70 Abbotsford Street

70 Abbotsford Street
West Melbourne VIC 3003
photographer: Stephen Hatcher, 2020

Also known as MaKenzie’s Row house
Previous Address
Constructed 11/3/1865
Style Victorian, Mid: 1860-1875
Architect
Builder Walter Webster

Timelapse Building Images

1997

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


Land Details

1895 MMBW map

Building Details

A double fronted one story rendered brick building with balcony, bluestone foundations and corrugated iron roof with a back yard. The original roof could have been slate.

Notice of Intent to Build.

11th March 1865, Registration number 752.
Fee paid: £2.00.0
Builder: Mr. Walter Webster
Owner: Mr Alexander McKenzie

Other significant building works carried out by Walter Webster can be found here.

Burchett Index


Subsequent Building Alterations

The original Victorian 4 panel front door, the slate roof and the original cast iron fence and gate have been replaced. These can easily be reinstated in the future.

Google for Slate Roofing Melbourne or Cast Iron Melbourne.

Architectural Features




  • Lacework
    Cast Iron

    photographer: Stephen Hatcher, 2020


  • Path
    Tessellated

    photographer: Stephen Hatcher, 2020


  • Fin Wall
    Brick

    photographer: Stephen Hatcher, 2020


  • Windows
    Glass

    photographer: Stephen Hatcher 2020


  • Fence
    Brick

    1960’s
    photographer: Stephen Hatcher, 2020



Heritage Significance and Listings

Heritage Listings and Explanatory Notes

This home along with number 64 Abbotsford street are both significant because they are both double fronted terrace homes and are unique in their size.

Owners

From To Owner More Info Data Source
1975 to date Private Hatcher Index
1966 1974 Emannuele Vittorio & Silvana Carpanzano Hatcher Index
1956 1965 Mary & Emanuel Zammit Hatcher Index
1931 1955 Mary Josephine O’Sullivan Hatcher Index
1920 1930 Catherine Elizabeth Reid Hatcher Index
1899 1919 Michael Maher Hatcher Index
1896 1898 Michael Quinlisk Hatcher Index
1865 1895 Alexander McKenzie Hatcher Index
1864 J Forsyth (Crown land purchaser) 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
1972 1973 Luis Tolo Hatcher Index
1966 1971 Emannuele Vittorio & Silvana Carpanzano Hatcher Index
1956 1965 Mary & Emanuel Zammit Hatcher Index
1932 1955 Mary Josephine O’Sullivan Hatcher Index
1920 1931 Catherine Elizabeth Reid Hatcher Index
1900 1919 Michael Maher Hatcher Index
1898 1898 John Baxter Hatcher Index
1896 1897 Arthur Hodgson Hatcher Index
1866 1895 Alexander McKenzie Hatcher Index

Social History

1867 Sands & McDougall directory showing the McKenzie family living in Abbotsford Street West Melbourne.

Sands & McDougall directory

Mr. McKenzie was a native of Glasgow Scotland and his wife Ann Johnstone came from Ayrehire Scotland, they married around 1850 in Lanarkshire. Ann gave birth to 3 of their 14 children in Scotland and the others were born in Melbourne.

Alexander, Ann and their first 3 children left Scotland around 1854 on the vessel “John Bell” for a better life in the Port Phillip district.

Alexander McKenzie commissioned Walter Webster to build the family home in Abbotstford Street West Melbourne in 1865.

The McKenzie’s were the first family to occupy their home at 70 Abbotsford Street West Melbourne in 1865.

Ann McKenzie passed away in 1893 while her husband Alexander passed away in 1895 at home at 70 Abbotsford Street West Melbourne.

https://my.rio.bdm.vic.gov.au

Alexander McKenzie worked for Gibbs, Bright & Company Ltd.

An old colonist. Forty years in the employment of Gibbs Bright & Co.

The Age

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:

Streetscape

This streetscape contains a collection of historic Victorian buildings and later buildings. The Victorian 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