Dickens St

What is significant?
The Dickens Street precinct, which is a residential area comprising late Victorian, Federation and Edwardian era houses constructed c.1890 to c.1915 at nos.1-23 and 2-18 Dickens Street, Moonee Ponds, is significant. The following buildings and features contribute to the significance of the place:

- The Significant houses and their fences at nos.1-5 Dickens Street*.
- The Contributory houses at nos. 7-23, 4-8, & 14-18 Dickens Street.
- Varying frontage widths, containing both detached and attached housing, but with similar form (hipped and gabled roofs, verandahs, some parapets), materials, detailing, ornament and siting.
- The extent to which development in two periods before and after 1900 is apparent.
- The low front fences, which allow views to the front and side elevations of the houses.
- The relatively high intactness of the majority of the houses when viewed from the street.
- The bluestone laneway adjacent to 1 Dickens Street.

Non-original alterations and additions to the Significant and Contributory houses, and the houses at nos. 2 and 10 Dickens Street are not significant.

*Note: Please refer to the separate Hermes place record for these houses, which has a statement of significance.

How is it significant?
The Dickens Street precinct is of local historic and aesthetic significance to the City of Moonee Valley.

Why is it significant?
Historically, the precinct demonstrates two phases of residential expansion in MooneePonds, the first during the late nineteenth century boom, and the second the recovery in the early decades of the twentieth century, which was stimulated by the development of the electric tramway network. (Criterion A)

Aesthetically, the precinct is significant as a particularly cohesive streetscape of Victorian and Edwardian era houses, which are related in scale, form and detailing. (Criteria D & E)

Group

Residential buildings (private)

Category

Residential Precinct