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Wardlow - Group Class

Location 114 Park Drive,, PARKVILLE VIC 3052 - Property No B2411 File Number B2411 Level State

[1/1] B2411 Wardlow 114 Park Drive

Statement of Significance

A house which, more than any other surviving example, exhibits a boom period middle-class domestic interior with its decorative finishes largely intact. The terrace pair at 110 and 112 Park Drive in 1873, Wardlow itself in 1888, and the adjoining terrace at 33, 35, 37 Degraves Street in 1889 were built for the successful ironmonger John Boyes. All the houses have cast iron decoration from Boyes's Brunswick Foundry. Wardlow was built for Boye's own use and was occupied successively by his daughter and granddaughter until 1975, which is the reason for its excellent state of preservation. The exterior of the house and layout of the garden are virtually as they were in 1888, including a verandah seat in its original position and a climbing rose dating from the earliest years. The interior features of greatest note are the entrance hall, drawing room, dining room and parlour, which retain decorative wallpapers, cedar venetian blinds, gilded pelmets in the dining room and parlour, fireplaces (including one of Belgian rouge marble in the drawing room) and joinery which is in some cases woodgrained in imitation of walnut and in others painted polychromatically.
They also retain the leadlighted glass of the front doorway; in the hallway the gas hall light (converted to electricity), and bronze spelter figures on pedestals; in the drawing room the silk and velvet curtains, the overmantel mirror, fire screen, fire irons and coal scuttle. In the dining room the fitted Wilton carpet, in the parlour the settee, gentleman's chair, cast iron fender, and American Ansonia clock. In these rooms there are a number of paintings of Mary Boyes, in some cases purpose-made for their locations, and other introduced furniture of a more or less appropriate character. The study was redecorated in the 1920s but retains some of the original furniture. The service areas have been substantially altered. The upstairs rooms other than the hallway have been redecorated in the 1920s and 1930s, but retain some of their venetian blinds.
Classified: 04/07/1974
Also part of Group Classification with Nos. 110, 112 Park Drive, and Nos. 33, 35, 37 Degraves Street.