7 Miller Street

7 Miller Street
West Melbourne VIC 3003
photographer: Sue Scarfe

Also known as Sturgess Terraces (1-11)
Previous Address 4 Miller Street before 1889 Source: Sands & McDougall directory
Constructed 14/10/1873
Style Victorian, Mid: 1860-1875
Architect
Builder William Sturgess, 20 Milton Street West Melbourne

Timelapse Building Images

1983

photographer, Graeme Butler


Land Details

1. 1895 MMBW map.

2. Compiled Crown Record Plan.

Building Details

Notice of intent to build.

Street: Miller & Curson (sic)

Number: 5634. Date 14/10/1873

Owner & Builder: William Sturgess, 20 Milton Street West Melbourne. (20 Milton St no longer exists)

Fee: 8.15.0

Type: Four 1-story, One 2-story houses. (All with a private back yard gardens)

(We believe the notice meant to say “Four 2-story & One 1-story houses”)

Other significant building works carried out by William Sturgess can be found here.

Burchett Index


Subsequent Building Alterations

New concrete verandah floor.

The original cast iron style lacework on the upper balcony that was removed in the 1950’s have since been restored.

Architectural Features




  • Windows
    Glass

    Sue Scarfe photographer


  • Lacework
    Cast Iron

    Sue Scarfe photographer


  • Lacework
    Cast Iron

    Sue Scarfe photographer


  • Chimney
    Brick

    Sue Scarfe photographer


  • Fin Wall
    Concrete

    Sue Scarfe photographer


  • Doors
    Timber

    Sue Scarfe photographer


  • Hardware
    Other metal

    Sue Scarfe photographer


  • Fence
    Cast Iron

    Sue Scarfe photographer


  • Path
    Terracotta

    Sue Scarfe photographer



Heritage Significance and Listings

Heritage Listings and Explanatory Notes

How is it significant?
The Sturgess row houses are significant historically and aesthetically to West Melbourne and the City of Melbourne.

Why is it significant?
The Sturgess row houses (1-11) are significant.
1. Historically, as in part the long-term residence of William Sturgess one of West Melbourne most successful developers and representative of a major growth period (Victorian-era) in West Melbourne; and
2. Aesthetically, for the distinctive arcaded end bay to the connected terrace row, and uncommon cast-iron detailing also as contributory to a significant Victorian-era streetscape.

Owners

From To Owner More Info Data Source
1974 to date Private Hatcher Index
1961 1974 Romeo Barrasso Hatcher Index
1959 1960 Romeo Barrasso & Enrico Minichiello Hatcher Index
1955 1958 Vincent, Connie & Spiro Micallef Hatcher Index
1950 1954 Doris Maie White (grand daughter of William & Fanny Sturgess) Hatcher Index
1914 1949 Sarah Folland Hatcher Index
1912 1913 Mrs Folland Hatcher Index
1892 1911 John Studley Folland (husband of Elizabeth Sturgess) Hatcher Index
1873 1891 William Sturgess Hatcher Index
1858 1872 John Austin Keens (crown land purchaser) http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article7305206 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 Hatcher Index

Residents

From To Resident More Info Data Source
1975 to date Private Hatcher Index
1959 1974 Romeo Barrasso Hatcher Index
1955 1958 Vincent, Connie & Spiro Micallef Hatcher Index
1942 1954 Mrs Annie Josephine Crowle Hatcher Index
1941 1941 Patrick O’Sullivan Hatcher Index
1936 1940 Mrs Louisa K Brander Hatcher Index
1935 1935 Miss Mary Lucas Hatcher Index
1913 1932 Jeremiah Sheehan Hatcher Index
1907 1912 Richard Llewellyn Hatcher Index
1906 1906 Elizabeth White Hatcher Index
1904 1905 John Arthur Hatcher Index
1899 1903 George Tootell Hatcher Index
1898 1898 Charle Moss Hatcher Index
1896 1897 Ambrose Moore Hatcher Index
1892 1895 Miss Roberts Hatcher Index
1888 1891 George Russell Hatcher Index
1886 1887 William Douglas Hatcher Index
1883 1885 Robert Thompson Hatcher Index
1879 1882 Robert & Mrs Peacock Hatcher Index
1877 1878 William Vance Hatcher Index
1876 1876 Richard Whitelaw Hatcher Index
1875 1875 William Davies Hatcher Index

Social History

1931 Voters Roll – Jeremiah & Margaret Sheehan nee O’Reilly and family

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Robert Peacock was born in 1832 at Scoonie, Fifeshire Scotland to parents Robert Peacock and Elizabeth Millar. He married Christina Sands in Kirkcaldy Fifeshire in 1852 and they both decided to emigrate to Port Phillip, seeking better life opportunities. Christina was born in Kirkcaldy to parents John Sands and Jean Pratt. Robert, aged 21 and Christina, aged 23, arrived in 1853 onboard the ship ‘Sophia Burbidge’.

Robert and Christina had ten children, eight daughters and two sons, and lived at 7 Miller Street West Melbourne (previously 4 Miller Street before 1889 street renumbering), as well as 65 Queensberry Street Hotham in the mid 1870’s and 14 Scotia Street North Melbourne in the mid 1850’s.

Robert was listed as an Engineer on the Port Phillip shipping arrivals manifest. He was also secretary of the M.U.I.O.O.F Loyal Alliance Lodge number 4551.

Robert and Christina’s third daughter Christina Peacock married John Marshall at their home at 7 Miller Street West Melbourne in 1879. Marshall was born at Greenock, parish of Govan, Glasgow in Renfrewshire, Scotland. He arrived in the Port Phillip district sometime after 1861 with his parents John and Susan Marshall nee Davie.

the Peacock family.

The Argus

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Elizabeth Sturgess was born around 1861 in Victoria and inherited 7 Miller Street after her father William Sturgess passed in 1891. She married John Studley Folland in 1891. He was born in January 1865 in Torrington, Devon, his father, John, was 26 and his mother, Mary, was 29. He married Elizabeth Sturgess in 1890 in Victoria. They had two children during their marriage, William and Doris Folland. John died in 1956 in Box Hill, Victoria, at the age of 91.

the Folland family

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

The controls listed below affect this property:

Streetscape

This streetscape contains a collection of historic Victorian and Federation buildings. The homes are socially and historically significant buildings for the early development of North & West Melbourne in their own right.

Other Information

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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