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Thule

Other Name Catesby Location 25 Tennyson Street,, BRIGHTON VIC 3186 - Property No B7191 File Number B7191 Level Local

[1/1] B7191 Thule South Elevation

Statement of Significance

Thule was the residence from 1885 until the mid-1890s of Mackay John Scobie Gair, Mayor of Brighton and parliamentarian. Thule is the only surviving asymmetrical "block-fronted" Italianate villa in Brighton with a return facade verandah. The single-storey, double-fronted building has a return facade terminating in a semi-octagonal projecting bay and entrance door facing the side garden, weatherboard side elevations and a hipped slate roof. Decorative elements include a roof finial, timber eaves brackets, an ornamental cast iron verandah in its original form, heavily modelled timber architraves, and arched entrance doorway. The feature of the front door facing the side front garden is unusual and emphasises the garden setting of the return facade. The bayed projection on the south elevation with leadlight windows is an interesting Edwardian addition.
How is it significant? Thule,is significant for aesthetic/architectural and historic reasons at a Local level.
Why is it significant? Thule, is historically significant as the residence of solicitor Mackay John Scobie Gair, who was later Mayor of Brighton and parliamentarian. Gair was still living in the house when he became Mayor in 1892. Thule is architecturally significant because of its rarity: there are only two asymmetrical block-fronted villas in Brighton and the feature of the front door facing the side front garden is unusual, so the facade is seen 'in the round' as one approaches it. It is also significant for its relatively high level of originality and elaborate decoration, its sympathetic restoration and its interesting Edwardian addition. The verandah is in its original form; the double hung window sashes in the original projecting bay are reconstructed elements of the original design.
Classified: 11/11/2002