St Ronan's Garage

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
St Ronan's Garage
5A Dryden Street
This 1860s cottage, now converted into the garage of St Ronan's, has local significance for its historical associations with John Thorne, publican, owner of the nearby Dundas Hotel on the corner of Pope and Collins Streets. Thorne was rated in 1868 for a house on Crown Allotment 7 and part of allotment 8, which he leased to William Barker, labourer, and the Dundas Hotel on allotments 9 and 10. (i) Between these two properties, on Crown Allotment 8, was a house owned and occupied by Joseph Carter, plasterer. (ii) Carter's house was there in 1866 or earlier. (iii) The former Dundas Hotel, which dated from 1866 or earlier, had historical importance for its use in 1870 as the first location of Begg's Hamilton Academy, (iv) a boys' college which became a serious rival of Hamilton College.
The cottage is a very simple building but it has a notable and rare pavilion arrangement for the back verandah which would have enjoyed good views across the township. The conversion into a garage, probably dating from the same time as major works at St Ronan's, has seriously compromised the facade which was built almost on the property boundary with Dryden Street. Otherwise the building is significantly intact including the interiors. Part of the west wall has been rebuilt. The building is in poor condition and has some structural failure. It is also important for its relationship with the much grander St Ronan's.