CLARENDON TERRACE

208-212 CLARENDON STREET EAST MELBOURNE, MELBOURNE CITY

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Victorian Heritage Register

CLARENDON TERRACE SOHE 2008

Statement of Significance

• Additional Place Information

  • History

    CLARENDON TERRACE - History

    Contextual History:
    In Australia, as in all parts of the world touched by Western imperialism, Victorian architecture was essentially about confidence, material progress, prosperity and the triumphant survival of the fittest. The classical and romantic streams of nineteenth century architecture flowed with ever increasing volume and vigour. In the classical stream, Georgian reticence was swept away by full-blooded adaptations of the High Renaissance and Mannerism, with occasional touches of the Baroque. Domestic architecture displayed a bewildering variety of interpretations of-and combinations of-classical and romantic themes drawn from many sources. The Victorian architect’s typical client for a large house was a self-made man whose overriding requirement was that his home should be an embodiment of his success in the rough and tumble world of free enterprise.(Apperly, Irving, Reynolds, 1989, p. 41).
    
    History of Place:
    The row of three terrace houses, Clarendon Terrace, at 208-212 Clarendon Street, was erected in 1856-57 by Robert Huckson for Charles Lister, a wine and spirit merchant and brewer. The architect was Osgood Pritchard. The building was later owned by the Marks family who were jewellers and opticians in Elizabeth Street. The two storey brick and stucco facade is dominated by a Corinthian pediment.(National Trust)
    
    During Lister’s ownership a number of other distinguished citizens were tenants of No. 210. Samuel McGowan, superintendent of the Electric Telegraph, occupied it during 1862 and 1863, followed G.C. Levey, M.L.A. during the 1864 and 1865 and Ah Mouy, well known Chinese merchant, rice miller and financier, from 1866-1869. Richard Goodhind, a malt and hop merchant, was the tenant of no. 212 during 1867 and 1868.
    
    The second owners, the Marks family, Margaret, Jacob and Benjamin, were jewellers, watchmakers, electro-platers and opticians in a shop in Elizabeth St opposite the post office. They let No. 210 to medical men. Dr. H. W. Wilson was its tenant from 1877 to 1885 and Dr. J.H. Courtney from 1886 to 1890. Henry Marks occupied No. 208 from 1877 to 1880 and Jacob Marks occupied No. 212 from 1881 to 1888.
    
    Medical men were associated with Clarendon Terrace again from 1949 when Drs. T.M. Wright, E.M. Wright, M. Balaam and L. Parr, of 71 Collins Street purchased it at an auction for 9, 600. They later sold it to Dr. James Walker Johnstone in 1955 for 13, 900. E.M. Anstey was the occupier of No. 208 from 1950 to 1955.
    The building has sheltered a number of distinguished occupants including Samuel Walker McGowan (1829-1887). McGowan came from Londonderry, Ireland, and had long been fascinated with telegraphy which he had studied under Samuel Morse. He arrived in Melbourne in 1853 intending to form a private company to provide telegraphic linkage between Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide as well as the goldfields. However, the government resolved to make all telegraphic lines a public monopoly and in September, 1853 it was resolved to call tenders for an experimental line between Melbourne and Williamstown. McGowan’s was accepted. On 1 March, 1854 he was appointed general superintendent of the electric telegraph department of Victoria and by the end of October telegraph communication flowed freely between the three capital cities.
    
    Another distinguished resident was George Collins Levey, M.L.A. C.B.E. Levey had a colourful and varied political and public life. By 1863 he was editor and chief proprietor of the Herald and reduced its price to 1D thereby pioneering cheap newspapers. Until 1891 he was a contributor and sometime editor of the Age. He had an active political life. He introduced the alien’s bill and amendments to the Duffy Selection Act maintaining that 99 % of applications for land near Hamilton were made by speculators. He became secretary to the Commissioners at the Sydney exhibition in 1870 and represented Victoria at a number of other exhibitions including Paris (1878) where he was awarded the Legion D’Honneur. Other activities included the publishing of a number of works of which ‘The Handy Guide to Australia and ‘Hutchinson’s Australasian Encyclopedia’. In 1881-2 he served on the Royal Commission inquiring into the Kelly outbreak and performance of the police.
    
