Dwelling - Meran

History/Notes
The land now comprising 11 Upper Skene Street formed allotment 58 of Robert Reeve's subdivision of 1852. It was purchased by Thomas Walker, a gardener and father of omnibus proprietor of Shannon Avenue, William Walker. At 11 Upper Skene Street he had a timber dwelling where he lived with his wife, Catherine. On Walker's death in 1898, his property was described as "an old wooden building" valued at £100. The property passed to Walker's son in law, Charles Wilks, a wheelwright whose business was presumably enhanced by William Walker's omnibus service nearby. The net annual value of the property doubled between 1897-1898 and 1899-1900 which suggests that the original timber dwelling was replaced with the existing dwelling at this time. It was named "Meran". With his wife, Mary Charlotte (nee Walker) (whom he married in 1885) and children Charles Alfred (Fred) Herbert Findon and Thomas, Charles Wilks lived at 11 Upper Skene Street until 1911-12 when the property was sold to William Beckham, farmer.

Charles Wilks was born at Fyansford in 1859, the son of Joseph and Ann (nee Colbert) Wilks. Joseph Wilks had a wheelwright business at Fyansford and Charles, together with his older brother, Joseph, followed their father as wheelwrights and blacksmiths in the family business. Joseph Wilks continued the wheelwright business on the premature death of his father in 1876. Charles appears to have continued to work in the family business under his brother, Joseph. Other connections with Fyansford were also maintained with Charles Wilks' son, Bert, attending the Fyansford State School, walking from their home in Upper Skene Street each day. He was probably accompanied by the Fyansford School's headmaster, who lived next door at 13 Upper Skene Street (a property also owned by Wilks).

The symmetrical, single storey, timber weatherboard Late Victorian styled dwelling is mainly reflective of its original design. This is borne out in the main hipped roof form, front convex post-supported verandah, brick chimneys, modest eaves with paired timber brackets and panelling, central front door with sidelights and the timber framed double hung windows. The cast iron verandah valance and brackets may be early but the timber posts and balustrade have been introduced (the posts having replaced fabric of similar design). A new front fence was under construction in November 2015.

References:
Charles Wilks, Ancientfaces, Ancestry online, December 2015.
Land Application 34727, General Law Library, Laverton.
Newtown Rate Books, 1895-96 - 1911-12, Geelong Heritage Centre.
Geelong Advertiser, 6 November 1896, 18 January 1898, 28 May 1907, p.2, 29 May 1912, 16 April 1921 p.5, 15 October 1924, p.1,
Thomas Walker, Probate files, 1898, VPRS 28/P2 Unit 474 PROV.
Grenville Standard, 21 October 1916.
St. Paul's Anglican Church, Geelong, Baptism Geelong, Geelong Library & Heritage Centre.

Group

Residential buildings (private)

Category

House