Residence

Although altered and extended, the house at 186 Yarra Street has significance as a relatively intact example of a Late Victorian Eclectic styled house (front section). This house appears to have been built in the 1880s or 1890s, and was owned by Esther Wilson in 1896. From the street, the house appears to be in good condition.

The house at 186 Yarra Street is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level. Although altered at the rear, it continues to demonstrate original design qualities of a Late Victorian Eclectic style at the front. These qualities include the hipped roof form, together with a gable and concave verandah that project towards the street frontage. Other intact or appropriate qualities include the asymmetrical composition, single storey height of the front section, slate roof cladding, corrugated profile to the verandah cladding, two unpainted polychrome brick chimneys with projecting cappings, narrow eaves with paired and worked timber brackets and decorative panelling, unpainted polychrome brick wall construction with cream brick quoinwork and stringcoursing, and flat-arched window heads with polychrome brick voussoirs, timber framed double hung windows, front timber door, semi-circular gable ventilator, worked timber bargeboards, turned timber finial, elaborate cast iron verandah valances and brackets, and the cast iron verandah columns with decorative capitals.

The house at 186 Yarra Street is historically significant at a LOCAL level. It is associated with residential developments in Geelong in the late 19th century. In particular, the house is associated with Esther Wilson from at least 1896, early owner, and the Radigan family, long-time owners from 1914-15 until 1950.

Overall, the house at 186 Yarra Street is of LOCAL significance.

Reports and Drainage Plans, Barwon Water profis system, 1990.
Voters' Roll, Bellerine Ward, 1992, Geelong Historical Records Centre.
Sands & McDougall's Directory of Geelong, 1972, Geelong Historical Records Centre.
Sands & McDougall's "Invicta" Geelong Directory,1968, Geelong Historical Records Centre.
Geelong City Council Rate Books (Bellerine Ward), 1910-1960, Geelong Historical Records Centre.
Town Plan of Geelong 1881, Geelong Historical Records Centre.

Group

Residential buildings (private)

Category

Residence