195 Adderley Street

What is significant?

Lochaber was built in 1896-7 by Field and French of 103 Haines Street, North Melbourne for the engine driver, Donald Cameron, to the design of local architect, Frederick J. Brearley. Brearley designed a large number of inner Melbourne houses from the 1880s to the early 1900s. In 1906 he was described as a member of the Architects and Engineers Association, an architect, sworn valuer and Technical Instructor for North and West Melbourne, with offices in at 155 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne.

Lochaber was also the family home of Lieut. D. R. Cameron who left Australia with the first Expeditionary Force of World War One, where he gained his Military Cross for conspicuous bravery in the field.

Contributory elements include:

• two storey brick and cemented, parapeted row house;

• two colour face brick (cream, brown);

• stylistically derivation from the Italian Renaissance Revival;

• cemented cornice moulds, statuettes, swags, rosettes, foliated blocks and brackets;

• face brick side and rear walls;

• slate clad pitched roof behind the parapet, with cemented and corniced chimneys;

• two storey cast-iron verandah with panelled cast-iron frieze and brackets, and a raised ornamented gablet above the verandah roof;

• double-hung sash windows, with a three light bay at ground floor;

• four-panel entry door and toplight with Edwardian character lead-lighting;

• cast-iron double palisade front fence on dressed stone footings; and

• contribution to a valuable Victorian-era streetscape.

The upper level verandah valence appears incomplete.

How is it significant?

Lochaber is significant historically and aesthetically to West Melbourne and the City of Melbourne.

Why is it significant?

Lochaber is significant.

• Historically, as the home of one of the West Melbourne elite professions, that of an engine driver, and a local war hero, Lieut. D. R. Cameron, also representative of a major growth period in West Melbourne, and

• Aesthetically, a well-preserved custom-designed and highly ornamented row house within the City and the work of local architect, F. J. Brearley whose practice specialised in inner Melbourne housing.