Dwelling - Devon

History/Notes
The land at 14 Stephen Street formed lot 2 of the Devon Estate advertised for sale by public auction on 30 March 1912. The estate had earlier been owned by Lloyd Hooper, grocer. The existing dwelling at 14 Stephen Street was built by Henry Stephen Johnston, a builder of Geelong West, in 1912. It seems Johnston constructed the dwelling as an investment property and named it 'Devon'. It was first occupied by J.S. Spencer, a carpenter, who built the dwelling at 8 Stephen Street as his family home in 1915-16.

The original owner and builder, H.S. Johnston, was born in c.1867 at Launceston, Tasmania, the son of William and Charlotte Sophia (nee Buck) Johnston. It is not known when Johnston arrived in Geelong, but he invested in land in the Fairmont Estate, Newtown, in 1906, this being one of several property developments he carried out in the early 20th century. Johnston died in 1948 at the age of 81.

At 14 Stephen Street, the original timber Edwardian design includes the main hipped roof form, projecting front minor gabled wing, front hipped roofed verandah and the rear minor hipped wing. Other original details include the brick chimneys, timber framed windows, front timber framed door and the gable infill. The trussed metal verandah posts have been introduced, as has the small recessive hipped bay on the east side. The front timber picket fence has also been introduced.

References:
Victorian Births, Deaths & Marriages Indexes, Dept. of Justice.
Devon Estate Auction Notice, 30 March 1912, maps & plans collection, Geelong Library & Heritage Centre.
Newtown Rate Books 1912-13, 1913-14, 1914-15, 1915-16, Geelong Library & Heritage Centre.
Certificate of Title, vol. 3639, fol. 658.
Geelong Advertiser, 22 October 1906.
Certificate of Title, vol. 2785 fol. 924.

Group

Residential buildings (private)

Category

House