Czergm

Previously D Listed - Contributory Significance

The following history has been provided informally by the Heritage Advisor, 23 January 2017:

In 1854, W. Jones surveyed the eastern extension of the Township of Geelong in an inventive layout of streets and allotments. Section 64 was set aside for an Immigration Depot. In 1881, this land was offered for sale and lot 17 at the south-west corner of Fitzroy and Park Streets (now known as 28 Fitzroy Street) was sold to George Martin (1840-1921), timber merchant of the family firm, B. Martin and Sons. The existing dwelling was built by 1882 and it was described in the Geelong Rate Book as a 5 roomed weatherboard dwelling with kitchen, bathroom, storeroom and pantry and it had an assessed annual value of L45. Stylistically, the dwelling (originally named "Czergm") is similar to several dwellings designed in the 1880s by the prolific local architectural firm of Watts and Jackson, including the villas at 234 Latrobe Terrace, Geelong West ("Park Villa" built 1881), 8 Garden Street (built 1885), 3 McKillop Street (built 1886) and 56 Western Beach Road ("Warrain" built 1889 for George Martin's brother, J.J. Martin, to a design by J.S. Jackson). The verandah detailing is likely to have reflected that at 3 McKillop Street and 8 Garden Street (but with stop chamfered square timber posts) as this was a trademark feature of Joseph Watts and the Watts and Jackson firm.

George Martin was the soon of Boyle Martin, timber merchant and pioneer of Geelong, having arrived in 1837. George Martin, gold miner, carpenter and later timber merchant,contributed much to community life, serving on the Geelong Town Council for 20 consecutive years, first as a Councillor of the Barwon Ward from 1876 and Alderman from 1880, including a term as Councillor in 1884-85. For 34 years he was a member of the Geelong Infirmary and Benevolent Asylum (including 20 years as President), a Justice of the Peace, President of the Geelong Timber Merchants' Association, Vice Consult for Norway between 1902 and 1918, Sunday School Superintendent at the Fenwick Street Baptist Church and President of the Baptist Union of Victoria 1897-1898." Martin died in 1921 and "Czergm" was advertised for sale in November of that year.

References:

J. Jones, Plan of the Eastern Extension of the Town of Geelong, 7 April 1854, State Library of Victoria.

'George Martin' in Re-Member, Parliament of Victoria website, January 2017.

Geelong Town Council Rate Books, 1881-1890, Geelong Library & Heritage Centre.

Geelong Advertiser, 3 September 1877, p.3, 1 June 1881, p.2, 6 May 1889, p.3, 17 August 1921, p.3 & 2 November 1921, p.7.

D. Rowe, 'C Citations Heritage Study', prepared for of the City of Greater Geelong, 2002.

Geelong Waterworks & Sewerage Trust Plan of Drainage GG459, 1916, City of Greater Geelong.

Group

Residential buildings (private)

Category

Residence