Miller Street | Melbourne Streets

Miller Street, West Melbourne, photographer Stephen Hatcher 2020

West Melbourne’s Miller Street was named after Henry Miller, born in 1809 in Derry, Northern Ireland. His father, also named Henry, was a captain in the 40th Regiment of the British Army and his mother was Jane, née Morpeth.

Henry ‘Money’ Miller

Miller Street was named in 1851 when the first permanent building, the Melbourne Benevolent Asylum, opened in extensive and unspoilt bushland. Until 1911, the asylum supported those who were needy, aged, infirm, disabled or destitute.

The Miller family had arrived in Sydney in 1824 with a boatload of convicts. In 1828 Henry junior started out as a humble clerk in Van Diemen’s Land. In 1834 he married Eliza Mattinson in Hobart and they later sailed to the new settlement of Melbourne.

Melbourne Advertiser 1840

Young Henry started work as a moneylender and financier, leading him to be known as ‘Money’ Miller. In 1849 he launched an insurance company and became its chariperson. He was later involved in establishing the state bank of Victoria and served as chairman of directors. Intriguingly, he also faced court on charges of sheep stealing.

Melbourne Advertiser 1842

The first house built on Miller Street, on the southern side, late in 1858, is thought to have been a wooden house built by Thomas McFarland. A Victorian terrace home now stands on the site at 63 Miller Street.

In 1858, Crown land purchasers in Miller Street were a veritable ‘whos’s who’ of society. John Austin Keens (lot 10) was a wholesale and retail ironmonger. Solomon Solomon (lot 9) live in Melbourne’s fashionable Collins’ Street before selling up and sailing for America.

James Taylor, a master builder, and his wife Jane lived at lot 25. Benjamin Cowderoy, first chairman of St Kilda Council, bought lot 7. He was also government valuer to the young state’s railways and probate office.

Robert Service (lot 6) saw his son James Service become Victoria’s twelfth Premier. James Watson (lot4), from County Armagh, became a local merchant and politician. John Harbison (lot 3) became M.L.A. for North Melbourne and owned Rich Hill Terrace in Dudley Street.

Just over Abbotsford Street is a block granted to the Primitive Methodist Church. The church is now gone, but the minister’s manse, built by the Thurgood brothers, still remains, now known as 660 Spencer Street.

Source: North and West Melbourne News Spring edition 2020, ‘Money Miller’ loans his name to an early new thoroughfare page 11, by Stephen Hatcher

Mr. Henry Miller (1809-1888), First mayor of Richmond, financier and politician, son of Henry Miller (Millar). He acquired many pastoral holdings and made a number of successful property speculations in Melbourne in his lifetime.

Detail from MMBW Plan 1895, Parish of Jika Jika, Parish Plan, West Melbourne.

Melbourne Council Street Card Number #899, street gazetted in 1860.

1 Miller Street

West Melbourne VIC 3003

Also known as Address Sturgess Terraces (1-11)
Constructed 2/5/1874
Style Victorian, Mid: 1860-1875
Builder William Sturgess, 20 Milton Street West Melbourne