161 Capel Street

161 Capel Street
North Melbourne VIC 3051
photographer: Stephen Hatcher

Also known as
Previous Address 161 was also known as 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 61 and 63 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering. They began as seven period family homes, today that land is part of a school. Source: from the 1895 MMBW map
Constructed
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Architect
Builder

Timelapse Building Images


Land Details

  • Current map
  • 1895 MMBW map
  • Compiled Crown Record Plan

Building Details

No Entries Found

Subsequent Building Alterations

No Entries Found

Architectural Features



    No Entries Found


Heritage Significance and Listings

Heritage Listings and Explanatory Notes

The historic Victorian era building on this land has been demolished and replaced by a three storey brick school. Designed by A.A Fritsch in the Romanesque style and built in stages between 1903 and 1913.

Owners

From To Owner More Info Data Source
to date Private source: Hatcher Index
Mr. H. Taylor, first Crown land purchaser source: Hatcher Index
abt 40 thousand years earlier 1835 Boon Wurrung and Woiwurrung (Wurundjeri) peoples of the Kulin Nation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Victoria source: Hatcher Index

Residents

From To Resident More Info Data Source
to date Private source Hatcher Index
1960 1960 Joseph Benzina source: Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Anne Cronin in 2020.
1955 1955 Lawrence Faure source: Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Anne Cronin in 2020.
1945 1950 Apartments source: Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Anne Cronin in 2020.
1940 1940 Mrs. Christina De Cieri source: Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Anne Cronin in 2020.
1935 1935 “Italians” source: Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Anne Cronin in 2020.
1920 1930 Mrs. Alice Claxton source: Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Anne Cronin in 2020.
1915 1915 Thomas Stritch source: Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Anne Cronin in 2020.
1910 1910 Mrs. Char. Johnson source: Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Anne Cronin in 2020.
1890 1905 Peter Johnson source: Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Anne Cronin in 2020.

Social History

1891. ROBBERY FROM A DWELLING.

John Dempsey and Thomas Brown were again placed in the dock on a charge of stealing a watch and chain valued at 25s from the house of Charlotte Johnson, 49 Capel street, on the 27th July last. Frank Gustafson in continuation of his evidence given on Thursday last, identified the watch produced as his, valued at about 25s. Missed it at seven o’clock on the evening of the 27th July. Charlotte Johnson deposed that she resided at 49 Capel street. Kept a boarding-house. Remembered 27th July last.

source: North Melbourne Advertiser 1891



Context and Streetscape

Precinct

This property resides within the municipality of the City of Melbourne. We respectfully acknowledge it is on the traditional land of the Kulin Nation.
source: https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/history-city-of-melbourne.pdf
historical map source: https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/search-discover/explore-collections-format/maps/maps-melbourne-city-suburbs

Zoning
This information must be verified with the relevant planning or heritage authority.

Streetscape

The streetscape can be characterised as a mix of Victorian and modern buildings. Eight of the original seventeen single-story Victorian terrace dwellings plus some double storey commercial buildings are on its western side, south of Victoria Street, while on the eastern side, the street retains sixteen of its original thirty-six, wider sized early Victorian, two storey terrace homes, as well as two story modern public housing townhouses.

Crossing over Victoria Street to the north on the eastern side, nineteen of the original thirty-two equally fine examples of early two storey Victoria terrace dwellings can be seen, dispersed by a small number of modern two storey buildings. Unfortunately, all twenty-two of the original Victorian terrace dwellings on the western side from Victoria to Queensberry streets have all been demolished, replaced by taller modern commercial buildings that are out of character with the existing surrounding Victorian architecture of this once predominantly single and double storey residential streetscape.

Heritage of note include two 2 storey terraces at 62 and 64, both have National Trust classifications and Heritage Victoria registrations. Two more include two single storey terraces dwellings at 81 and 83 that were designed by the distinguished Australian architect, Mr. George Raymond Johnson.

Other Information

[93]

Copyright status: This work is in copyright.
Conditions of use: Use of this work allowed provided the creators name and Hotham History Project Inc are acknowledged.

If you or someone you know has any more to add either by old photos or stories of this area, please contact us today. Email info@hothamhistory.org.au