Bell's house, and Victoria House or Dewar's house - parts row houses, 585-587 King Street, West Melbourne
Butler, Graeme11.01.1985
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Title:
Bell's house, and Victoria House or Dewar's house - parts row houses, 585-587 King Street, West Melbourne
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Date of work:
11.01.1985
Reference number:
BIF-NORTH 105350 105351
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Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
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GRAEME BUTLER 1983, 1985 CONSERVATION STUDY FOR THE CITY OF MELBOURNE OF NORTH AND WEST MELBOURNEGrading as at 1985 : CPeriod : Mid Victorian (1883)Grantee : Thomas Stevens 1853.GRAEME BUTLER 1983, CONSERVATION STUDY FOR THE CITY OF MELBOURNE OF NORTH AND WEST MELBOURNEHistoryBuilder, John Bell of Carlton, built these houses in 1883, selling them immediately to James Dewar (585 sic) previously of Barwise Street, Hotham, and Mrs M. Bell (587). Dewar continued to own the house and reside there until after 1896. Mrs Bell had sold 587 (sic) King Street to William Malchow by 1890.DescriptionTwo storey, parapeted coloured brick row house pair, with cast iron verandah of two levels and an iron front fence. Segment arched entablatures are flanked by cast iron finials set on piers. Subtle differences denote the custom built nature of the houses, such as the arched entrance and fanlight of No. 587 compared with the more austere flat-arched entrance of No. 585.Integrity - Generally original except for parapet finials, on extreme ends of each house parapet.Streetscape - Contributing part of a valuable residential streetscape.SignificanceArchitecturally, a near original example of a common type and part of a significant streetscape, regional importance. Historically, custom built row houses in contrast to the more normal speculative dwellings; of local importance.Recommendations - Restore finials to parapets, repaint in typical or original colours..References:(RB= Rate book; D= Melbourne or Victoria Directory)1 RB 1883, 2656,7;2 D 1884-5; RB 1896-97, 1903, 4; RB 1890-1, 1915,6___________________________Graeme Butler & Associates, 2015. West Melbourne Heritage Review.What is significant?Builder, John Bell of Drummond Street, Carlton, applied to build these two five-room brick houses in 1883, in the name of his wife (585) and a butcher, James Dewar (587), who was previously of Barwise Street, Hotham. Bell retained 585 King Street to lease out while Dewar and later his widow Eliza continued to own and reside at 587 until Eliza's death in 1919. Bell had sold 585 King Street to William Malchow by 1890.Contributory elements include:two storey, parapeted dichrome brick row houses, 587 more ornate and with a wider frontage;detailing of segmentally arched cemented raised entablatures flanked by cast iron finials set on incised (585) piers;vermiculated blocks on 587;cast iron verandahs of two levels, with friezes, brackets and balustrade panels with balusters;ornamented brick verandah end walls, with 587 being thicker than 585;double-hung sash windows with segmental arches on 585;ornate arched entrance with panelled side lights and fanlight at 587 and a more austere flat-arched entrance, toplight only, at 585, as indicators of their relative status;tiled verandah floor;double palisade iron front fences on dressed stone plinths, with ornamented cement piers and scrolled dividing walls, plus orbs or finials; andcontribution as part of a valuable Victorian-era residential streetscape.Fence and parapet finials and urns are missing, as minor changes to the house exteriors.How is it significant?These row houses are significant historically and aesthetically to West Melbourne.Why is it significant?These row houses are significant.Aesthetically, as well-preserved and ornate examples of a common row