The Strand Heritage Precinct

The Strand WILLIAMSTOWN and NEWPORT, HOBSONS BAY CITY

All information on this page is maintained by Hobsons Bay City. Click below for their website and contact details.

Hobsons Bay City

The Strand Heritage Precinct WILLIAMSTOWN, Hobsons Bay Heritage Study 2006

Statement of Significance

• Additional Place Information

  • Physical Description 1

    The Strand Heritage Precinct - Physical Description 1

    The Strand follows the coastline of Hobsons Bay and extends in a northerly direction from the intersection of Ferguson Street as more or less a continuation of Nelson Place. It is a residential street beside Hobsons Bay, with housing limited to its west side. The street is wide and has concrete kerbing and asphalt footpaths. There are no street trees.

    Many of the early houses have been demolished and much of the later development is unrelated in terms of its form, scale, materials and siting. However, there still remain three distinct small groups of related villas - predominantly Victorian-era with notable later examples - that demonstrate the historic nineteenth and early twentieth character of the street:

    The first group is situated at the southern end, generally between Ferguson and Stevedore Streets and includes:

    - The 'White House', a single storey reinforced concrete house with an unusual elevated, stuccoed concrete verandah, which is supported by Egyptian papyrus-capital round columns. It retains an original front fence.

    - The row houses at Nos. 10-11 and the terrace house at No. 14. These types of houses, which are relatively common elsewhere in nineteenth century Melbourne are relatively rare in Williamstown. The row houses at 10-11 retain original front fences.

    - 'Tarneit', The Queen Anne villa at No. 28

    The contributory houses in this group are separated by the 1970s era unit development on the site of the former 'Maritimo' mansion. However, the surviving cast iron fence and gates at least provide some visual continuity.

    The second group includes the individually significant two storey 'Mandalay' at No. 24, as well as the Queen Anne villa 'Tarneit' at No. 28. Thereis also arelated Edwardian-era villas at Nos. 22-23, a two storey Victorian house at No. 27 and a villa at no. 30.

    The third group begins at Yarra Street, and includes the small Victorian house on the north-west corner, two early two storey timber dwellings at Nos. 62 and 63, the magnificent Italianate polychromatic brick villa 'Monomeath' at No. 68, another notable Italianate villa at No. 69, as well as related Italianate villas at Nos. 74 and 75. There is also a Queen Anne villa at No. 77 and an Interwar bungalow at No. 80. Far to the north of this group is an isolated villa at No. 94.

    Whatever has changed along The Strand and elsewhere along Williamstown's eastern waterfront the captivating view to the city has remained. Ada Cambridge described it as it seemed to her in 1903, looking from the vicarage of Holy Trinity:

    Hobson's Bay in the foreground - never professing to be picturesque, but to me as full of variety and charm as a good, homely human face - and the long line of city dividing it from the sky. In the sunset of a fine day. that thread of crowded life is glowing beautifully, isolated buildings, as they catch the direct gleam, standing out as distinctly as if they were not leagues away. And after dark it will shine, a thickset band of lights many miles in length.[1]

    The houses overlook the foreshore reserve, which contains a number of buildings, objects and monument with maritime connections including:

    - Cannons and capstans

    - Anchor and capstans

    - Williamstown Sea Scouts Clubrooms

    - Boatsheds

    Distinctive buildings and elements include:

    - 'Mandalay' at 24 The Strand (south west corner of John Street), particularly the bluestone rubble wall along the John Street frontage.

    [1] Cambridge, Thirty Years in Australia, pp. 295-96

    Integrity

    The Strand Heritage Precinct - Integrity

    Integrity

    The overall integrity is low, however selected groups have moderate integrity as described above.

    Physical Description 2

    The Strand Heritage Precinct - Physical Description 2

    Context

    This precinct forms the north-eastern or bayside boundary of the broader Private Survey Heritage Precinct. It is also one of three bayside heritage precincts that also includes Nelson Place and the Esplanade.

    Historical Australian Themes

    The Strand Heritage Precinct - Historical Australian Themes

    Principal Australian Historical Theme(s)

    Making Suburbs

    Heritage Study and Grading

    Heritage Study and Grading

    Hobsons Bay - Hobsons Bay Heritage Study

    Author: Hobsons Bay City Council
    Year: 2006
    Grading:

• Location map
• Explore related places
  • Show:
    -- select -- Nearby Places Same era

  • 
    RESIDENCE

    

    Victorian Heritage Register H0487
  • 
    ST HELLIERS

    

    Victorian Heritage Register H0560
  • 
    FORMER PRESBYTERIAN MANSE

    

    Victorian Heritage Register H0229

  • 
    ..esterville

    

    Yarra City
  • 
    1 Alfred Crescent

    

    Yarra City
  • 
    1 Barkly Street

    

    Yarra City
• Public contributions