EILDON
51 GREY STREET ST KILDA, PORT PHILLIP CITY
-
Add to tour
You must log in to do that.
-
Share
-
Shortlist place
You must log in to do that.
- Download report
Statement of Significance
What is significant?
Eildon, St Kilda was constructed as a thirty-roomed mansion for the renowned Western District pastoralist, John Lang Currie, in 1872. It incorporated an existing Georgian dwelling which had been erected c1850-53 for Edward Green. Prolific Melbourne architects Reed and Barnes were commissioned to undertake this remodelling.
The first land sales took place in St Kilda in 1842 and Green acquired land in Grey Street, with views across the bay, in 1847. The area became a fashionable resort for the Western District squattocracy and John Lang Currie, owner of such Western District properties as Larra (stables H0298) and Titanga (H0299), acquired Green's property in 1871. Currie's family retained the property for twenty years after his death in 1898.
The earlier dwelling, known as Barham House, was a two storey building with cellar, designed by architect, John Gill. In 1872 it was remodelled in the Renaissance Revival style by Reed and Barnes. Wings were added at both ends and a loggia constructed across the western facade. This main symmetrical facade, unusually orientated towards the western garden and the sea rather than the street, has a two storey arcuated and pilastered loggia, with square Corinthian columns supporting the balcony, and flanking pavilions containing Palladian windows above canted bays. The opposite facade, facing Grey Street, has a projecting central pavilion, containing a shallow entrance porch. The whole building is rendered with a balustraded parapet and heavy corner quoining.
The first subdivision of the site took place in 1922, resulting in the formation of Eildon Road and the loss of two thirds of the property. This was followed by further subdivisions to the south and west in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
Like many of St Kilda's large mansions, Eildon was in use as a guest house by 1930. It continued to be used for similar purposes until 2007 when it was sold to the Alliance Francaise de Melbourne.
How is it significant?
Eildon, St Kilda is of architectural and historical significance to the State of Victoria.
Why is it significant?
Eildon, St Kilda is of architectural significance as one of the most sophisticated examples of an Renaissance Revival style mansion built in Melbourne in the nineteenth century and as an important work by prolific Melbourne architects, Reed and Barnes.
Eildon, St Kilda is of architectural significance for the original section of the house, which remains within the later house. Built in 1850, this section is amongst the earliest dwellings constructed in St Kilda.
Eildon, St Kilda is of historical significance as the Melbourne residence of renowned pioneer pastoralist, John Lang Currie and is an expression of the success and status of the squattocracy in Victoria.
Eildon, St Kilda is also of historical significance as an illustrative example of the evolution of St Kilda from a fashionable bayside suburb in the late nineteenth century, to an inner suburb which housed a large number of people in guesthouse accommodation after World War One.
[Online Data Upgrade Project 2007]
-
-
EILDON - History
Eildon, St Kilda was constructed as a thirty-roomed mansion for the renowned Western District pastoralist, John Lang Currie, in 1872. It incorporated an existing Georgian dwelling which had been erected c1850-53 for Edward Green. Prolific Melbourne architects Reed and Barnes were commissioned to undertake this remodelling.
The first land sales took place in St Kilda in 1842 and Green acquired land in Grey Street, with views across the bay, in 1847. The area became a fashionable resort for the Western District squattocracy and John Lang Currie, owner of such Western District properties as Larra (stables H0298) and Titanga (H0299), acquired Green's property in 1871. Currie's family retained the property for twenty years after his death in 1898.
The first subdivision of the site took place in 1922, resulting in the formation of Eildon Road and the loss of two thirds of the property. This was followed by further subdivisions to the south and west in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
Like many of St Kilda's large mansions, Eildon was in use as a guest house by 1930. It continued to be used for similar purposes until 2007 when it was sold to the Alliance Francaise de Melbourne.
The draft statement of significance and the above history were produced as part of an Online Data Upgrade Project 2007. Sources were as follows:
Heritage Victoria Files nos. 605015, PL-HE/03/0854
EILDON - Plaque Citation
Originally built c.1853 as Barham House for Edward Green, the architects Reed and Barnes redesigned the house in 1871 as a Renaissance Revival mansion called Eildon for Western District pastoralist John Lang Currie.
EILDON - 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.Specific Exemptions:General Conditions: 1. All exempted alterations are to be planned and carried out in a manner which prevents damage to the fabric of the registered place or object. General Conditions: 2. Should it become apparent during further inspection or the carrying out of works that original or previously hidden or inaccessible details of the place or object are revealed which relate to the significance of the place or object, then the exemption covering such works shall cease and Heritage Victoria shall be notified as soon as possible. Note: All archaeological places have the potential to contain significant sub-surface artefacts and other remains. In most cases it will be necessary to obtain approval from the Executive Director, Heritage Victoria before the undertaking any works that have a significant sub-surface component.General Conditions: 3. If there is a conservation policy and planall works shall be in accordance with it. Note:A Conservation Management Plan or a Heritage Action Plan provides guidance for the management of the heritage values associated with the site. It may not be necessary to obtain a heritage permit for certain works specified in the management plan.
General Conditions: 4. Nothing in this determination prevents the Executive Director from amending or rescinding all or any of the permit exemptions. General Conditions: 5. Nothing in this determination exempts owners or their agents from the responsibility to seek relevant planning or building permits from the responsible authorities where applicable. Minor Works : Note: Any Minor Works that in the opinion of the Executive Director will not adversely affect the heritage significance of the place may be exempt from the permit requirements of the Heritage Act. A person proposing to undertake minor works must submit a proposal to the Executive Director. If the Executive Director is satisfied that the proposed works will not adversely affect the heritage values of the site, the applicant may be exempted from the requirement to obtain a heritage permit. If an applicant is uncertain whether a heritage permit is required, it is recommended that the permits co-ordinator be contacted.
-
-
-
-
-
LINDENVictorian Heritage Register H0213
-
HALCYONVictorian Heritage Register H0775
-
FORMER PRIORY LADIES SCHOOLVictorian Heritage Register H0726
-
"1890"Yarra City
-
"AMF Officers" ShedMoorabool Shire
-
"AQUA PROFONDA" SIGN, FITZROY POOLVictorian Heritage Register H1687
-
..estervilleYarra City
-
1 Alfred CrescentYarra City
-
1 Barkly StreetYarra City
-
-