Clifton Estate Residential Precinct

The Clifton Estate Precinct, comprising 1-7 & 2-28 Florence Avenue, Kew, is significant. The street was created in 1911 as part of a small subdivision comprising 61 lots on Cotham Road, Park Hill Road, Florence Avenue and Adeney Avenue (east side).

All properties, excepting the Non-contributory units at 4-4A Florence Avenue, are Contributory to the precinct. The original brick front fence and rear garages of St Joan Flats, 2 Florence Avenue, are also contributory elements.

How is it significant?

The Clifton Estate Precinct is of local historical and architectural significance to the City of Boroondara.

Why is it significant?

The Clifton Estate Precinct is historically significant for the evidence it provides of the pattern of settlement in this part of Kew during the early interwar period, which comprised subdivisions on the grounds of larger estates. The scale and high-quality design of the houses and the St Joan Flats, and the 'respectability' epitomised by their architectural styles and associated elements, remain as important evidence of the strength of Kew's development during the interwar period. (Criterion A)

Architecturally, the Clifton Estate Precinct, Kew, is significant for its concentration of gracious houses on generous allotments of high quality design and with a high level of integrity, comparable to other precincts in Kew. The first and most substantial houses were built at the south end, starting in 1915, with the final examples completed by 1942, thus spanning the entire interwar period. The precinct features high-quality interwar building stock, with houses designed in styles that were fashionable during this time, including Arts and Crafts, Bungalow, interwar Mediterranean, Georgian Revival and Old English. Tender notices indicate that many of the houses were architect-designed, with the authorship of No. 7 (Blackett & Forster, 1915-16) and No. 2 (James Wardrop, c1938-42) confirmed. (Criterion D)

Grading and Recommendations

Recommended for inclusion in the Schedule to the Heritage Overlay of the Boroondara Planning Scheme as a precinct.

For a full list of individual place gradings within the precinct, please refer to the attached PDF citation, or individual child records attached to this parent record.

Group

Residential buildings (private)

Category

Residential Precinct