J. W. Cross, George Eliot’s husband, writing to his mother in April 1872, commented on ‘the Scottish atmosphere’ of Melbourne. The comment could almost be made of a certain part of North Melbourne, with its ordered sequence of Scottish street names, ‘Provost’ is one of them.
The word, from Latin through French, is used of one set over others. It is used by ecclesiastical and secular officials. The Dean of a Cathedral is sometimes called, not Dean but, Provost as in Derby, England. It may denote the head of a college. The officer in charge of military police is also called Provost.
The word prevails in Scotland for one called elsewhere, a Mayor. Scotland can boast of many famous Provosts in its romantically rich history.
George Drummon, a formidable personality of the 18th century was six times Lord Provost of Edinburgh.
Justly he can be called the architect of the New Town of that city – the square mile north of Princes Street, with its fine streets and Georgian buildings.
Drummond was the powerful force which pushed it towards creation.
Time has taken its toll on these buildings. But efforts are being made today to raise £15,000,000 for the restoration of New Town’s former grandeur.
Among the French, Provost is a surname. The city of Provo in Utah USA is named after Etienne Provost (1782-1850), a French-Canadian trapper who explored that region in 1825.
Provost does not appear as a surname in our early directories or historical records. As our street lies midway between Queensberry and Baillie streets, we may conclude that those who named the streets argued that, if there was to be a Baillie (Scottish for alderman) street, there would surely have to be a Provost (Scottish for Mayor) Street.(1)
Source. (1) Northern Advertiser, exact date unknown, circa 1972. Blanchard collection, What’s in a Name” at North Melbourne Library.
James B. Philp of the Crown Lands Department surveyed Section 22 which included Provost Street on the 10th August 1854 so the land was ready for sale eight weeks later.
Provost Street was officially Gazetted by the Crown in 1867 however dwellings were constructed on Provost Street, Hotham from as early as 1854 just after the Government Land Sale that occurred and reported in The Argus from 28th September 1854.
Before 1889 Provost Street house numbering was randomly applied by house owners, with odd and even numbers and duplicate numbers on both sides of the street. In 1889 the street numbering system known of today was introduced.
Source: (1) 1854 Government Gazette. (2) 1854 The Argus, page 5 Government Land Sale. (3) 1888 The Argus, page 11 street renumbering.
Map Source State Library of Victoria: 1895 MMBW Map Provost Street, Hotham
Also known as Address Hogan and Shepherd buggy & wagon builders
Constructed 1st before 1863, 2nd 1913
Builder (1st) unknown (2nd) James Hartshorn, 31 Provost Street
Builder (1st) unknown (2nd) James Hartshorn, 31 Provost Street
Constructed before 1876
Builder [George] Thomson [Roden Street]
Builder [George] Thomson [Roden Street]
Constructed before 1876
Builder [George] Thomson [Roden Street]
Builder [George] Thomson [Roden Street]
Constructed before 1876
Builder [George] Thomson [Roden Street]
Builder [George] Thomson [Roden Street]
Previous Address 44-42 Provost
Style Early twenty first century 2000-2030
Style Early twenty first century 2000-2030
