16 Wood Street

This property is part of the town allotment No 4 of 84A in North Melbourne and was surveyed in 1858, sold in 1865 and then sub-divided. William Donovan secured a title in 1871 – it was later to be No 16 Wood Street. At the time he owned and lived in a wooden house next door on land later to become 18 Wood Street. (This social item should be read in conjunction with Donovan`s story in the People section and the item on Wood Street in the Streets section).

In 1883 Donovan built the grand two-story house and named it Erin Terrace. It would have been connected to the newly available water and gas supplies. It would also have had sewerage pan collection.  There was a pathway from the side lane that went in front of the stables and allowed pan collection from both of Donovan`s houses.  The two-story horse stable behind the house also covered the rear of his next door property. This stable was accessed by the side lane which is now known as Donovans Lane. At some stage 18 Wood Street land covered by the stables was given a separate title and this title has always been owned by the owner of 16 Wood Street. The stable burnt down around 1960 when derelict and reportedly used by homeless people for shelter.

Donovan rented the newly built house to William Rushworthy for a year or so during which Donovan`s first wife Susan died. He soon married Annie Hamilton and they moved into the new house in 1885. His death and the departure of Annie and their children five years later is covered in the People story about Donovan.

The owners and residents are listed above. The owner selling in 1974 had purchased the house as an investment and had to first repair and renovate it. He complained at the settlement meeting that during the repair process whenever the building inspector visited he managed to find additional repairs that needed doing. This repair/renovation did nothing regarding the burnt down stable apart from clear the area. The Donovans Lane boundaries were not fenced, nor was the boundary with 18 Wood Street. The rear brick wall of the house continued to the side fence on Donovans Lane. This empty and unfenced site was a dumping ground for rubbish and building waste. When cleared a floor of bluestones and wooden blocks was uncovered along with a number of horseshoes. The area was fenced and reconnected to the main property in 1975.

Lemon scented gum/bloodwoods were planted in 1976 in the 16 Wood Street backyard, at the rear of 18 Wood Street and at the rear of 20 Wood Street. The one in the 16 Wood Street backyard was removed in 2015, but the other two majestic 40 metre gums remain.

The current owner has over the years had two former residents call by. One was the daughter of Mrs L McGregor and the other a German couple working briefly in Australia in the early seventies. And in May 2018 a 94 years old grand daughter of William and Annie Donovan visited on the 120th anniversary of Donovan`s death.