MANDEVILLE HALL
10 MANDEVILLE CRESCENT TOORAK, STONNINGTON CITY

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Statement of Significance
What is significant?
Mandeville Hall is one of the most lavishly-decorated of Melbourne's 19th century mansions. The first house to be built on the site, St George's, was a two-storey brick residence of 12 rooms constructed in 1869 for Alfred Watson, a prosperous Melbourne merchant. Joseph Clarke acquired the property in 1876 and engaged Charles Webb to undertake additions which gave a boom style extravagance to the more austere, classical appearance of the earlier house and which increased its size to 30 rooms. The ornate facade and front portion with grand entrance hall and conservatory, oak parlour, Indian room and exotic bathroom date from this period.
How is it significant?
Mandeville Hall is of architectural, aesthetic and historical significance to the State of Victoria.
Why is it significant?
Mandeville Hall is of architectural significance as one of the best examples of the fine town houses built in fashionable Toorak during the late 1870s and early 1880s for Victoria's wealthy pastoralists, business and professional men and their families. These mansions became the settings for large-scale, lavish entertainments and were a focus for the social life of Melbourne's elite. Mandeville Hall's grand colonnaded balconies, central pedimented entrance portico, balustraded terrace leading to gracious lawns, and remarkably intact 19th century interior encapsulate this period of Victoria's history. The house's grandeur is enhanced by the remaining parts of the once-extensive gardens.
Mandeville Hall is of architectural significance for its associations with the important 19th century architect, Charles Webb. As well as designing many churches, schools, warehouses and other buildings, Webb was responsible for the design of a number of fine residences, including Tasma Terrace in East Melbourne. Mandeville Hall is a lavish example of his work, and illustrates the development of the Italianate style as a form of architecture expressive of the wealth of Melbourne's elite.
Mandeville Hall is of aesthetic significance for its interiors, which provide a remarkable record of 19th century interior decoration tastes and skills. Details such as the brilliant tilings, rich ceiling friezes and wall dadoes and some exquisite wall fabrics and papers were the work of artists specially sent out in 1877 by the firm of Gillow and Co of London. Some of these wall fabrics and papers were designed by the prominent English designer Bruce James Talbert and produced by the manufacturers Jeffrey and Co., leaders in the contemporary Aesthetic Movement. Other features include carved oak panels, Venetian glass doors and stained glass.
Mandeville Hall is of historical significance as a manifestation of the wealth of the affluent and socially prominent Clarke family. The Clarkes were not only great landowners and directors of some major colonial financial institutions, but were leading figures in the social life of the colony, patrons of the arts and well-known philanthropists. Joseph Clarke (1834-1895), was the owner of Mandeville Hall from 1876 until his death. The youngest son of the Hon. WJT Clarke, MLC, Joseph had inherited the management of Norton-Mandeville and other family properties in Tasmania. He came to Victoria in 1874 following his father's death. During his subsequent ownership of Mandeville Hall, Joseph owned a number of large pastoral properties in South Australia, Queensland and New Zealand and was an active company director and Governor of the colonial bank of Australasia.
Mandeville Hall is of historical significance because it illustrates how changing social and economic conditions in the 20th century made the maintenance of such large estates virtually impossible for individual families. After Joseph Clarke's death, the house served as a boarding house until it was acquired by the Loreto Sisters in 1924. It has since served as one of the foremost Roman Catholic educational establishments for girls in Victoria. A notable addition during this period was the chapel dedicated to Christ the King probably constructed by Robert Harper and Son and opened by Archbishop Mannix on 28 October 1928.
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MANDEVILLE HALL - History
Contextual History:History of Place:
The interior decoration of Mandeville Hall occupies a pivotal position in the debate about Victorian taste. It has been suggested by Suzanne Forge that "the quality of Mandeville Hall was only ever rivalled by a handful of palatial mansions built around Melbourne in the Victorian period. Many houses were built on as grand or grander scale, but few presented the refined artistry of Mandeville Hall." Mandeville is held up as an example of Victorian sophistry and taste. The interiors of some later so-called 'boom-period' mansions have not always been so well reviewed.
Associated People:
MANDEVILLE HALL - Plaque Citation
Mandeville Hall, originally called St George's, was built in 1869 for Alfred Watson. In 1876 it was acquired by the prominent Clarke family and transformed by architect Charles Webb into a 30 room boom-style mansion, renamed Mandeville Hall.
MANDEVILLE 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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