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IRON HOUSES
181-183, 187, 189 BRUNSWICK ROAD, BRUNSWICK, MORELAND CITY

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Statement of Significance

The iron cottages at 181-183 and 187-189 Brunswick Road, Brunswick, are of state historical, technological and architectural Significance. They are rare surviving examples of prefabricated houses which were imported from England in the gold rush period. They derive historical Significance from their connections with the Rev William Jarrett, who established of one of Brunswick's two earliest colleges in 1852, and with the Glew family, local brickmakers, who owned one of the cottages for approximately 100 years.
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    • Physical Description 1

      IRON HOUSES - Physical Description 1

      The cottages were erected as two pairs, Nos. 189 and 187, and Nos. 183 and 181. (The site at No. 185 is now an access road for housing to the rear). No. 189 has remained largely in its original form, but its brick chimneys have been removed. The front facade of its pair (No. 187) had been brick clad with clinker bricks, possibly in the 1930-40s. Its side facade retains the original iron finish. The verandah of No. 187 had also been altered. Both cottages in the other pair (Nos. 183 and 181) had been brick clad at an earlier time. The brickwork was tuckpointed. These buildings retained their original form, chimneys, windows and verandah posts, however, the verandah frieze had been replaced. A brick extension was added to Nos. 183 in 1963.

      In 1997, extensive conservation work was carried out on Nos. 181-183 and 187. Brickwork which had been added to the front facades of the cottages in the 1930s was removed, revealing the original corrugated iron cladding, and various other elements-including the verandah railings and friezes and the half-round guttering-were reconstructed to match existing fragments. Importantly, although the original iron cladding was never painted, the whole was painted to create a uniform appearance where new panels had to be added. A new front picket fence was constructed. (6)
      No. 189 remains in good condition and retains much original fabric, but it was not part of the 1997 conservation program.
      (6) Lardner, 'Brunswick Iron Cottages', pp. 12-13.

      Key Architectural Elements: prefabrication
      corrugated iron wall cladding, gabled roofs and concave profile verandah roofs
      verandah railings and friezes
      decorative timber bargeboards, gable-ends and finials
      half-round guttering
      brick chimneys

      Conservation Guidelines: restore and reconstruct No. 189 to match Nos. 181-183 and 187

      Principal Historic Themes: association with individuals or families

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Moreland - Keeping Brunswick's heritage: A Report on the Review of the Brunswick Conservation Study

      Author: Context Pty Ltd
      Year: 1990
      Grading: Local

      Moreland - City of Moreland Heritage Review

      Author: Allen Lovell and Associates
      Year: 1999
      Grading:

Public contributions

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