    In May 1977 the property was earmarked for demolition. A development company were given a permit to demolish the building and intended to construct a two-storey office block. There was public outcry.
    
    In August 1977 the Government (Minister for Planning Mr. Hayes) announced that they would advance funds to the National Trust to allow for the purchase of the property and to help with its restoration. It also assisted the National Trust in the conduct of a public appeal. Interest free loan to buy and restore the property.
    
    Initial plans were to develop the Terrace of three houses into a Town House complex, which could be sold at a profit, thus enabling the Trust to institute a rolling fund ploughing the profit back into the purchase and preservation of other historic buildings.
    
    However in 1980 the National Trust were approached by the Menzies Foundation with a proposal whereby the foundation would lease the building for 45 years with the right of first refusal of purchase in the event of the National Trust deciding to sell. Two of the three houses would be reconstructed internally to meet the foundation’s requirements, whilst the third would be faithfully restored to the period, so far as practicable. In return for the Foundation meeting the costs of restoration, the National Trust would lease for a peppercorn rental, and also contribute any monies remaining at credit in the Clarendon Terrace. This proposal was accepted and the Sir Robert Menzies Foundation currently occupies Clarendon Terrace.
    Associated People: Assoc.People VARIOUS MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS
    
    Clarendon Street, was erected in 1856-57 by Robert Huckson for Charles Lister, a wine and spirit merchant and brewer.
    During Lister’s ownership a number of other distinguished citizens were tenants of No. 210. Samuel McGowan, superintendent of the Electric Telegraph, occupied it during 1862 and 1863, followed G.C. Levey, M.L.A. during the 1864 and 1865 and Ah Mouy, well known Chinese merchant, rice miller and financier, from 1866-1869. Richard Goodhind, a malt and hop merchant, was the tenant of no. 212 during 1867 and 1868.
    
    The second owners, the Marks family, Margaret, Jacob and Benjamin, were jewellers, watchmakers, electro-platers and opticians in a shop in Elizabeth St opposite the post office. They let No. 210 to medical men. Dr. H. W. Wilson was its tenant from 1877 to 1885 and Dr. J.H. Courtney from 1886 to 1890. Henry Marks occupied No. 208 from 1877 to 1880 and Jacob Marks occupied No. 212 from 1881 to 1888.

    Assessment Against Criteria

    CLARENDON TERRACE - Assessment Against Criteria

    Criterion A
    The historical importance, association with or relationship to Victoria's history of the place or object.
    
    Construction of Clarendon Terrace commenced in 1857 and therefore pre-dates the large bulk of terrace housing in the inner suburbs of Melbourne.
    
    

    Criterion B
    The importance of a place or object in demonstrating rarity or uniqueness.
    
    The Victorian Free Classical style composition with the giant order Corinthian portico is rare in Victoria. There are very few giant order residences in Australia. Clarendon Terrace in Nile, Tasmania is another example.
    
    

    Criterion C
    The place or object's potential to educate, illustrate or provide further scientific investigation in relation to Victoria's cultural heritage.
    

    Criterion D
    The importance of a place or object in exhibiting the principal characteristics or the representative nature of a place or object as part of a class or type of places or objects.
    
    It is an outstanding feature of the East Melbourne area and a fine example of a terrace.
    
    

    Criterion E
    The importance of the place or object in exhibiting good design or aesthetic characteristics and/or in exhibiting a richness, diversity or unusual integration of features.
    
    Clarendon Terrace is of architectural importance as one of Melbourne's grandest terraces and an important work of the architect Osgood Pritchard. The semi-circular arched entrance, portico and first floor window mouldings and the parapet finials to the portico are particularly notable.
    
    

    Criterion F
    The importance of the place or object in demonstrating or being associated with scientific or technical innovations or achievements.
    

    Criterion G
    The importance of the place or object in demonstrating social or cultural associations.
    
    Clarendon terrace is important for its associations with notable Melbourne identities such as Charles Lister, a wine and spirit merchant and brewer, Samuel McGowan, superintendent of the Electric Telegraph, G.C. Levey, M.L.A and Ah Mouy a well known Chinese merchant, rice miller and financier, from 1866-1869. Clarendon Terrace is important for its contribution to the history of the preservation movement in Victoria. The public outcry and subsequent processes that took place to save Clarendon Terrace after it was earmarked for demolition demonstrate the importance of heritage places to Victorians.
    
