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Oberwyl

Location 35 Burnett Street and Cnr Princes street,, ST KILDA VIC 3182 - Property No B0232 File Number B0232 Level State

[1/1] B0232 Oberwyl 35 Burnett St

Statement of Significance

Oberwyl was erected c.1856 as a residence for merchant John Gomes Silva. The house was later occupied as an influential private school established in the 1870s by Madame Pfund, who also gave the name Oberwyl to the building. The designer of the severely detailed two storey rendered brick classic revival style house, is unknown, although this design style was elsewhere employed in St. Kilda.
Oberwyl is clearly related to earlier regency traditions and although the facade has been substantially altered, the essential architctural qualities are evident in the building. The house is now a rare surviving example of the Conservative Classicism Style apparent in the architecture of the St. Kilda environs in the 1850s and an important illustration of the character of early mansion houses in Victoria.
The facade of Oberwyl has been altered by construction of a continuous colonnaded verandah and an additional two storey wing was added after 1878. Although the interior and exterior have been altered, the original character is readily identifiable and reasonably intact.
Classified: 17/07/1958