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ROBERT RUSSELL HOUSE AND FORMER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH HALL
30-33 HOWE CRESCENT SOUTH MELBOURNE, PORT PHILLIP CITY

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Victorian Heritage Register
ROBERT RUSSELL HOUSE AND FORMER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH HALL SOHE 2008
ROBERT RUSSELL HOUSE AND FORMER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH HALL SOHE 2008
ROBERT RUSSELL HOUSE AND FORMER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH HALL SOHE 2008
ROBERT RUSSELL HOUSE AND FORMER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH HALL SOHE 2008
1 residence 30 howe cres south melb side view sep1992
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Statement of Significance

The residence was built about 1867 for Dr James Barrett, a noted surgeon and general practioner. It remained in the family until 1920. The architect was WH Ellerker. The name of the builders is not known. The form of the building is atypical of early Melbourne suburban houses. It is built directly onto the street with the unusual combination of portico, tower and flanking pavillion wings. The interior has been substantially altered. The stables complete the residential character of the property. The residence is the pivot of an important streetscape along Howe Crescent. The whole sub-division is of major importance in the history of Melbourne's planning.

The hall was first built as a church in 1868. The architects were Crouch and Wilson. It is the second oldest polychrome church in the State and was the first of many built by the non-conformists churches. The interior has been substantially altered.


Additional information


The Robert Russell house, 30 Howe Crescent, South Melbourne, built c.1867 to a design by WH Ellerker, is of significance for its association with the Barrett family who were important in the medical profession and public life of Melbourne. (Criterion h1)

It is also significant as the pivot of an important streetscape along Howe Crescent. The form of the building is atypical of early Melbourne suburban houses, being built directly onto the street with an unusual combination of portico, tower and flanking pavilion wings.
(Criterion b.2)

The whole sub-division is of major importance in the history of Melbourne's planning. It has perhaps only one other parallel, in Dendy's town survey of Brighton. (Criterion a.4)

Source: Melbourne backlog study. Prepared for the Australian Heritage Commission.
January 1997.

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    • History

      ROBERT RUSSELL HOUSE AND FORMER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH HALL - History

      Associated People:

      Permit Exemptions

      ROBERT RUSSELL HOUSE AND FORMER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH HALL - Permit Exemptions

      General Exemptions:

      General exemptions apply to all places and objects included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). General exemptions have been designed to allow everyday activities, maintenance and changes to your property, which don’t harm its cultural heritage significance, to proceed without the need to obtain approvals under the Heritage Act 2017.

      Places of worship: In some circumstances, you can alter a place of worship to accommodate religious practices without a permit, but you must notify the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria before you start the works or activities at least 20 business days before the works or activities are to commence.

      Subdivision/consolidation: Permit exemptions exist for some subdivisions and consolidations. If the subdivision or consolidation is in accordance with a planning permit granted under Part 4 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the application for the planning permit was referred to the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria as a determining referral authority, a permit is not required.

      Specific exemptions may also apply to your registered place or object. If applicable, these are listed below. Specific exemptions are tailored to the conservation and management needs of an individual registered place or object and set out works and activities that are exempt from the requirements of a permit. Specific exemptions prevail if they conflict with general exemptions.

      Find out more about heritage permit exemptions here.

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