"Edgecumbe" (now Geelong Workers' Club)

'Edgecumbe' a two storey stucco rendered brick mansion erected c 1859/60 was converted into premises for The Geelong Workers Club in 1957. The mansion house, although considerably altered, is an interesting example of the work of Backhouse and Reynolds, the dominant architectural practice in Geelong and district in the mid nineteenth century. The building is most notable for the unusual arcuated, double storey facade, the classical ornamentation, and the interesting associations, firstly with the influential Geelong merchant Silas Harding and later with fellmonger Charles Smith.

References

National Trust of Australia (Victoria), File No. 268.

Brownhill, W R The History of Geelong and Corio Bay Wilke and Co., Melbourne, 1955, p.83

Geelong Advertiser, 6th August 1859, tender for Villa Residence in Aberdeen Street, called by Backhouse and Reynolds. 17th may 1861, tender for outbuildings in Skene Street, for Silas Harding, called by Edward Prowse. 4th may 1854, Farewell dinner to Mr Silas Harding before taking a trip to England.

Saunders, David Historic Buildings of Victoria Jacaranda Press, Melbourne 1966, p. 174.

Group

Recreation and Entertainment

Category

Social Club