, 'After the grand Jury had been in session for two days, the low dance-house keepers, gamblers, and other undesirables fled from the territory in dismay, to escape the indictment of women jurors'. Wyoming is a State where ranchmen and cow- boys knock down their cheques. Before returning to Adelaide Mrs Broad will probably deliver a lecture on "The Reconstruction of the Marriage Bond," under the auspices of one of the women's associations. Also https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/241844216
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1197698
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 102165 | 1 PDF : 1,436 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |