Montalto Avenue / Stradbroke Avenue / Clendon Road / Toorak Road Precinct
1-33 & 2-32 MONTALTO AVENUE, TOORAK, STONNINGTON CITY

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Statement of Significance
The Stonehaven Court area contributes to the significance of the whole Toorak/Clendon Road Urban Conservation Area which is documented in the Prahran Character and Conservation Study 1992, pages 49-51.
As an extension to the Toorak/Clendon Road Urban Conservation Area, the Stonehaven Court area will contribute to the 1920s-30s character of the whole area.
Specifically, the key characteristics of the Stonehaven Court area are:
the 1920s-30s buildings of architectural significance
the retention of trees from the earlier property
the garden settings of the properties within the court
the street forms and materials which are typical of the period of development.
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Montalto Avenue / Stradbroke Avenue / Clendon Road / Toorak Road Precinct - Physical Description 1
The Montalto Avenue component of this Urban Conservation Area demonstrates an interesting approach to subdivision design which has created an internally focused residential precinct. The precinct is entered from the east or the west by short streets which end in a T intersection. The main road is then a square internally with houses on both sides, that is, around the perimeter as well as within the central square. At each corner of the rectangle, the road is extended in a small cul de sac. This design technique is seen in the much later Housing Commission development in areas such as Doveton and Sale; the effect is to display the architectural qualities of the corner grouping of houses.
The overall character of Montalto area is created by this particular urban form combined with the strong architectural character of two storey detached inter-war houses, each individually of some interest, and some of considerable design importance. Each house is set on a larger than average allotment and each is surrounded by a leafy garden with smaller trees and shrubs predominating, although a few properties have larger specimen trees. The overall effect is of a linking between the garden setting of each house and the landscape setting created by the estate design. Many houses combine a brick fence and hedge for their front boundary. The combinations include lower brick fences with privet hedges and also some cypress hedges. A few properties have higher brick fences, presumed to date from a more recent period, and several retain timber fences which are probably original.
The architectural qualities of the buildings are vitally important in understanding and appreciating the character of the estate. The diversity of styles is remarkable given that each fit within a similar sized allotment and presumably contained a similar range and number of rooms. Many of the houses reflect the interests in revival styles during this period and include Tudor Revival houses with dark painted half timbering, Georgian Revival with rendered facades, Spanish Mission influences, and Arts and Crafts characteristics. Many of the houses are rendered but a good proportion is also face brick using the clinker bricks of the period.
Generally, the estate is remarkably intact. There has been some redevelopment along the Canterbury Road side of the estate.
The street plantings are unusual using Liquidambar, a species uncommon in street plantings, to great effect.
Montalto Avenue / Stradbroke Avenue / Clendon Road / Toorak Road Precinct - Local Historical Themes
8.1.3 The end of an era - mansion estate subdivisions in the twentieth century
8.4.1 Houses as a symbol of wealth, status and fashion
8.3.2 Gardens
8.2.1 Mansion estates and the high ground
Heritage Study and Grading
Stonnington - Conservation Review City of Prahran Volume 3: Urban Conservation Areas
Author: Context Pty Ltd
Year: 1993
Grading: VariousStonnington - Prahran Conservation Study Identification of Buildings & Areas of Major Significance
Author: Nigel Lewis & Associates
Year: 1983
Grading: Various
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COMO HOUSEVictorian Heritage Register H0205
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TINTERNVictorian Heritage Register H0208
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CLENDON LODGEVictorian Heritage Register H0561
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"1890"Yarra City
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"AMF Officers" ShedMoorabool Shire
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"AQUA PROFONDA" SIGN, FITZROY POOLVictorian Heritage Register H1687
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'YARROLA'Boroondara City
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1 Bradford AvenueBoroondara City
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