    

    Criterion H
    Any other matter which the Council considers relevant to the determination of cultural heritage significance

    Permit Exemptions

    CLARENDON TERRACE - Permit Exemptions

    General Exemptions:

    General exemptions apply to all places and objects included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). General exemptions have been designed to allow everyday activities, maintenance and changes to your property, which don’t harm its cultural heritage significance, to proceed without the need to obtain approvals under the Heritage Act 2017.

    Places of worship: In some circumstances, you can alter a place of worship to accommodate religious practices without a permit, but you must notify the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria before you start the works or activities at least 20 business days before the works or activities are to commence.

    Subdivision/consolidation: Permit exemptions exist for some subdivisions and consolidations. If the subdivision or consolidation is in accordance with a planning permit granted under Part 4 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the application for the planning permit was referred to the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria as a determining referral authority, a permit is not required.

    Specific exemptions may also apply to your registered place or object. If applicable, these are listed below. Specific exemptions are tailored to the conservation and management needs of an individual registered place or object and set out works and activities that are exempt from the requirements of a permit. Specific exemptions prevail if they conflict with general exemptions.

    Find out more about heritage permit exemptions here.

    Specific Exemptions:

    General Conditions:
    1. All exempted alterations are to be planned and carried out in a manner which prevents damage to the fabric of the registered place or object.
    2. Should it become apparent during further inspection or the carrying out of alterations that original or previously hidden or inaccessible details of the place or object are revealed which relate to the significance of the place or object, then the exemption covering such alteration shall cease and the Executive Director shall be notified as soon as possible.
    3. If there is a conservation policy and plan approved by the Executive Director, all works shall be in accordance with it.
    4. Nothing in this declaration prevents the Executive Director from amending or rescinding all or any of the permit exemptions.
    5. Nothing in this declaration exempts owners or their agents from the responsibility to seek relevant planning or building permits from the responsible authority where applicable.
    
    Exterior
    * Minor repairs and maintenance which replace like with like.
    * Removal of any extraneous items such as air conditioners, pipe work, ducting, wiring, antennae, aerials etc, and making good.
    * Installation or repair of damp-proofing by either injection method or grouted pocket method.
    * Regular garden maintenance.
    
    Interior
    * Painting of previously painted walls and ceilings provided that preparation or painting does not remove evidence of the original paint or other decorative scheme.
    * Removal of paint from originally unpainted or oiled joinery, doors, architraves, skirtings and decorative strapping.
    * Installation, removal or replacement of carpets and/or flexible floor coverings.
    * Installation, removal or replacement of curtain track, rods, blinds and other window dressings.
    * Installation, removal or replacement of hooks, nails and other devices for the hanging of mirrors, paintings and other wall mounted artworks.
    * Refurbishment of bathrooms, toilets including removal, installation or replacement of sanitary fixtures and associated piping, mirrors, wall and floor coverings.
    * Installation, removal or replacement of kitchen benches and fixtures including sinks, stoves, ovens, refrigerators, dishwashers etc and associated plumbing and wiring.
    * Installation, removal or replacement of ducted, hydronic or concealed radiant type heating provided that the installation does not damage existing skirtings and architraves and provided that the location of the heating unit is concealed from view.
    * Installation, removal or replacement of electrical wiring provided that all new wiring is fully concealed and any original light switches, pull cords, push buttons or power outlets are retained in-situ. Note: if wiring original to the place was carried in timber conduits then the conduits should remain in-situ.
    * Installation, removal or replacement of bulk insulation in the roof space.
    * Installation, removal or replacement of smoke detectors

    Permit Exemption Policy

    CLARENDON TERRACE - Permit Exemption Policy

    The main importance of this terrace lies in its front facade with its rare giant orders. The stucco detailing is also of significance and should be protected. Internally terraces 208 and 210 have been altered considerably, however No. 212 retains its original floor plan, and this should be protected. Restoration or reinstatement of missing decorative elements should be encouraged. The former stables have been considerably altered, however their form and position should be retained.
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