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St Elmo/Westford
2 Ash Grove MALVERN EAST, Stonnington City

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Stonnington City
2 Ash Grove, Malvern East
2 Ash Grove, Malvern East
2 Ash Grove, Malvern East
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Statement of Significance

Erected for George Wood in 1890 to the designs of A.H. Fisher this house is one of the earliest examples in Australia of the half-timbered "Old English" style as found in the works of W Eden Nesfield and R Norman Shaw, in England in the 1860s and 1870s.

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    • Physical Description 1

      St Elmo/Westford - Physical Description 1

      The house was designed by Arthur Fisher and built by Messrs Williams and Wallace of Armadale at a cost of 2,500 pounds. The half-timbered upper storey of the house incorporates cement rather than plaster, while the ground floor has hollow walls of red brick. The distinctive tall strapped chimneys are also of red brick, and there are unusual decorative moulded panels in the gable ends. The roof is of green slate with a wide purple band and terracotta ridging. Slate roofed verandas are supported by timber posts. Noteworthy is the use of cavity brick construction (described in 1890 as hollow walls).


      The use of a half-timbered upper storey above a masonry base is characteristic of the "Old English" style, as is the use of red brickwork including tall strapped chimneys. Elements of particular interest include the use of cement in place of plaster, the hollow brick walls at ground floor level, and the elaborately decorated moulded panels in the gable ends. Significant front and side elevations have suffered only minor changes, but there have been more extensive alterations .to the rear over many years.



      Local Historical Themes

      St Elmo/Westford - Local Historical Themes

      8.4.2 Functional, eccentric and theatrical - experimentation and innovation in architecture

      8.2.2 'Country in the city' - suburban development in Malvern before 1920

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Stonnington - City of Malvern Heritage Study

      Author: Nigel Lewis and Richard Aitken P/L
      Year: 1992
      Grading: A1

      Stonnington - References to National Trust of Australia (Vic) Register

      Author: National Trust of Australia
      Year: 1900
      Grading:

Public contributions

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