Railway Terrace

History:

In 1887, the east side of John Street between Spensley Street and Heidelberg Road was vacant land. In 1888 7 brick terrace houses were built in John Street on the north-east corner of Spensley Street. William Inglis, an agent, was listed as owner, and all houses had tenants.

In 1891 William and John Vale were owners; the Sands and McDougall Directory for that year listing the properties as "Railway Terrace 1 to 7". By 1900 the properties were in the hands of the executors of the late Frank Spry. Six of the houses had tenants at this time.

Description:

The terrace at 19-31 John Street is a row of 7 two-storey houses, of rendered brick construction. The houses have two storey verandahs and balconies, with cast iron balustrading. The verandahs are separated by rendered wing walls with semi-circular arched recesses at each level. Windows at ground floor level are tripartite double-hung sashes, with rendered sills, and multi-paned French doors provide access to the balconies at first floor level. A moulded rendered cornice runs across the elevation beneath a plain rendered parapet. The side walls are of face brick.

None of the front fences have survived, having been replaced by low rendered brick walls.

Significance:

Railway Terrace at 19-31 John Street, Clifton Hill, is of local architectural significance and local historical interest. Architecturally, it is an impressively long terrace of two-storey houses, and is a typical example of 19th century boom period speculative development. Historically, it is associated with the adjacent railway line, which was opened in the same year as the construction of the terrace. (Allom Lovell 1998)

A substantial speculative residential development associated with the later years of the land boom and recalling the social significance of the railway line to the extent that this building was erected in the same year as the railway was opened. (Ward, 1995)

Group

Residential buildings (private)

Category

Terrace