OPERA HOUSE

The Opera House, 138 Powlett Street, is believed to have been designed and occupied by the architect G A Badger in 1868. It is a three storey bluestone and brick structure with slate tile roof. It is set back from the street by a small front garden. The ground floor projects forward to create a roofed verandah to the upper storey area, with a sloping corrugated iron roof between the projecting party walls. In front of this verandah sits the composite construction two storey balcony from which the house derives its name. The balcony is of an unknown date but is believed to be later than 1868. It is in the form of an opera box, curved at each end, and is carried by two slender cast iron columns with Corinthian capitals and delicate cast iron brackets. The frieze is formed by a timber trellis and the balustrade is from intricate, decorative cast iron panels. At ground level beneath the balcony the floor is covered with tessellated tiles in a typical late Victorian pattern. The ground floor balustrade has curved ends similarly composed to the first storey but the iron is in a simpler, more abstract pattern.

The internal layout of the house has remained unchanged since alterations, presumed to date from the nineteenth century, extended the rear and possibly the front of the house. A more recent small two storey extension has moved the kitchen further to the rear. The majority of window openings in the house are segmentally arched, although there are several smaller arched windows with stained glass which appear to have been incorporated into the structure at a later date. The iron front gate and palisade fence, by an unknown manufacturer, are compatible with the house. The foundry name on the gate post is obscured by paint. A large mature oak tree dominates the rear garden.

Badger was an architect involved in work on Parliament House under the supervision of Public Works Department architect Peter Kerr and who later entered partnership with a firm of engineers. Additionally, Badger was prominent as a designer of grandstands at Victorian race courses.

How is it significant?

The Opera House is of architectural significance to the State of Victoria.

Why is it significant?

The Opera House is architecturally significant as one of the most unusual townhouses in Melbourne. The distinctive and intact opera style balcony is unique in Melbourne. The Opera House is architecturally significant for its associations with architect George Badger, who is believed to have designed, built and lived in the house until 1877. Badger was an architect noted for his work on grandstands and booths at Flemington, Caulfield, Geelong and Kilmore race tracks in addition to his work for the Public Works Department at Parliament House.

Group

Residential buildings (private)

Category

Town House