14-16 Princess Street

Nos 14-16 Princess Street is a pair of large, wide, parapeted and terraced two storey brick and stuccoed houses constructed in c.1889-90. The terraces were originally built by Henry Rowlands, ironmonger, who owned the buildings until at least 1896 and rented the dwellings to a series of tenants. In more recent times the terraces have been adapted to commercial use and truncated to the rear where a very substantial modern three-level addition, with carparking in an undercroft at grade level, is attached to the east side of the buildings. This addition is not significant. The terraces have double-height verandahs facing Princess Street and share a wing wall and piers, the prominent parapet dominated by central mouldings with clamshells, and cast iron verandah friezes and palisade fence to the front (west) boundary. The front windows are double-hung timber-framed sashes. The location of the property, with car access to either side and the public carpark to the rear, allows for an unusually high degree of visibility of the building 'in the round', including the substantial rear addition.

The two storey terrace houses at 14-16 Princess Street, Kew, are of historical and architectural significance to the City of Boroondara.

The two storey terrace houses at 14-16 Princess Street, Kew, constructed in c.1889 for ironmonger Henry Rowlands, are of local historical significance. While the historical context for the properties has changed dramatically, including through the adjoining supermarket and carpark development, the buildings remain as prominent surviving historic terrace houses in this area of Kew, and highly visible on busy Princess Street.

The terrace houses are also of local architectural significance, as an externally generally well-preserved (to the main front components of the building) and prominent pair of terrace houses, dating from the late Boom period, and retaining much original external detailing and fabric. As stuccoed two-storey terrace houses, they are also comparatively unusual in the Boroondara context. Distinguishing architectural details include the prominent parapet dominated by two central mouldings, with semicircular clamshells; the 'mirror' treatment of the elevations; the use of bracketed scroll consoles, moulded string courses, and vermiculated panels and rosettes; verandah friezes; piers and wing walls; and palisade fence on bluestone plinth.

Group

Residential buildings (private)

Category

House