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Toldara

Other Name Shirley Flats 9,10,11,12 Location 40 Alma Road,, ST KILDA VIC 3182 - Property No B0490 File Number B0490 Level Local

[1/1] B0490 Toldara, then Shirley,

Statement of Significance

The brick mansion house was designed by architects Crouch and Wilson, and erected in 1868 for David Rosenthal, jeweller and merchant. A colonnaded verandah of rhythmically placed Doric and Corinthian columns on the lower and upper levels respectively faces a square stucco rendered brick structure in the style of the classical revival.
It is an early and restrained example of the domestic work of Crouch and Wilson.
The house, now drastically defaced and eclipsed for architectural merit by other more representative and intact mansions in the area,was the residence in the 1870's of two of Melbourne's wealthiest businessmen, David Rosenthal and John Finlay J.P. Toldara , now divest of all the original and distinguishing architectural qualities save for the impressive colonnaded facade, has been totally obscured by the erection of connecting two storey flats on the front of the site. The building is of extremely low integrity and the rear wing has been demolished.
Classified: 'Regional'
Revised: 18/08/1980