62 Capel Street | Melbourne Streets

62 Capel Street

West Melbourne VIC 3003

photographer: Sue Scarfe

Also known as
Previous Address
Constructed
Style	Victorian, Mid: 1860-1875
Architect
Builder

Timelapse Building Images

1983

Photo by Ewan Ogilvy.

1983

L-R 64 & 62 Capel Street West Melbourne, 1983 by Ewan Ogilvy.

Photo by Ewan Ogilvy.

62 & 60 Capel Street West Melbourne. photo by Laurence Angwin

photo by Laurence Angwin

1985

62 Capel Street top left photo and destruction of buildings on 40 to 60 Capel Street in the 1980’s. photo by Laurence Angwin.

photo by Laurence Angwin

1985

Photo by Ewan Ogilvy.

1960s

Photo by Ewan Ogilvy.

Land Details

Current map
1895 MMBW map
Compiled Crown Record Plan
1859 report of the Government Land Sale

Building Details

No Entries Found

Subsequent Building Alterations

No Entries Found

Architectural Features

Doors

62 Capel Street West Melbourne, photo by Laurence Angwin.
Windows
Glass

Sue Scarfe photographer
Doors
Timber

Sue Scarfe photographer
Walls
Bluestone

Sue Scarfe photographer
Building Ornamentation
Concrete

Sue Scarfe photographer5
Windows
Glass

Sue Scarfe photographer
Building Ornamentation
Timber

Sue Scarfe photographer
Walls
Brick

Sue Scarfe photographer
Walls
Render

Sue Scarfe photographer

Heritage Significance and Listings

Heritage Listings and Explanatory Notes
Classified by Heritage Council of Victoria, listed on the Victorian Heritage Register. Statement of Significance Last updated on – October 27, 1999 What is significant? The Residence at 62 Capel Street, West Melbourne, was built and occupied by Thomas Noble, a carpenter, in 1864. The house was probably built in two stages, the bluestone ground floor of three rooms first, with the second storey, in stuccoed brick, added in the late 1860s to give a total of six rooms. It features a corniced parapet and quoins to lower openings and corners. How is it significant? The Residence at 62 Capel Street, West Melbourne, is of historical and architectural significance to the State of Victoria. Why is it significant? The Residence at 62 Capel Street, West Melbourne, is of historical significance as evidence of the early form of residential development in inner Melbourne. The house is built right up to the property line, which was not uncommon during the early period of the city’s development when planning regulation was of a rudimentary nature. Nevertheless, the Melbourne Building Act applied to this part of North Melbourne when No. 62 was built, explaining why it was built in stone at a time when many other structures in the area outside the provisions of the Act were being constructed of timber. As a result, No. 62 has survived as an important component of the 19th century streetscape that is still evident in Capel Street. The absence of ornament, especially in the lower storey, and the staged building process reflect the small scale and humble means of the owner-builders that were common in this part of Melbourne in the 1850s and 1860s. Noble, the builder and occupier of this house, built several others in the area. The Residence at 62 Capel Street, West Melbourne, is of architectural significance as an early residence employing a juxtaposition of stone and stucco work. It also retains early accessories such as the shutters and precise details.

Heritage Listings and Explanatory Notes

Classified by Heritage Council of Victoria, listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.

Statement of Significance

Last updated on – October 27, 1999

What is significant?

The Residence at 62 Capel Street, West Melbourne, was built and occupied by Thomas Noble, a carpenter, in 1864.

The house was probably built in two stages, the bluestone ground floor of three rooms first, with the second storey, in stuccoed brick, added in the late 1860s to give a total of six rooms.

It features a corniced parapet and quoins to lower openings and corners.

How is it significant?

The Residence at 62 Capel Street, West Melbourne, is of historical and architectural significance to the State of Victoria.

Why is it significant?

The Residence at 62 Capel Street, West Melbourne, is of historical significance as evidence of the early form of residential development in inner Melbourne.

The house is built right up to the property line, which was not uncommon during the early period of the city’s development when planning regulation was of a rudimentary nature.

Nevertheless, the Melbourne Building Act applied to this part of North Melbourne when No. 62 was built, explaining why it was built in stone at a time when many other structures in the area outside the provisions of the Act were being constructed of timber.

As a result, No. 62 has survived as an important component of the 19th century streetscape that is still evident in Capel Street.

The absence of ornament, especially in the lower storey, and the staged building process reflect the small scale and humble means of the owner-builders that were common in this part of Melbourne in the 1850s and 1860s.

Noble, the builder and occupier of this house, built several others in the area.

The Residence at 62 Capel Street, West Melbourne, is of architectural significance as an early residence employing a juxtaposition of stone and stucco work.

It also retains early accessories such as the shutters and precise details.

Owners

From	To	Owner	More Info	Data Source
	to date	Private		source: Hatcher Index
1859		Mr. John Harbison, 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	Data Source
	to date	Private	source Hatcher Index
1955	1974	Vincent Lamberti	source: Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Anne Cronin in 2020.
1935	1950	Albert J. Miller	source: Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Anne Cronin in 2020.
1930	1930	Benjamin Kagan	source: Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Anne Cronin in 2020.
1925	1925	Edward Angrave	source: Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Anne Cronin in 2020.
1920	1920	Thomas Gray	source: Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Anne Cronin in 2020.
1915	1915	Mrs. Louisa Dawson	source: Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Anne Cronin in 2020.
1910	1910	Mrs. Elizabeth Avery	source: Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Anne Cronin in 2020.
1905	1905	William Hooke	source: Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Anne Cronin in 2020.
1895	1900	Silas Hughes	source: Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Anne Cronin in 2020.
1890	1890	Mrs. Esther Foley	source: Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Anne Cronin in 2020.

Social History

1875. TUESDAY, 9th FEBRUARY.

Unreserved Sale of Modern and Elegant Household FURNITURE and EFFECTS. On tho Premises, 62 Capel-street, West Melbourne. Owner Giving tip Housekeeping.

W. B. SAY, having received instructions, will sell by auction, on the premise, 62 Capel street, West Melbourne, on Tuesday next, 9th Inst., at twelve o’clock, The whole of the nearly new and fashionable household furniture contained in a well-furnished six -roomed house, Comprising,Elegant rosewood trichord cottage pianoforte, by Mautroot Freres and Co., mahogany square do., handsome walnut wood drawing room suite, by Wallach Brothers, covered in fancy green rep ; brass and iron bedsteads, bedding, carpets, chairs, tables, pictures, ornaments, handsome pier glas, &c. Also, The usual kitchen and culinary utensils.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article202138087

source: The Age 1875

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
The controls listed below affect this property: GRZ1 (General Residential Zone 1)Schedule HO461 (Residence, 62 Capel Street, West Melbourne)Schedule PO12 (Parking Overlay 12)Schedule 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.

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

No Entries Found