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BELMONT FLATS

Location 86 ALMA ROAD ST KILDA, PORT PHILLIP CITY File Number 605169 Level Registered

[1/2] BELMONT FLATS SOHE 2008 [2/2] 1 belmont flats alma road st

Statement of Significance

HISTORIC BUILDINGS COUNCIL - STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: THE BELMONT FLATS
WERE BUILT IN 1923 TO THE DESIGN OF RICHARDSON AND WOOD, ARCHITECTS. IT IS
LIKELY THAT FRANK G RICHARDSON WAS THE DESIGNER RESPONSIBLE IN THE FIRM AS HE
WAS AN ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE PROPERTY WITH HIS WIFE AND SO AND HM CATTLIN.
GLADYS SYLVIA RICHARDSON IS RATED AS THE OWNER UNTIL 1961. THE BELMONT FLATS
HAVE ARCHITECTURAL AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: 1.
IT IS AN EXTRAORDINARY AND ESSENTIALLY INTACT INTERPRETATION OF THE ENGLISH
ARTS AND CRAFTS TRADITION. THIS MELBOURNE BUILDING IS CONTEMPORARY WITH
AMERICAN EXPLORATION OF THIS TRADITION AND SHOWS THE INFLUENCE OF THE
DEVELOPING CALIFORNIA BUNGALOW STYLE..
2. THE USE OF THIS STYLE, COMMONLY RESERVED FOR GRAND RESIDENCES, IS UNUSUAL
FOR FLATS. IT REPRESENTS AN ATTEMPT BY THE ARCHITECT OWNER TO AVOID THE
DUBIOUS REPUTATION OF THE FLAT GENRE IN ST KILDA AFTER WORLD WAR I. 3. THIS
BUILDING IS A SIGNIFICANT EXAMPLE OF PURPOSE BUILT FLATS FROM A TIME WHEN
FLATS WERE OFTEN CONVERSONS FROM REDUNDANT LARGE SUBURBAN HOUSES. 4. THE
BELMONT FLATS ARE A REPRESENTATIVE EXAMPLE OF THE WORK OF THE ARCHITECTURAL
FIRM RICHARDSON AND WOOD. THE BUILDING WAS ALSO THE HOME OF FRANK G
RICHARDSON, A PARTNER IN THE FIRM.