Spencer Street was named after Lord Spencer, former leader of the Whig party in the House of Commons.
Road section running from Flinders Street northwards was gazetted 29 March 1837 by Sir George Gipps, Govener of NSW and the street is thought to have been named after John Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl Spencer, a British statesman. He was notably Chancellor of the Exchequer under Lord Grey and Lord Melbourne from 1830 to 1834. Due to his reputation for integrity he was nicknamed “Honest Jack”.
Garryowen’s Chronicles of early Melbourne (1888) quotes from a supposed journal of surveyor Robert Hoddle, suggesting that Bourke instructed Hoddle as to the names of the streets. Such a journal has never been subsequently located, and the precise origin of some names remains a matter of speculation.
Spencer, King and William Streets were all later extended in a northerly direction to LaTrobe Street in 1838.
In 1860 Sir William Denison, Governor of New South Wales approved the gazettal of a further extension to Spencer, King and William Streets starting from LaTrobe street heading north into the suburb of West Melbourne.
Source.
(1) John Charles Spencer, Viscount Althorp, 3rd Earl Spencer (1782-1845) by Henry Pierce Bone.
(2) NSW Government Gazette,
(3) Victorian Government Gazette,
Previous Address 343 Spencer was previously known as number 23 before street renumbering
Constructed 1850
Style Victorian, Early : 1840-1860
Style Victorian, Early : 1840-1860
Also known as Address Short’s Row houses
Previous Address 375 Spencer before Melbourne council re numbered the street
Constructed 3/7/1856
Style Victorian, Early : 1840-1860
Builder Alexander Edward Short
Previous Address 375 Spencer before Melbourne council re numbered the street
Constructed 3/7/1856
Style Victorian, Early : 1840-1860
Builder Alexander Edward Short
Also known as Address Now includes 573 & 575 Spencer after consolidation
Previous Address 579 Spencer known as Short’s Hotel in 1872.
Previous Address 579 Spencer known as Short’s Hotel in 1872.
Also known as Address Linton terrace
Constructed 23/8/1876
Style Victorian, Mid: 1860-1875
Architect Robert Taylor
Builder Robert Taylor
Constructed 23/8/1876
Style Victorian, Mid: 1860-1875
Architect Robert Taylor
Builder Robert Taylor
Also known as Address 1 Linton Terrace
Constructed 23/8/1876
Builder Robert Taylor
Constructed 23/8/1876
Builder Robert Taylor
Also known as Address Methodist Church Parsonage
Constructed 29/11/1883
Architect Mr E. McIver
Builder brothers James, John & Albert Thurgood
Constructed 29/11/1883
Architect Mr E. McIver
Builder brothers James, John & Albert Thurgood
