64 Capel Street | Melbourne Streets

64 Capel Street

West Melbourne VIC 3003

photographer: Stephen Hatcher

Previous Address
Also known as	Mason
Constructed	1859
Style
Architect
Builder

Timelapse Building Images

No Entries Found

Land Details

Building Details

No Entries Found

Subsequent Building Alterations

No Entries Found

Architectural Features

Walls
Bluestone

Sue Scarfe photographer
Gate
Cast Iron

Sue Scarfe photographer
Doors
Timber

Sue Scarfe photographer
Hardware
Other metal

Sue Scarfe photographer
Windows
Glass

Sue Scarfe photographer
Windows
Glass

Sue Scarfe photographer
Fence
Cast Iron

Sue Scarfe photographer
Hardware
Cast Iron

Sue Scarfe photographer
Walls
Stone

Sue Scarfe photographer
Building Ornamentation
Stone

Sue Scarfe photographer
Walls
Bluestone

Sue Scarfe photographer
Windows
Glass

Sue Scarfe photographer
Building Ornamentation
Stone

Sue Scarfe photographer
Lacework
Cast Iron

Sue Scarfe photographer
Lacework
Cast Iron

Sue Scarfe photographer
Windows
Glass

Sue Scarfe photographer
Balcony
Cast Iron

Sue Scarfe photographer
Fin Wall
Stone

Sue Scarfe photographer

Heritage Significance and Listings

Heritage Listings and Explanatory Notes
Victorian Heritage Register (VHR) Number H0631 Heritage Overlay Numbers HO462 VHR Registration October 1, 1986 Statement of Significance Last updated on – October 29, 1999 What is significant? The Residence at 64 Capel Street, West Melbourne, was built by Joseph Dean probably between 1859 and 1866, possibly in two stages, the second storey being added some time after the first. Dean was a stonemason and lived in the house for short periods but generally leased it until selling in 1897. The house is a two-storey parapeted and part-stuccoed building of basalt coursed rubble with sandstone quoins to openings as seen on the north face. The two-level timber verandah has cast-iron frieze panels, bellied iron balustrade panels and a modified square head picket fence. The architraved upper level window has the distinctively early detail of half side-lights, with adjoining hung sashes over a lower panel. Decorative stucco elements include parapet scrolls, a cornice and unusual stylised brackets and rolled mouldings to the side wall faces, set against the stone work. How is it significant? The Residence at 64 Capel Street, West Melbourne, is of historical and architectural significance to the State of Victoria. Why is it significant? The Residence at 64 Capel Street, West Melbourne, is of historical significance as evidence of the early form of residential development in inner Melbourne. The house is one of the earliest in the area, the land here having been sold in the late 1850s. It provides an excellent example of the kind of buildings erected by the small-scale owner-builders that were common in this part of Melbourne in the 1850s and 1860s. Dean, the builder and occupier of this house, built several others in the area. The Residence at 64 Capel Street, West Melbourne, is of architectural significance as an example of domestic architecture displaying uncommon early details and cast iron pattern and as an unusual example of combined stone (basalt and freestone) and stucco work. History Contextual History: History of Place: The Capel Street block was sold by the Crown in 1859. No two allotments were purchased by the same person, so most of the buildings are constrained by the original allotment boundaries. The block was prime building land, most of the area to the north of Victoria Street having already been developed since 1852. The Capel Street block was thus developed within a few years of sale. Joseph Dean first moved into Capel Street in 1859. His neighbours at the time were Netherwood’s two room brick house and W. Williams Victoria Smelting Works.

Heritage Listings and Explanatory Notes

Victorian Heritage Register (VHR) Number H0631
Heritage Overlay Numbers HO462
VHR Registration October 1, 1986

Statement of Significance
Last updated on – October 29, 1999

What is significant?
The Residence at 64 Capel Street, West Melbourne, was built by Joseph Dean probably between 1859 and 1866, possibly in two stages, the second storey being added some time after the first.

Dean was a stonemason and lived in the house for short periods but generally leased it until selling in 1897.

The house is a two-storey parapeted and part-stuccoed building of basalt coursed rubble with sandstone quoins to openings as seen on the north face.

The two-level timber verandah has cast-iron frieze panels, bellied iron balustrade panels and a modified square head picket fence.

The architraved upper level window has the distinctively early detail of half side-lights, with adjoining hung sashes over a lower panel.

Decorative stucco elements include parapet scrolls, a cornice and unusual stylised brackets and rolled mouldings to the side wall faces, set against the stone work.

How is it significant?
The Residence at 64 Capel Street, West Melbourne, is of historical and architectural significance to the State of Victoria.

Why is it significant?
The Residence at 64 Capel Street, West Melbourne, is of historical significance as evidence of the early form of residential development in inner Melbourne.

The house is one of the earliest in the area, the land here having been sold in the late 1850s. It provides an excellent example of the kind of buildings erected by the small-scale owner-builders that were common in this part of Melbourne in the 1850s and 1860s.

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

The Residence at 64 Capel Street, West Melbourne, is of architectural significance as an example of domestic architecture displaying uncommon early details and cast iron pattern and as an unusual example of combined stone (basalt and freestone) and stucco work.

History
Contextual History: History of Place:
The Capel Street block was sold by the Crown in 1859. No two allotments were purchased by the same person, so most of the buildings are constrained by the original allotment boundaries.

The block was prime building land, most of the area to the north of Victoria Street having already been developed since 1852.

The Capel Street block was thus developed within a few years of sale.

Joseph Dean first moved into Capel Street in 1859.

His neighbours at the time were Netherwood’s two room brick house and W. Williams Victoria Smelting Works.

Owners

From	To	Owner	More Info	Data Source
	to date	Private		source: Hatcher Index
1859		Mr. John Downie, 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
1970	1974	J. E. Cini	source: Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Anne Cronin in 2020.
1950	1960	Leslie A. Blakey	source: Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Anne Cronin in 2020.
1945	1945	Mrs. Elsie Hastings	source: Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Anne Cronin in 2020.
1935	1940	Miss. Emily McKenzie	source: Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Anne Cronin in 2020.
1930	1930	Mrs. Teresa Penny	source: Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Anne Cronin in 2020.
1925	1925	Mrs. M. E. Gapper	source: Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Anne Cronin in 2020.
1920	1920	Herbert L. Tuttleby	source: Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Anne Cronin in 2020.
1915	1915	James Wemyss	source: Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Anne Cronin in 2020.
1905	1910	John S. Duncan	source: Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Anne Cronin in 2020.
1900	1900	John J. Waters	source: Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Anne Cronin in 2020.
1895	1895	Mrs. Margaret Turner	source: Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Anne Cronin in 2020.
1890	1890	Stewart Bell	source: Sands & McDougall directory, transcribed by Anne Cronin in 2020.

Social History

1878. HYMAN.— On the 20th November, at her residence, 64 Capel street, West Melbourne, the wife of A. H. Hyman of a son.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article220443240

source: Weekly Times 1878

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 HO462 (Residence, 64 Capel Street, West Melbourne)Schedule PO12 (Parking Overlay 12)Schedule This information must be verified with the relevant planning or heritage authority.

Zoning

The controls listed below affect this property:

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

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