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HOUSE (RAINHAMVILLE)

Location

4 Hurlstone Avenue, PRESTON VIC 3072

Level

Included in Heritage Overlay

Statement of Significance

What is significant?
This Victorian polychromatic brick house, formerly known as Rainhamville, at 4 Hurlstone Avenue, Preston, constructed c.1891 for Moses Blundy, and altered c.1910 is significant. It is a substantial brick Victorian house, which hasa hipped roof clad in slate tile thathas had been altered c.1910and fitted with a street-facing gable. The walls of the house are polychromatic brickwork on the west and south elevations, which indicates that these were intended to be the primary elevations. The south elevation is now the side of the house, and the north elevation, although also a side elevation, faces a large garden. A cast iron bullnose verandah extends across the west elevation and returns along the south elevation finishing at a projecting bay, which has its walls rendered. The verandah has encaustic tessellated tiles. A notable feature of the garden is a mature Canary Island Palm (Phoenix canariensis), which probably dates from the early twentieth century.

The later additions and alterations, including the pergola on the north side of the house and the front fence are not significant.

How is it significant?
The house at 4 Hurlstone Avenue, Preston is of local historic and architectural significance to Darebin City.

Why is it significant?
The house at 4 Hurlstone Avenue, Preston is historically significant as it provides evidence of houses associated with small farms that were erected prior to suburban development of Preston. The mature Canary Island Palm is significant as a planting that is associated with early occupation ofthe house and the development of its surrounding garden. (AHC criteria A.4 & D.2).

It is architecturally significant as it is a representative example of a relatively substantial and well-detailed Victorian polychromatic farm house. The significance of the place is enhanced by its rarity value as one of a relatively small number of late nineteenth century farm houses within Preston. (AHC criteria B.2 & D.2)

Group

Residential buildings (private)

Category

House