62 Chetwynd Street

What is significant?
James Brown Spence who ran a successful confectionery business in Victoria Street, North Melbourne, commissioned local contractor, James Amess of Dryburgh Street, to build two cottages (62-64 Chetwynd Street) to the south of another less decorated cottage he owned (66) in 1884-5, uniting the three with a similar front fence design. Spence lived at 66 Chetwynd Street over a long period, until his death in 1931, aged 82. The house at 66 Chetwynd Street is thought to have been built for Latham by Robert Duguid in 1870-1 and later owned by chemist Charles Atkin and finally purchased by Spence around 1883. Spence’s architect for the pair at 62-64 Chetwynd Street was the renowned William Pitt.

How is it significant?
Spence’s row houses are significant historically (62-66) to West Melbourne and aesthetically (62-64) to West Melbourne and the City of Melbourne.

Why is it significant?
Spence’s row houses are significant.
-Aesthetically, the pair (62-64) was designed by the distinguished architect, William Pitt (of the Rialto and Olderfleet, Collins Street fame). The pair represents an original example of the low number of small residential commissions known from Pitt’s hand and reflects his skill in the use of the elevated site and the dividing garden wall to direct attention to the central parapet pediment. It is an unusually sited row house pair (above and distant from the street) with uncommon original elements such as the balustrade; and
-Historically, (62-66), for the association with Spence who ran a successful local business and was prominent in West Melbourne and Hotham civic affairs and as another example of small developments by local residents, alongside their homes.

source: West Melbourne Heritage Review by Graeme Butler & Associates 2015.