44 Miller Street

44 Miller Street
West Melbourne VIC 3003
photographer: Sue Scarfe

Also known as Valkyrie Source: http://maps.melbourne.vic.gov.au
Previous Address The Benevolent Asylum site Source: https://www.hothamhistory.org.au/product/the-melbourne-benevolent-asylum-hothams-premier-building/
Constructed 8/8/1914
Style Federation: 1890–1915
Architect
Builder Robert Thackwary, 244 Bank St South Melbourne

Timelapse Building Images

2004

http://maps.melbourne.vic.gov.au

1983

58 to 44 Miller Street West Melbourne

photographer, Graeme Butler


Land Details

Building Details

Notice of intent to build

Number: 5125. Date: 8/8/1914

Owner: Bjorn Robert Bjornson

Builder: Robert Thackwary, 244 Bank St St Melb

Fee: 3.10.0

Type: Brick house

Section: North Melbourne Benevolent Asylum site.

Burchett Index


Subsequent Building Alterations

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Architectural Features



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Heritage Significance and Listings

Heritage Listings and Explanatory Notes

Owners

From To Owner More Info Data Source
to date Private 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
1965 1974 Mrs. H. Beck source: Rate books and Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Stephen Hatcher.
1955 1960 Cliff Macquire source: Rate books and Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Stephen Hatcher.
1940 1950 Frederick Macquire source: Rate books and Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Stephen Hatcher.
1925 1935 Mrs. H. Bjornsen source: Rate books and Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Stephen Hatcher.
1920 1920 Robert Bjornsen source: Rate books and Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Stephen Hatcher.
1915 1915 house being built source: Rate books and Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Stephen Hatcher.
1851 1911 the Benevolent Asylum https://www.hothamhistory.org.au/the-benevolent-asylum/

Social History



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

 

Streetscape

The first building to face Miller Street, West Melbourne in 1851 was the Benevolent Asylum running from Curzon to Abbotsford Streets on its northern side. The southern side of the street contained predominantly single and double storey Victorian era residential dwellings, a milk bar/confectioner shop near the corner of Abbotsford as well as some green grocers and a bakery on the northern side between Abbotsford and Stawell Streets.

Further west was once the famous Brockoff biscuit factory which later merged with Arnott’s in 1963, the factory has been converted into flats.

After the demolition of the Asylum, all that piece of the Crown land grant was subdivided up into smaller house blocks and sold off for development which helps to explain why the street has Victoria architecture on one side and Edwardian architecture on the other.

Its historic dwellings have not all been immune from destruction, loosing eight Victorian dwellings and shops as well as the stone Methodist Church building on the southern corner of Miller and Spence Street. They have been replaced by commercial buildings from around 1950’s.

Thankfully the Methodist minister’s manse which can be seen facing onto Spencer at number 660 has survived the wrecking ball. Built by brothers James, John and Alfred Thurgood who also built sheds A-E at the Queen Victoria Market as well as a long list of other desirable buildings around Melbourne.

Miller streetscape today is characterised by a generous number of surviving heritage dwellings, with an addition of some commercial buildings at the western end.

There is a huge push by the local and State Government to increase the density of residents living in West Melbourne. Existing residents already in the area would do well to keep their eyes open for any new multi-storey development proposals slated for this street that may undermine the historic nature and charm of this very early historic residential area.

In some cases, unrestricted increases in density and taller building heights than heights of the existing streetscape can be detrimental to current residents’ enjoyment of amenity and quality of life.

Other Information

No Entries Found