Phyllis Murphy, Wallpapers in the Victorian era

Phyllis Murphy practiced as an architect in Melbourne from 1949 until her retirement in the early 1980s. She and her husband John had a successful architectural practice and worked on many major projects together. Phyllis was also known for her work with wallpaper design and restoration. Phyllis, who has retired, has been collecting wallpapers for the past thirty years and is one of Australia’s foremost authorities on the topic. The Murphys completed a number of conservation projects through the National Trust (Victoria) in the 1960s and 1970s. Click on the image below to watch the video.

Milton Terrace restoration

Milton Terrace in Sydney’s Milsons Point has an extensive history. With a big budget and a big vision, its owners were ready to create a new future for the building. #RestorationAustralia Viewers of the ABC’s Restoration Australia will know that heritage homes, regardless of what ever condition they may be in, can be revitalised and brought back into productive life.Such restoration not only benefits the homes residents, it also maintains the architectural continuity of the surrounding heritage streetscape. Stuart Harrison, architect and historian, follows homeowners across the country as they restore Australia’s greatest buildings. Click on the image to watch the renovation video.

Exterior Paint Colours. A guide to Exterior Colours for Buildings of the Victorian Period

Reproduced with the permission the compiler, Miles Lewis AM is an Australian academic serving as a Professor in the Faculty of Architecture, Building & Planning, at the University of Melbourne, Australia and Alison Blake. A building may be painted on the outside many times during its life and we all know what a difference each colour change can make to the way in which we regard that building. This book aids to help those who wish to preserve some part of Australia’s architectural heritage.

Victorian Stucco

Reproduced with permission of the editor Miles Lewis, AM is an Australian academic serving as a Professor in the Faculty of Architecture, Building & Planning, at the University of Melbourne, Australia. This publication derives from a seminar on Victorian Stucco held at the South Melbourne town hall in 2007. It has now been compiled and updated by the speakers of the seminar to provide a more comprehensive and useful reference. The resulting papers provide important insights into Victorian Stucco : this publication should provide a highly useful and practical reference for anyone interested in the topic. This book aids to help those who wish to preserve some part of Australia’s architectural heritage.

La Trobe Street

Some might not realise the northern side of La Trobe Street is officially part of the suburb of West Melbourne. One can see the left hand side of the above photo shows the CBD while the right hand side shows Flagstaff Gardens. The corner of La Trobe and William Streets right where Flagstaff Gardens lies is the southeastern boundary where the suburb of West Melbourne and the CBD meet. The street was laid out as an extension of the original Hoddle Grid in 1839 and was named after Charles Joseph La Trobe. La Trobe Street extends from Victoria Street in the east to Harbour Esplanade in the west. The northern side of La Trobe Street is within West Melbourne and begins at William Street and ends at Adderley Street. Two portions of land known as Section 33 and 34 on the northern side of La Trobe Street were put up for sale at a Crown Land Auction in May 1850 at an upset price of £300 per acre. Among the land buyers were John Pascoe Fawkner in section 33 and John O’Shannassy in section 34.

Batman Street

Renamed Batman Street in December 1907, it had previously been known by two other names, first called Roebuck Street (1a 1b) then in 1851 it was changed to Franklin Street West (2) according to old maps, Sands & McDougall directories and the Government Gazette. “Colonial Secretary’s Office, Melbourne, 6th November, 1851, HIS Excellency the Lieutenant Governor having been pleased to sanction the alteration of the names of the undermentioned Streets situate in the City of Melbourne, in the Colony of Victoria: Notice is hereby given, that such alteration will take effect from and after the day if the day of the date of this notice. By His Excellency’s command, W. Lonsdale” In 1895 Franklin Street (as it was known) had 50 Victoria era homes, a Wesleyan church, a vinegar brewery, a paper mill, a hotel and the rear of Victorian Iron Rolling works. Long gone are all of the historically valued terrace homes, these days the street hosts high rise blocks of flats, the Metropolitan Fire Brigade and St Jame’s Old Cathedral on the corner of Batman and King Street. (1a) 1852 map Plan of the City of Melbourne And Its Extension Northwards created by Charles Laing, surveyor, held by …

Duguid, Alexander E.

Born in 1850 at Boghead Aberdeenshire, Scotland to parents William Duguid and Jane Emslie. Married Jane Ann Smith Cattanach and had one child named Annie Cattanach Duguid. In the early 1880s Alexander studied at Aberdeen School of Art, receiving a full award in the elementary section in August 1881. He presumably continued classes until gaining a qualification in architecture (1). A.E. Duguid had a significant body of architectural work prior to leaving the United Kingdom. http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/architect_full.php?id=200609 The Duguid family arrived in Melbourne in 1884. His daughter Annie was educated Victoria Ladlies’ College ,Melbourne, Australia. She was keenly interested in politics, being one of the founders of the Women’s Unionist Assn. of South Africa. An active supporter of the Empire Movement promoted by Lord Meath and a worker for juvenile temperance. Rec. Elocution; Music; Gardening. She married George William Nelson, Optologist, Justice of the Peace, and Lord Mayor of Johannesburg from 1930-31. One Son – Francis Horatio Duguid Nelson. Monaltrie, 1 Curzon Street, West Melbourne was built for engineer, George Small in 1888, this house was owned and occupied by him until his death in 1903. Architect, A.E. Duguid and builder, James Bailey were responsible for the creation of Monaltrie House. …