BELLETT STREET PRECINCT

The Bellett Street Precinct, comprising 47-71 Bellett Street, Camberwell, is significant. While the southern half of Bellett Street existed since the 19th century, the northern half was only created by a 1921 subdivision of much of the land from the Riversdale Road-facing mansions Warrawee and Astolat. The subdivider, Samuel Whitehead, placed a restrictive covenant on the lots, on both sides of Bellett Street, specifying freestanding houses with tile or slate roofs and brick walls, at a cost of no less than £750. The subdivision developed rapidly, with ten houses constructed between 1921 and 1925, and then one each in 1926, 1927 and 1933, giving the precinct a consistent character.

Whitehead, recorded as a farmer in 1921, became a builder in the Boroondara area, and likely constructed his own home at no. 57 (Contributory) . The Brown family also made a substantial mark on Bellett Street. David Austin Brown (no. 69) and his parents, Emma and James Brown (no. 71), were the first people to purchase allotments from Samuel Whitehead. Another son of Emma and James Brown, Clifford Willis Brown, was the designer-builder of five distinctive houses in the precinct: his own house at no. 67, those for his parents and brother, as well as two others (nos. 47 and 65). Clifford Brown advertised frequently in the late 1920s and early 1930s, indicating that he was both a designer-builder and a small-scale property developer in the Camberwell area. Remaining houses are of contributory significance to the precinct. The curved street alignment and the mature camphor laurel trees also contribute to its significance.

How is it significant?

The Bellett Street Precinct is of local historical, architectural and aesthetic significance to the City of Boroondara.

Why is it significant?

Historically, the precinct illustrates the influence of the electrification of the tramways and railway on the subdivision and development of housing in Camberwell during the interwar period, which spread north, east and south from Camberwell Junction during this period. While the southern half of Bellett Street, between Camberwell Road and King Street, was created during the 19th century, the northern part was only created by a 1921 subdivision. This part of the street demonstrates the curved street form that was lauded by town planners in the early 20th century, made necessary here to bypass the rear of Victorian mansions Astolat and Warawee. The houses designed and built by builder Clifford W Brown, at 47 and 65-71 Bellett Street also demonstrate the role of craftsman-builders on the creation of Boroondara's interwar character, as they designed and built high-quality housing that transcended the typical styles of their era, adding visual interest and variety to the streetscapes. (Criterion A)

Architecturally, the houses in the precinct are representative of styles popular during the 1920s and early 1930s, including accomplished examples of Attic Bungalows, Arts & Crafts Bungalows and California Bungalows, as well as the Georgian Revival, all of which exhibit a high level of intactness. They also represent the high quality of construction, with brick walls and slate or tile roofs, specified by subdivider and resident Samuel Whitehead's restrictive covenant on the housing lots, which was typical for residential development interwar in Camberwell. (Criterion D)

Aesthetically, the precinct is significant thanks to the picturesque curved street, surviving camphor laurel trees, the consistency of garden setbacks, and the survival of many original fences. The group of houses designed and built by Clifford W Brown at nos. 65-71 recognisable by the distinctive chimney designs, with a variety of tapered concrete caps, often with tile details below or at the base of them. Truro of 1927, at no. 67, was designed by Brown as his home and is of Individual Significance for its French Provencal design with picturesque massing of projecting hip-roof rooms at the ground and first floor levels set against the very high main hip roof, and a prominent front chimney with curved buttresses. No. 71 of 1925, designed by Brown for his parents, is and Attic Bungalow also of Individual Significance for its picturesque massing and jerkin-head roof. (Criterion E)

Group

Residential buildings (private)

Category

House