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RESIDENCE

Location

3-5 BURNETT ROAD CASTLEMAINE, MOUNT ALEXANDER SHIRE

File Number

602378

Level

Registered

[1/4]
RESIDENCE SOHE 2008
[2/4]
1 residence burnet road
[3/4]
residence burnet road
[4/4]
h00571 plan h0571

Statement of Significance

The house was built for William Froomes Jnr, a draper, in 1867. The building and/or architect is/are not known. Froomes was born at Hounslow England in 1830 and was apprenticed to a draper in London. He migrated to Adelaide and took up work with a draper Carrington Smedley at Burra Burra. Following the discovery of gold, Smedley sent Froomes to establish an outlet in Castlemaine. His first shop was in a "canvas and iron structure" on the corner of Barker and Mostyn streets, now known as Froome's corner. In 1853, Froomes purchased the business and land from Smedley and commenced a family business with his father and, later, his brother Henry. Failing eyesight forced him to retire and by 1867 he was totally blind. In this year he built his residence at Burnett road, on land he had acquired ten years previously. Froomes had been a JP, a member of local governing bodies, including chairmanship of the borough council for three terms, active on the governing bodies of many local trusts and, had the distinction of playing cricket against the first England Eleven. He died in 1873 in East Melbourne.

The house remained in his wife's name until after 1910. From 1886 it was tenanted toJW Lawson, Presbyterian minister, and his family during this time. Lawson was the father of HSW Lawson, Premier of Victoria, 1918-24.

The house is constructed of face brick with cement dressings and a corrugated iron roof. Symmetrically planned, it has a simple encircling parapet with two urns placed over the main entrance and a very elegant Regency-style verandah. The verandah has timber open-work supports and is clad with corrugated iron. The house is picturesquely located, set deeply into its wooded garden with a long drive to its main entrance.

This house is a late example of Regency architecture, and has connections with an important and early resident of Castlemaine.

[Historic Buildings Council]

Group