house type in West Melbourne and contributory part of a significant Victorian-era streetscape; andHistorically, as custom built row houses they contrast to the more typical speculative dwellings of West Melbourne; and are representative of a major growth period (Victorian-era) in West Melbourne..References:Lewis, M. Australian Architecture Index:`71749 Bell, John - Drummond Street Bell, Mrs M West Melbourne VIC City of Melbourne registration no 100 [Burchett Index]. Fee 1.15.0 two-storey house 1882 12 1871750 Bell, John - Drummond Street Carlton Dewar,- West Melbourne VIC City of Melbourne registration no 66 [Burchett Index]. Fee 1.15.0 two-storey house, King - near Victoria 882 11 14'___________________________Newspapers:`The Age' (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954) Monday 23 December 1867`PATENT for an Invention intituled ' Improvements in Preserving Substances for Food.'— This is to notify that JAMES DEWAR, doctor of medicine, of Kirkealdy, Fife, North Britain, did, on the seventeenth day of December, 1867, deposit at the office the Chief Secretary, in Melbourne, a specification or instrument in writing, under his hand and seal. particularly describing and ascertaining the nature of the said invention,…GEO. HIGTNBOTHAM,Attorney-General.'`The Argus': 30/7/1919`DeathsDEWAR.—On the 28th July, 1919, at her residence 587 King street, West Melbourne, Eliza, the beloved wife of the late James Dewar, and lovingmother of Mrs. F. Collins, Maylands, S.A., and Nellie Dewar.Re-united. Peace, perfect peace. '___________________________Probate, VPRO`James Dewar Gent W Melb 19 Oct 1918 160/369 VPRS 28/P3, unit 864; VPRS 7591/P2, unit 590'___________________________Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-19801916`Name: James DewarSubdistrict: West MelbourneState: VictoriaDistrict: MelbourneCountry: AustraliaResidence Address: 387 King St., MelbourneOccupation: Independent Means'___________________________Sands & McDougall Directory of Victoria1880Edwards, Thomas, grocer279 Stones, FrederickRoden st281 Oliver, James, carpenter and builder282 Shuttleworth, WilliamMcGregor , John, wood and coal yardHawke stBAPTIST CHURCH-Clarke, Rev. A. J.Victoria st1893W SideRoden st581 Troup, Dr J. K.583 Bowman, James685 Malchow, William687 Dewar, James589 Fetherstonhaugh, Dr691 Reid, John A.593 Stones, Frederick, contr699 Oliver, Thomas601 Shields, Dr Andrew603 Ekman, R. A., stables609 Morton, R. G., farrierHawke st1910Roden st581 Mignot, Hyders583 Arthur, John W.585 Malchow, William587 Dewar, James689 Alexander, J., house decorator & snwrtr591 Jeffrey, Ellen595 Williams, Thos. N.Williams. Miss Amy R., matric coach597 Macfie, Mrs Margt.599 Oliver, Thomas601 Meany, Mrs Brid:609 Morton, R. G.,farrierHawke st1920577 Joubert. J. A.Roden st581 Jones, Wm. H., solic583 Arthur, Mrs Mary585 Fallan, Mrs Mary387 Dewar, Mrs Eliza589 O'Shea, Mrs Margt.591 Jeffrey , Denis595 Du From, Miss M. A., music tchr597 Taylor, Mrs Evelyn599 Oliver, Mrs J. S. 0.601 Ellis, Henry609 Prime, D., bott dlr609 Morton, R. G, farrierHawks st1930575-7 Phelan, Miss A., grocerRoden st581 Jones, Mrs Alice583 Arthur, Mrs Mary585 Cotsworth, Arth. C.587 Myers, Harold589 Danaher, Maurice591 Jeffery, Denis591 Jeffery, C. D., tailor595 Du Frocq. Miss M. A., music teacher597 Taylor, Mrs Evelyn599 Ellis, Henry601 McKenzie, Mrs H.607 Stables609 Hume, W. J., blacksmithHawke st.City of Melbourne Rate BooksNorth and West Melbourne Conservation Study 1983 cite585-7 King Street1883, 2656,7; 1896-97, 1903-City of Melbourne Valuers Books1891, 1886-7(Houston)Willm Malchow, owner-occupier 585 king St BH 5 room, 18x88 ₤ 40;James Dewar owner-occupier 587 king St BH 5 room, 20x88 ₤ 45(Stones)
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| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 105350 105351 | 1 PDF : 657 KB | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |