Capel Street, looking north. Photographer Sue Scarfe, 2020.
Capel Street begins in West Melbourne where it intersects with William Street before it heads north and ends when it runs into Bedford Street, North Melbourne.
It is thought the street was named after Thomas Bladen Capel, a Londoner born in 1776, the son of William Capel and Harriet Bladen. He had a distinguished naval career, fighting for his king in the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar against the French and Spanish during the Napoleonic Wars.
Capel Street’s earliest residents began settling in around 1854, six years before the street was officially documented in the government gazette. The area’s first significant landmark, known then as the cattle yard, had begun even earlier, in 1842, on the corner of Elizabeth and Victoria Streets.
The street was first mentioned in the Argus in August, 1854, in an advertisement placed by local resident George Holt Miller, a master wheelwright and farrier. He announced his interest in selling two superior Scottish-built Whitechapel two-wheeled spring-carts, then all the rage in London.
Miller has his own intriguing story. After arriving in Port Phillip in 1833 as a six-year-old, later in adulthood, he married Sarah Lambert in 1851. After she died during child birth, George married Helen McPherson and opened his wheelwright and blacksmithing business in Capel Street, Hotham which then boasted seven other dwellings on this street.
The street’s first architect-designed homes were erected in 1868, designed by Crouch and Wilson, famed for their contribution for Prahran Town Hall. Another highly distinguished architect, George Raymond Johnson, designed boot-maker Patrick Cleary’s cottages at No. 81 and 83 Capel Street in 1871. In Johnson’s spare time he also designed the North Melbourne Town Hall as well as a number of other highly prominent public and private buildings.
Thomas Bladen Capel, the naval hero, fought his battles in the Napoleonic wars. The residents of Capel Street had their own monumental battle back in the 1970s against the anti-heritage push by a former Lord Mayor of Melbourne and Councillors to demolish and redevelop the block which also happens to be directly opposite Queen Victoria Market.
Thankfully, the local residents prevailed and some of their lovely heritage homes have survived.
Read more about this epic struggle “The M.C.C.’s Own “Watergate”
Today, Capel Street hosts 37 two storey and 15 single storey Victorian-era terrace homes. There is also a church, a school, some flats and some modern commercial buildings on land that once had similar single and double storey Victorian-era homes.
Source. North and West Melbourne News Autumn edition 2021, “Capel Street’s residents won epic heritage battle” page 6, by Stephen Hatcher.
Why The Secrecy?
Capel – a very historic word.
“Capel’ is a historic word for many of the English. It is the family name of the Earls of Essex, and was given to many avenues, courts, gardens and roads in London.
The middle English word for “chapel,” it survices in several Capels of this Saint or that, dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries.
Thomas Capel was the first brewer in Melbourne. For a select few in early Melbourne, “Capel” was an exhilarating word of hope.
The Stock Exchange met daily in the Hall of Commerce, on the south west corner of Collins Queen Streets. Most of the leading brokers had their head quarters there.
Before long, the lower floor was called “Capel Court,” after the head-quarters of the London brokers.
When the Hall of Commerce was demolished to make room for the present building, the words “Capel ‘ Court” were found faintly painted over the rear entrance.
This was the decisive factor in the naming of North Melbourne’s Capel Street.(1)
Source. (1) Northern Advertiser, Jan. 27, 1972. Blanchard collection, “What’s in a Name” at North Melbourne Library.
Dr. J. R. Blanchard and his wife were two of the foundation members of the North Melbourne Association. For many years Dr. Blanchard was convenor of the Association’s history group. The material which he helped to collect is now held at the North Melbourne Library.
Preserving Melbourne’s Colonial Past Capel Street West Melbourne is a story of the people who have lived in Capel Street, West Melbourne since 1866, and most particularly it is the story of the tenants of the Melbourne City Council in the years 1976- 1990 who, against the odds, saved some of the Victorian terraces and cottages built by their colonial forebears. This story is particularly relevant in 2012 when the Melbourne City Council is once again proposing ‘re-development of the area to the immediate north of the CBD.
Permission has been given by the author Mrs. Jean Ely, in 2022 to reproduce her book Preserving Melbourne’s Colonial Past Capel Street West Melbourne.
Previous Address this site had an early Victorian terrace dwelling before the current building.
Constructed 1990
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Constructed 1990
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Previous Address this site had an early Victorian terrace dwelling before the current building.
Constructed 1990
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Constructed 1990
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Previous Address this site had an early Victorian terrace dwelling before the current building.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Also known as Address Aberdeen House
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Also known as Address Deckers Restaurant in 1983
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Also known as Address Florence Cottage
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Also known as Address Isabella cottage
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Previous Address this site had an early Victorian terrace dwelling before the current building.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Previous Address this site had an early Victorian terrace dwelling before the current building.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Previous Address site originally had two single story terrace dwellings before current townhouse.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Previous Address site originally had two single story Victorian terrace dwellings before current townhouse.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Also known as Address Union Cottages
Previous Address known today as 47 to 53, it was once a single Victorian terrace dwelling before the current building
Constructed (1st) 1864, (2nd) 1960s
Builder (1) Laurens & Noonan
Previous Address known today as 47 to 53, it was once a single Victorian terrace dwelling before the current building
Constructed (1st) 1864, (2nd) 1960s
Builder (1) Laurens & Noonan
Previous Address this site once had a single Victorian terrace dwelling before the current building.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Also known as Address Union Cottages
Previous Address known today as 47 to 53, it was once a single Victorian terrace dwelling before the current building.
Constructed (1st) 1864, (2nd) 1960s
Builder (1) Laurens & Noonan
Previous Address known today as 47 to 53, it was once a single Victorian terrace dwelling before the current building.
Constructed (1st) 1864, (2nd) 1960s
Builder (1) Laurens & Noonan
Previous Address this site was once a single Victorian terrace dwelling before the current building.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Also known as Address Union Cottages
Previous Address known today as 47 to 53, it was once a single Victorian terrace dwelling before the current building.
Constructed (1st) 1864, (2nd) 1960s
Builder (1) Laurens & Noonan
Previous Address known today as 47 to 53, it was once a single Victorian terrace dwelling before the current building.
Constructed (1st) 1864, (2nd) 1960s
Builder (1) Laurens & Noonan
Previous Address this site was once a single Victorian terrace dwelling before the current building.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Also known as Address Union Cottages
Previous Address known today as 47 to 53, it was once a single Victorian terrace dwelling before the current building.
Constructed (1st) 1864, (2nd) 1960s
Builder (1) Laurens & Noonan
Previous Address known today as 47 to 53, it was once a single Victorian terrace dwelling before the current building.
Constructed (1st) 1864, (2nd) 1960s
Builder (1) Laurens & Noonan
Previous Address this site was once a single Victorian terrace dwelling before the current building.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Also known as Address Union Cottages
Constructed 1864
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Builder Laurens & Noonan
Constructed 1864
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Builder Laurens & Noonan
Previous Address this site was once a single Victorian terrace dwelling before the current building.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Also known as Address Union Cottages
Constructed 1864
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Builder Laurens & Noonan
Constructed 1864
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Builder Laurens & Noonan
Previous Address this site had an early Victorian terrace dwelling before the current building.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Also known as Address Union Cottages
Constructed 1864
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Builder Laurens & Noonan
Constructed 1864
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Builder Laurens & Noonan
Previous Address this site had an early Victorian terrace dwelling before the current building.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Also known as Address Union Cottages
Constructed 1864
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Builder Laurens & Noonan
Constructed 1864
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Builder Laurens & Noonan
Previous Address this site had an early Victorian terrace dwelling before the current building.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Previous Address this site had an early Victorian terrace dwelling before the current building.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Previous Address this site had an early Victorian terrace dwelling before the current building.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Previous Address this site had an early Victorian terrace shop and dwelling above before the current building.
Constructed (1) 1886, (2) 1960s
Builder (1) James Amess – 47 Dryburgh Street
Constructed (1) 1886, (2) 1960s
Builder (1) James Amess – 47 Dryburgh Street
Previous Address this site had an early Victorian terrace dwelling before the current building.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Previous Address this site had an early Victorian terrace dwelling before the current building.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Previous Address this site had an early Victorian terrace dwelling before the current building.
Previous Address this site had an early Victorian terrace dwelling before the current building.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Previous Address this site had an early Victorian terrace dwelling before the current building.
Previous Address this site had an early Victorian terrace dwelling before the current building.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Previous Address this site had an early Victorian terrace dwelling before the current building.
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Architect George Raymond Johnson
Architect George Raymond Johnson
Previous Address 104 was also known as 2 Capel Street, Hotham, it was a substancial early two storey Bluestone terrace home before the current building and street renumbering.
Style Post-War Period : 1940 – 1960
Style Post-War Period : 1940 – 1960
Previous Address 110 was also known as Carmyle Cottages, 4, 6 and 8 Capel Street, three early timber Victorian terrace dwellings were once on this site in “Hotham” before the current building and street renumbering.
Style Early twenty first century 2000-2030
Style Early twenty first century 2000-2030
Previous Address 114, 116 and 118, was also known as 10, 12 & 14, three Victorian dwellings on Capel Street, Hotham before the current building and street renumbering.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Previous Address 117 was also known as 11 Capel Street, a Victorian terrace dwelling in Hotham before the current building and street renumbering.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Previous Address 119 was also known as 13 Capel Street, a Victorian terrace dwelling in Hotham before the current building and street renumbering.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Previous Address 120 was also known as 16 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering.
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Previous Address 121 was also known as15 Capel Street, a Victorian terrace dwelling in Hotham before the current building and street renumbering.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Previous Address 122 was also known as 18 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering.
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Previous Address 123 was also known as17 Capel Street, a Victorian terrace dwelling in Hotham before the current building and street renumbering.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Previous Address 124 was also known as 20 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering.
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Previous Address 125 was also known as 19 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Previous Address 126 was also known as 22 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering.
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Previous Address 127 was also known as 21 Capel Street, a Victorian terrace dwelling in Hotham before the current building and street renumbering.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Previous Address 128 was also known as 24 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering.
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Previous Address 130 was also known as 26 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering.
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Previous Address 131 was also known as 25 Capel Street, a Victorian terrace dwelling in Hotham before the current building and street renumbering.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Previous Address 132 was also known as 28 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering.
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Previous Address 133 was also known as 27 Capel Street, a Victorian terrace dwelling in Hotham before the current building and street renumbering.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Previous Address 134 was also known as 30 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering.
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Previous Address 135 was also known as 29 Capel Street, a Victorian terrace dwelling in Hotham before the current building and street renumbering.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Previous Address 136 previously 32 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering.
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Previous Address 137 was also known as 31 Capel Street, a Victorian terrace dwelling in Hotham before the current building and street renumbering.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Previous Address 138 was also known as 34 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering.
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Previous Address 140 was also known as 36 Capel Street, a single storey Victorian terrace dwelling in Hotham before conversion into storage and street renumbering.
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Previous Address 141-147 was known as 37-39 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Also known as Address Lorne Terrace
Previous Address 142 was known as 38 Capel Street, a single storey Victorian terrace dwelling in Hotham before conversion into a storage shed and street renumbering.
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Previous Address 142 was known as 38 Capel Street, a single storey Victorian terrace dwelling in Hotham before conversion into a storage shed and street renumbering.
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Previous Address 144 was known as 40 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering.
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Previous Address 146 was known as 42 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering.
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Previous Address 148 was also known as 44 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering.
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Previous Address 149-155 was also known as 41-43 was a metal work factory, 45 and 47 Capel Street were both early Victorian dwellingsin Hotham before the current storage building and street renumbering.
Style Post-War Period : 1940 – 1960
Style Post-War Period : 1940 – 1960
Previous Address 150 was also known as 46 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering.
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Previous Address 154 was also known as 48 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering.
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Previous Address 154 was also known as 50 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering.
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Previous Address 156 was also known as 52 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering.
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Previous Address 158 was also known as 54 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering.
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Previous Address 160 was also known as 56 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering.
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Previous Address 161 was also known as 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 61 and 63 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering. They began as seven period family homes, today that land is part of a school.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Previous Address 162 was also known as 58 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering.
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Previous Address 163 was also known as 51 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering. It was originally a Victorian-era family home, today that land is part of a school.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Previous Address 164 was also known as 60 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering. It was originally a Victorian-era family home, today that land is part of a church hall.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Previous Address 166 was also known as 62 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering. It was originally a Victorian-era family home, today that land is part of a church hall..
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Previous Address 168 was also known as 64 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering. It was originally a Victorian-era family home, today that land is part of a church hall.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Previous Address 170 was also known as 66 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering. It was originally a Victorian-era family home, today that land is part of a church hall.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Previous Address 171 was also known as 63 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering. It was originally a Victorian-era family home, today that land is part of a school.
Previous Address 182 was also known as 70 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering. It was originally a Victorian-era ground floor shop and family home above, before the current building.
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Style Late twentieth century: 1960 – 2000
Previous Address 186 was also known as 72 Capel Street, a Victorian-era family home in Hotham before the current building and street renumbering.
Previous Address 188 was also known as 74 Capel Street, a Victorian-era family home in Hotham before the current building and street renumbering.
Previous Address 190 was also known as 76 Capel Street, a Victorian-era family home in Hotham before the current building and street renumbering.
Previous Address 192 was also known as 78 Capel Street, a Victorian-era family home in Hotham before the current building and street renumbering.
Previous Address 194 was also known as 80 Capel Street, a Victorian-era family home in Hotham before the current building and street renumbering.
Previous Address 196 was also known as 82 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering.
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Previous Address 198 was also known as 84 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering.
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Previous Address 200 was also known as 86 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering.
Also known as Address Clare Terrace
Previous Address 202 was also known as 88 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering.
Previous Address 202 was also known as 88 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering.
Previous Address 204 was also known as 90 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering.
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Also known as Address Mountallon Terrace
Previous Address 206 was also known as 94 and half of 92 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering.
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Previous Address 206 was also known as 94 and half of 92 Capel Street, Hotham before street renumbering.
Style Victorian : 1840-1890
Previous Address 208 was also known as 96 Capel Street, a Victorian-era family home in Hotham before the current building and street renumbering.
Previous Address 210 was also known as 98 Capel Street, a Victorian-era family home in Hotham before the current building and street renumbering.
Previous Address 212 was also known as 100 Capel Street, a Victorian-era family home in Hotham before the current building and street renumbering.
Style Early twenty first century 2000-2030
Style Early twenty first century 2000-2030
Previous Address 214 was also known as 102 Capel Street, a Victorian-era family home in Hotham before the current building and street renumbering.
Style Early twenty first century 2000-2030
Style Early twenty first century 2000-2030
Previous Address 216 was also known as 104 Capel Street, a Victorian-era family home in Hotham before the current building and street renumbering.
Style Early twenty first century 2000-2030
Style Early twenty first century 2000-2030