Electra Street Heritage Precinct

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The Electra Street Heritage Precinct is of local historic, social and aesthetic significance to the City of Hobsons Bay.

Historically and socially, Electra Street is an integral part of the broader Government Survey precinct and is significant for illustrating the significant civic and residential development that occurred in Williamstown during the nineteenth century. It is notable for the number of pre-1860 dwellings, which are among the oldest group of houses in the metropolitan area and also for the strong associations of the institutional and ecclesiastical buildings with the establishment and fostering of the Williamstown community during an important formative phase of development in the nineteenth century. (AHC criteria A4, D2 and G1)

Aesthetically, Electra Street is significant as a relatively intact example of nineteenth and early twentieth century residential area, which is distinguished by its group of public and church buildings. Notable elements of the historic character of the precinct include:

- The group of public buildings, which were designed by noted early Melbourne architects and share many architectural characteristics.

- The relatively intact nineteenth century street layout, which includes substantial, established street trees within the gravelled verges.

- The strong definition of the intersection of Electra and Pasco Streets by major building elements - the Tudor House and the former Wesleyan Church.

- The unifying effect throughout the precinct of groups of predominantly Victorian and Edwardian era houses with common or similar characteristics of design, siting and scale that creates cohesive and homogeneous streetscapes. Many are externally intact and others, although altered, still retain their distinctive form and siting and hence contribute to the precinct. These dwellings are complemented by the Interwar bungalows at Nos. 53 & 57, which are amongst the best examples of this style in Hobsons Bay.

(AHC criterion E1)

On this basis, the following places contribute to the significance of this precinct:

- Electra Street (odd) 3, 5, 9-17, 21-25, 39, 41, 55-57 and 65

- Electra Street (even) 2, 6, 8-12, 16, 26-36, 44-48 and 52-70 (inclusive)

Please note that some heritage places within this precinct may also have an individual citation in this Study.

Group

Residential buildings (private)

Category

Residential Precinct