Bradford Estate Precinct

The Bradford Estate Precinct, which comprises 1-19 and 2-20 Bradford Avenue, 365 Cotham Road, and 12 Stoke Avenue, Kew, is significant. The Bradford Estate was subdivided in 1916. The Precinct comprises a collection of gracious interwar houses of high-quality design, some of particularly impressive appearance and substantial size, on generous allotments. A block of cream brick flats built by 1942 to an unusual design occupies 2 Bradford Avenue. The houses were all built between 1919 and c.1930. 

No. 1 Bradford Avenue is individually significant. This significance is already recognised by its individual listing in the Heritage Overlay (HO277). 

Places of Contributory significance are listed in the attached schedule.

Original front fences at 2, 10, and 18 Bradford Avenue are contributory. The original garages at 2 Bradford Avenue are also contributory. Non-original alterations and additions to the houses are not significant, including the second storey additions, non-original garages and carports, and high brick front fences. Some of the front fences are sympathetic to the architectural style of the houses, but are not significant. 

The Bradford Avenue Precinct is of local historical and architectural significance to the City of Boroondara.

Historically, the Bradford Estate Precinct is significant for the evidence it provides of the pattern of settlement in this part of Kew during the early interwar period, which comprised subdivisions on the grounds of larger estates. The scale and high quality design of the houses and the flat building, and the 'respectability' epitomised by their architectural styles and associated elements, remain as important evidence of the strength of Kew's development during the interwar period. (Criterion A)

Architecturally, the Bradford Estate Precinct, Kew is significant for its concentration of gracious houses on generous allotments of high quality design and with a high level of integrity, comparable to other Precincts in Kew. Subdivided in 1916 and built largely during the 1920s, the Precinct features predominantly interwar building stock, with houses designed in styles that were fashionable during this time, including the Federation Arts and Crafts architectural style, which continued its popularity into the interwar period, and the interwar Mediterranean and Bungalow styles. The large Federation Arts and Crafts house at 12 Stoke Avenue, although not of individual significance, is of impressive appearance, and was designed by architects Gawler and Drummond. The high quality design of many of the other houses in the precinct suggests architects or designer-builders may also have built them. (Criterion D)

The architectural significance of the Precinct is enhanced by the architectural quality and integrity of many of the contributory places. Many of the houses retain original built features, including early and original front fences (at 2, 10, and 18 Bradford Avenue) and original garages at 2 Bradford Avenue which were an integral component of the original design for the flats. (Criterion D)

Recommended for inclusion in the Schedule to the Heritage Overlay of the Boroondara Planning Scheme as a precinct.

For a full list of individual place gradings within the precinct, please refer to the attached PDF citation, or individual child records attached to this parent record.