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Former Colinton

Location

92 Mont Albert Road,, CANTERBURY VIC 3126 - Property No B6860

File Number

B6860

Level

Regional

Statement of Significance

Designed by Barlow and Hawkins, and built in 1926 for flour miller Walter Gillespie, the house formerly known as Colinton is a large Old English style residence set in ample landscaped grounds. Displaying all the key attributes of the old English idiom, the house features terracotta roof shingles, stained adzed timber, heeler brickwork, wrought metal work, fire place ingles, interior panelling and grand stair. The corner siting and diagonal axis plan of the house, in association with its landscaped surrounds, allows full articulation of the picturesque roof, tall chinmeys and wall bays.
Although altered in 1962 Colinton retains its distinctive Tudor detailing and garden setting. Colinton is of State architectural, aesthetic, and historic significance.
Colinton is architecturally significant for demonstrating a high degree of creative achievement, being one of the earliest and most successfully designed examples of the Old English or Tudor revival style for a suburban residence is this State. The consistence and intactness of the external and internal detailing contributes to this significance. With its allusions to an idealised lifestyle of English country gentry, the style became increasingly popular from the late 1920 for large and small houses alike as well as for commerical premises, and the extensive feature article on Coninton in the influential magazine 'Home Beautiful" in May 1972 no doubt furthered the popularity of the style.
Colinton is architecturally important as an outstanding example of the domestic work of architect Marcus Barlow, best known for the commercial inter-war Gothic design for Melbourne's Manchester Unity Building. Colinton is aesthetically important for successfully combining the picturesque qualities of both landscape and architecture to achieve an idealised, scenographic image of Old English culture.
Colinton is historically important for its long associations with families of prominent business identities. Built for miller, Walter Gillespie (1879-1948), the house was later owned by stockbroker Arthur Goode, followed by manufacturer Max Chester.
Classified: 02/02/1998

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