Waterdale or Leeming's villa, 56 Chapman Street, North Melbourne
Graeme Butler and AssociatesJuly 1991
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Total copies: 1
Title:
Waterdale or Leeming's villa, 56 Chapman Street, North Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
July 1991
Reference number:
BIF-NORTH 103840 505961
Level of description:
Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
Type of materials:
Graphic materialsTextual material
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UnrestrictedOpen access.
Use restrictions:
UnrestrictedPlease contact City of Melbourne Libraries about obtaining permission to reproduce images.
General notes:
Grading as at 1991 : BPeriod : Mid Victorian (1895)Grantee : T Johnson 1864___________________________GRAEME BUTLER 1983, CONSERVATION STUDY FOR THE CITY OF MELBOURNE OF NORTH AND WEST MELBOURNE.History- William Leeming, a bootmaker and retailer, who was famed throughout the metropolitan area for his advertising ploys, took up residence in this, his new house, in the year 1895. His bootery business occupied the then prime trading position in the area, on the corner of Victoria and Errol Street (refer to 1-11 Errol Street) and by 1898 he had a branch in Chapel Street Prahran.Unlike many of the other prosperous businessmen of the area, William Leeming, was born in Victoria in 1859, at Castlemaine and while still a young man set up his own business in Errol Street (1885). [Cyclopedia of Victoria Vol 1 p 557] By 1908, his name had become a household word around the metropolis for two reasons. He was a keen racing man, a member of the V.R.C. and in 1900, his nomination for the Melbourne Cup was a horse called Leeming's Boots. This appealed to the populace as a great lark, even though the horse failed to prosper. Secondly, with the purchase of each pair of his boots he would give away small gifts, the most popular being a china figure he created, the mythical 'gazeka'. These appear to have become collector's items. The house remained with the Leeming family until after World War One. [The Age 8/12/1872]Local architect, F.J. Brearley, designed the house, stables and coach house under the proprietor's direction that all materials be locally made; R.D. Jones was the supervising contractor for what was a day-labour job. Architectural modellers, Wardrop and Scurry, supplied the ornamental plaster ceilings and stained glass to suit each room's use or theme, as well as..'introducing Australian bird and flower subjects..' executed by Ferguson and Urie. Cast-iron was supplied by the Sun Foundry Co., J. Stevens erected the impressive fence and the garden was laid out by the noted horticulturalists S. Brundrett. [The Building and Engineering Journal 26 October 1895]Description- A large, single-storey, asymmetrically planned 'Italianate' styled villa, with a return iron verandah and a hipped and slated roof. Cast-iron cresting survives on the ridge as does the 'widow's walk' or 'lookout'. Each window in the bayed front wing is pedimented with top hopper sashes coinciding with an impost mould which skirts the building. The eaves are bracketted, with swags and rosettes between and the corners quoined. Duplex posts support the ornate iron gabled verandah whilst the doorway has panelled side and top lights and a six-panel door. Minor pediments are used in the chimney cornice. The impressive cast and wrought iron double palisade fence is scalloped and stepped in profile on either side of cast iron posts placed on dressed-edge rock face basalt plinths. A curving staircase to the verandah is terminated on cement urns, whilst the verandah mosaic encaustic tiling was reputedly to a special design; so too in the conservatory.Internally, the rich plaster work which is particularly so in the former dining and billiard rooms, has original colouring. Etched and coloured glass and polished timber doors, mantels and overmantels represent well, the opulence of the late Victorian period interior.Integrity - Externally, the verandah gable has been altered, side-wall bricks painted and roof guttering replaced with non-period profiles (detailedinspection required but these are the obvious changes).Streetscape - An isolated and set back villa, in a smaller scaled, but generally similar precinct.Significance- Architecturally, a late and highly decorated villa type which compares with the Canning Street (23-33) row houses for decorative richness, but does not possess their integrity or detail. However aspects of the interior, because of ornate, coloured plasterwork and polished woodwork are notable and the extensive iron fence is uncommon in a villa house type, by its extent and detail: of high regional importance. Historically, Leeming was perhaps North and West Melbourne's most prominent retailer in the metropolis, dealing in produce allied to the area's early commercial history and thus he and this house, has regional significance..Recommendations - Investigate restoration of verandah gable;repaint in original or typical colours;remove paint from basalt (i.e. fence plinth)..References:(RB= Rate book; D= Melbourne or Victoria Directory)1. National Trust Building Committee file 5076.2. D.1897-983. C· of V. vol . 1 p. 5574. The Age, 8/12/1872 .5. The Building and Enqineering Journal 26/10/1895
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1363854
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 103840 505961 | 1 PDF ; A4 | Single Item (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |