Rosemount

History:

Charles Window Roemer of Sydney purchased Crown Portion 120 in 1840. In the following year he sold the major part of this land to James Manning, also of Sydney. By 1852 both James and William M Manning owned all of the land to the south of Heidelberg Road and began to sell allotments from a subdivision centred on Yarra Street (Yarrales); Bank Street and Roemer Crescent were the two other streets of their estate. In December 1855, William Manning sold lot 33 of the estate to John Mason, and John Enticott, an ironmonger, purchased seven acres of land facing Roemer Crescent, where he cultivated a garden in the late 1880s. By 1889 he had built a house and stable on this land.

John Enticott had established his business in the colony during 1853, pioneering in the distribution of corrugated iron and other products. He was born in 1834 at Chard, Somerset, where he was a plumber and glazier's apprentice. After a stay in London, he left for Victoria in 1856. By 1901 he had retired to Rosemont Cottage at Alphington, after residing for a long time in Bay View Terrace, Collins Place. Melbourne. Following his retirement his sons, William and Charles, managed the business, dealing with imported goods and sanitary ware manufacture. The works were then at Little Collins Street but, by 1900, were in Little Lonsdale Street.

Later residents at Rosemont Cottage were Miss H Enticott, Richard T Carter, Elizabeth A Carter, Miss Window Carter, Walter Turner, Francis S Young and Elizabeth Young, who sold the house in 1968.

Description:

Rosemount Cottage is a detached polychromatic brick house with a return verandah on three sides and a hipped slate roof with bracketed eaves. The house faces away from the street, oriented towards the Yarra River. Walls are of brown brick, with contrasting cream brick quoining. The verandah has a ogee-profiled roof, cast iron friezes, brackets and columns. The doors on the north and south elevations have arched fanlights, the north door also has sidelights with pictorial transfers depicting the arts, science, commerce and other activities.

There is a matching brick addition, probably c 1900, at the north-west.

Internally, there is a central passageway with engaged columns and an archway. Marble mantelpieces survive in each of the four main rooms.

Alterations include the replacement of a number of the verandah posts and the replacement of the original verandah floor.

Significance:

Rosemount Cottage, at 3 Roemer Crescent, Alphington, is of local architectural and historical significance. The house is impressively sited with panoramic views of the Yarra River. The house, substantially intact, is one of a small number of polychromatic brick houses dating from the 19th century surviving in Alphington. The house is a typical example of the style, and has an intact interior.

Group

Residential buildings (private)

Category

House