18 Miller Street

18 Miller Street
West Melbourne VIC 3003
photographer: Sue Scarfe

Also known as Hemingford Flats, 18-20 Miller Street
Previous Address The Benevolent Asylum site Source: https://www.hothamhistory.org.au/product/the-melbourne-benevolent-asylum-hothams-premier-building/
Constructed
Style Inter-War Period : 1915 – 1940
Architect
Builder

Timelapse Building Images

1983

photographer, Graeme Butler


Land Details

1. 1895 MMBW Map.

2. Crown Compiled Record Plan

Building Details

It is though the flats were built in 1938.


Subsequent Building Alterations

The original exposed brickwork was painted over sometime in the 1970’s.

Removal of the paint on brickwork would be an major improvement, if that were to occur sometime in the future.

Architectural Features



    No Entries Found


Heritage Significance and Listings

Heritage Listings and Explanatory Notes

A very modern looking style of building at the time, inspired by a German movement known as Bauhaus, representing functional and clinical architecture. Red or cream brick walls and concrete was also first seen. Steel-framed casement sashes, with larger panes of glass.

The Streamline Moderne style was a late branch of the Art Deco style. The style emphasized long horizontal lines, and sometimes nautical elements, such as railings and porthole windows. This style was adopted into suburban architecture, most notably in the Waterfall style.

Owners

From To Owner More Info Data Source
1975 to date Private Hatcher Index
1939 1974 Francis, Charles & Grace Donovan Hatcher Index
1915 1937 William Plasto (vacant land) Hatcher Index
1849 1911 Melbourne Benevolent Asylum Trust http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4774556 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 Hatcher Index

Residents

From To Resident More Info Data Source
1975 to date Private Hatcher Index
1940 1974 various names Hatcher Index

Social History

November 1939 Flats at this address first became available.

The flats were owned by siblings Charles, Francis & Grace Donovan nee Gilfedder.

Charles was born in Hotham in 1892 and went on to become a Bank Manager. Francis was born in Hotham in 1893 and went on to become a Doctor. Grace was born in Hotham in 1888 and married Edward Gilfedder in 1925. They were all children of William & Annie Elizabeth Donovan nee Hamilton.

The Donovan family grew up at 16 Wood Street North Melbourne (previously called Hotham) the three siblings owned Hemingford flats at 18-20 Miller Street West Melbourne from 1939 according to council rate records.

The Herald



Context and Streetscape

Precinct
The current 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

The controls listed below affect this property:

Streetscape

This streetscape contains a collection of predominantly historic Victorian and Federation buildings. The homes are socially and historically significant buildings for the early development of North & West Melbourne in their own right.

Other Information

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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