Dwelling - Benchory

History/Notes
With the death of G.A. Stephen in 1908, his land fronting West Melbourne Road and Stephen Street was sold to Daniel Organ McIntyre, clerk. He subdivided the land, the site at 305 Shannon Avenue being sold to William McAdam. He in turn sold it to J.E. Cutt's of the neighbouring 'Retford House', who retained ownership until his death in 1919. The land remained unimproved until it was purchased by Miss Euphemia Venters in 1922. She had the existing dwelling constructed at this time. Named 'Banchory', Miss Venters lived at this address until her death in 1944.

Miss Euphemia Young Venters was born at Richmond in 1860, the daughter of James and Helen Venters. She spent her childhood years at 'Windmeer', Murgheboluc, the 1850s sheep property farmed by her father. She was one of 7 children to James and Helen Venters.

The gabled brick interwar Californian Bungalow dwelling has a terra cotta tiled roof with terra cotta finials and broad eaves. A feature at the front is the gabled verandah that is supported by paired timber posts and rendered piers with concrete cappings. There is also a rendered verandah balustrade. Other early design features include the rendered chimneys, timber framed double hung windows (with leadlighting in the upper sashes), front entry doorway, portal window and the projecting rafters and ventilators in the gable ends. There is an introduced front, capped timber picket fence with solid backing.

References:
Victorian Births, Deaths & Marriages Indexes, Dept. of Justice.
Early Murgheboluc, Irene Sarah Venters, 1990.
Newtown Rate Books 1915-16, 1916-17, 1922, 1925, 1930, 1935, Geelong Library & Heritage Centre.
Newtown Building Permit, 30 August 1922, City of Greater Geelong.
Certificates of Title, vol. 2121 fol. 075, vol. 2204 fol. 672, vol. 3348 fol. 524, vol. 3997 fol. 378.
The Argus, 1 September 1944.

Group

Residential buildings (private)

Category

House