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22-24 Thompson St

Location 22-24 Thompson St HAMILTON, Southern Grampians Shire File Number HAMDS033 Level Stage 2 study complete

[1/1] 26498 22-24 Thompson St

Statement of Significance

SIGNIFICANCE: »This house is significant as the home of the first Police Magistrate, its architecture and its 19th century garden adjacent to and associated with the Botanical Gardens.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE


Residence
24 Thompson Street


This house has local significance for its architectural interest as an elegantly detailed brick house with a substantially intact 19th century garden and for its historical associations with J P Hamilton (1827-84), Hamilton Police Magistrate, who lived there from 1873 until his death, ([i]) except for one year, 1875, when it was occupied by Nathan Thornley, surveyor. ([ii]) It has associations in the present century with Thomas Laidlaw, a well known Hamilton auctioneer. ([iii]) At first, in 1873, J P Hamilton's property was recorded as a house (NAV 100 pounds) but was identified in 1875-76 as house and stable with an NAV of 120 pounds, and in 1877 as a brick hose and paddocks (NAV 140 pounds). ([iv]) Although J P Hamilton was amongst the leading public servants dismissed by the Berry Ministry on `Black Thursday' in January of 1878, ([v]) he continued to own and occupy his Thompson Street home. His widow, Agnes, became the owner in 1885 and by the turn of the century, it was tenanted by Mary Learmonth, widow. ([vi])


The integrity of the house has been somewhat compromised by the partial replacement of the verandah. It is in good condition. The original layout of the garden has been changed however there is a number of trees which indicate a more extensive garden. Notable are the Acer opalus, Morus nigra, Acer campestre, Field Maple Euonymus europaeus, Spindle Bush and a large Quercus palustris, Pin Oak. This garden, being opposite the Botanic Gardens, appears to have benefitted in plant selection especially in the association of the Acer opalus and Acer campestre to the impressive Acer velutinum directly opposite in the Gardens and now on the Significant Tree Register.