Dwelling

History/Notes
The house at 297 Shannon Avenue was built by the builder, M.J. Denno, in 1934, replacing an earlier dwelling on the site. Denno sold the new dwelling to Charles E. Hall in 1935. Hall lived there until he sold the property to Stanley Weekes, a policeman, in 1950.

Charles Edgar Hall was born in 1891 in Geelong West, the son of George Ash and Janet Ann (need Edgar) Hall. Following his education, he took up an apprenticeship with Humble and Sons, ironmongers, as a blacksmith. He continued with this occupation as well as serving two years in the Senior Cadets (presumably of the local Militia Reserve). In 1915 after the outbreak of the First World War, he enlisted with the 7th Reinforcements of the 21st Battalion, Army/Flying Corps in the Australian Imperial Force. In England during the war Charles met Miss Martha A. Phillips, daughter of John and Mrs. Phillips of Birkenhead. They married at St. Albans Church, Liscard, England, on 7 February 1918. Immediately following their marriage, Martha Hall resided in Liverpool, England. After the war, Charles returned to Geelong with Martha. Married life continued until Martha's death in 1940. The following year in 1941, Charles married Miss Constance Caroline Carty. On her death in 1966, she was buried in the Catholic section of the Eastern Cemetery with Charles' first wife, Martha. On Charles' death in 1958, he was
buried in the Church of England section of the Western Cemetery.

The single storey face brick and rendered interwar Mission Revival styled dwelling with a main hipped roof form and projecting minor hipped front porch (featuring arched entrance) is reflective of the original design. The composition is also similar to the dwelling at 293 Shannon Avenue, also built by M.J. Denno. Other original features include the roof tiles, brick chimney, timber framed double hung windows (including the leadlighted upper sashes), geometric label mould and roundel above the front bank of windows, front entrance and the broad eaves. The high faced brick wall at the front has been introduced.

References:
Victorian Births, Deaths & Marriages Indexes, Dept. of Justice.
St. Paul's Baptismal Register, Geelong.
Newtown Rate Books, 1926-1950, Geelong Library & Heritage Centre.
Newtown Building Permit, 1934, City of Greater Geelong.
C.E. Edgar, Attestation Paper, A.I.F., National Archives of Australia online.
Geelong Advertiser, 6 April 1918, p.1.
Grave 188, Section 39, Eastern Cemetery, Geelong Cemeteries Trust database online.

Group

Residential buildings (private)

Category

House