Kantara
622 Riversdale Road CAMBERWELL, Boroondara City
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Statement of Significance
Designed in 1891 by little-known architect, J Charlesworth, Kantara, 622 Riversdale Road, Camberwell, is of local historical and state architectural significance as an early example of Australian Federation villa design. Kantara shows all the frontal characteristics of an Australian Federation house, but does so in the earliest period of Federation architecture. As an early expression of the new Federation architecture, it is paralleled by relatively few other published designs. The design draws together a range of generally compatible themes; of particular note are the integral verandah roof and dramatized corner tower (cupola) expression, both usually only seen in much later Federation designs, and the detailing to its main bay. The building is intact as viewed from the street and has a sympathetic garden setting which may retain elements of an early garden layout.
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Kantara - Physical Description 1
622 Riversdale Road is a double-fronted brick residence with a return verandah, perched on a steeply banked site overlooking Riversdale Road. The roof is of terracotta tile in a Marseilles pattern, hipped in the main body and framed with a gabled wing at the north-east corner. It is punctuated by corbel-topped chimneys. The verandah roof is integrated into the main roof, and is in turn punctuated by a corner tower with a prominent and distinctive cupola, heavy enough to read as a distinct event in the general design. The gable is half-timbered, as is the drum for the cupola, through this has arched tops to the half-timbering detail. The wing below the gable is in two broad surface textures, having red brick on the lower walls and a heavy-looking stuccoed dado on the upper, subsuming the upper window lights into its surface with two smooth stuccoed dividers in masonry. The window is topped with the Collegiate Gothic drip moulding, and the upper panes are chamfered at the top to reveal shallow scrolling.
Few alterations have been made to the house. It was converted to medical rooms in 1954,[i] but has since reverted to a residential use. Alterations and additions were made to a design prepared by architect Robert Sands in 2002; these are generally not visible from the street and the original front section of the building has been retained.[ii] Earlier applications to build a new fence were approved in 1995.[iii]
[i] Details sourced from the City of Camberwell Building Index, # 13920, dated 7 April 1954.
[ii] Details sourced from the City of Boroondara Building Index, BS-1092/981061/0, dated 9 September 2002; permit files 40/408/17717/Planning -223.3033.622 (temp.)
[iii] Details sourced from the City of Boroondara Building Index, Consent to construct a 2.3 m high fence, dated 22 November 1995; Permit 6300, for a new fence, dated 18 December 1995.
Heritage Study and Grading
Boroondara - Review of B Graded Buildings in Kew, Camberwell and Hawthorn
Author: Lovell Chen Architects & Heritage Consultants
Year: 2006
Grading: ABoroondara - Camberwell Conservation Study
Author: Graeme Butler
Year: 1991
Grading:
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