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6 High Street South
6 High Street South KEW, Boroondara City
High St Sth Residential - Kew - HO527

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Boroondara City
Review of B Graded Buildings in Kew, Camberwell & Hawthorn
Review of B Graded Buildings in Kew, Camberwell & Hawthorn
Review of B Graded Buildings in Kew, Camberwell & Hawthorn
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Statement of Significance

 

The house at 6 High Street, Kew, is of local historical and architectural significance as a good and externally highly intact example of an attic-storey double-fronted Federation Queen Anne house of the later Federation period, the design of which suggests a simplifying shift in the years leading up to World War 1. 6 High Street shows a lively and effective flexion of scale and presentation of bay, porch, balcony and gable as streetscape elements. It is also a particularly effective use of a small site and frontage.

 

6 High Street, Kew, makes a strong contribution to an important Federation group (including the corner pharmacy building) on the east side of High Street north of the Barkers Road intersection.

High Street South Precinct (HO527)
 

What is significant?

 
The High Street South Residential precinct developed gradually between the late nineteenth and the first decades of the twentieth century. The development of the area generally relates to the initial horse tramway along High Street in the nineteenth century, followed by the introduction of the electric tram and the subdivision of the Findon Estate in the early twentieth century. The proximity to Kew Junction is also important. Of note are the high number of reasonably intact Victorian and Federation era dwellings, and the interwar dwellings in the western area of the precinct.Buildings within the precinct are typically single and attic storey, double-fronted detached villas. A few larger double-storey villas, terraces and semi-detached dwellings are scattered throughout. Characteristics include the predominant use of brick and roughcast render, and Federation-style villas with prominent, decorative verandahs/porches and pitched terracotta tiled roofs. Interwar housing, in the form of bungalows and attic-storey residences, is primarily found in Henry Street, Bowen Street and the west end of Miller Grove.Specific buildings of individual and contributory significance which are important to the precinct are identified in the attached schedule.
 

How is it significant?

 
The High Street South Residential precinct is historically and architecturally significant to the City of Boroondara.
 

Why is it significant?

 
Historically, the High Street South Residential precinct is significant for demonstrating the gradual pattern of subdivision and development of Kew from the mid-1870s through to the first decades of the twentieth century. The development on High Street followed a common pattern in the area, with initial development in the later Victorian period, generally close to Kew Junction, followed by a downturn in the 1890s economic 'bust', and then new development in the improving years after the turn of the century. Conversely, development to the west of High Street, including that of the former Findon estate, more readily exemplifies the residential subdivision of large nineteenth century estates in the early decades of the twentieth century. New streets (Miller Grove, Bowen Street and Henry Street) and medium sized allotments were created from a linear-form subdivision in 1913, which were subsequently developed during the late 1910s and 1920s. Despite the drawn out history of development, unifying characteristics of the Victorian and Federation era dwellings, and the later interwar development, include the generally consistent use of brick and overall uniformity of allotment sizes. The generally free-standing houses on generous sized allotments also reflect on the apparent affluence of the original residents and the desirability of the area.Architecturally, the High Street South Residential precinct is significant for incorporating a variety of building types and styles from the Victorian and Federation eras, and interwar period. Dwellings of single and attic storeys, including double-fronted detached villas and some larger double-storey villas, are found in the precinct together with terraces and semi-detached dwellings. Brick and roughcast render are common materials, while double-fronted Federation-style villas stand out due to theirprominent, decorative verandahs/porches, including some with highly ornamented timber fretwork, and pitched terracotta tiled roofs. The diagonal alignment of High Street, with dwellings on sharply angled frontages, has encouraged construction of vigorous diagonally-oriented designs with views of side elevations, and entrance and verandah ornamentation. Conversely, the 1920s bungalows in the west of the precinct display a comparatively high occurrence of juxtaposed front gables, rather than the simpler transverse roof type more common elsewhere in Boroondara.
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    • Physical Description 1

      6 High Street South - Physical Description 1

      6 High Street, Kew, is an attic-storey double-fronted Federation house. A complex gabled roofscape is clad with terracotta tiles and finished with terracotta ridge cresting and finials and is penetrated by attic dormers and slender red face brick chimneys with corbelled caps and ridging. The dormers are clad with shingled weatherboards and the gable ends are finished with fish-scale patterned boards. Tuckpointed red face brick walls bear on a face bluestone plinth and the asymmetrical facade features a prominent projecting double-storey porch and balcony, marking the central entrance. The balcony, which is clad with shingled weatherboard and finished with timber fretwork, is supported by paired timber posts which bear on a red brick dwarf wall and the non-original porch floor is concrete. The entrance door is panelled timber with leaded fan and sidelights and the windows comprise a mix of timber-framed double-hung and casement sashes, many of which have leaded highlights. The south-east corner of the house is defined by a projecting faceted bay with pyramidal turret and timber frieze, while the other front contains a projecting gable bay with tripartite window.

      The non-original brick fence was constructed in the 1960s and other minor alterations include the introduction of timber-framed double-glazing and overpainting of the porch dwarf wall. Directories and council records indicate that the building was converted to flats in the 1950s, around which time rear additions were constructed, however, if built, they are not visible from the street.[i]

      [i] Sands & McDougall Directory of Victoria, 1951 and City of Kew Building Index, # 336, dated 11 February 1955.

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Boroondara - Review of B Graded Buildings in Kew, Camberwell and Hawthorn

      Author: Lovell Chen Architects & Heritage Consultants
      Year: 2006
      Grading: B

      Boroondara - City of Kew Urban Conservation Study

      Author: Pru Sanderson Design Pty Ltd
      Year: 1988
      Grading:


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