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Former Ince House

Other Name Katanga Location 372 Glenferrie Road,, MALVERN VIC 3144 - Property No B6195 File Number B6195 Level National

[1/1] B6195 Ince House

Statement of Significance

One of Harold Desbrowe Annear's last works, 372 Glenferrie Road was designed for Mr Wesley Ince and his wife and completed early in 1933 a few months prior to the architect's death in June of that year. Recently, the house was described as "an austerely dignified representative of the Georgian revival" but that description was immediately modified with the concession that the house was "a romantic interpretation that only faintly echoed a true Georgian character". In fact, the Ince House is a fascinating example of Desbrowe Annear's final manner - functional, somewhat eccentric and essentially theatrical in its combination and use of elements. Most importantly however, the house is the core of a total environment designed by the architect, which includes the garden and garden wall, garage and ancilliary outdoor spaces and buildings, the interior decoration, built-in furniture and a complete suite of dining-room furniture. Ince House is undoubtedly of National significance.
Harold Desbrowe Annear has long been recognised as one of Australia's most important domestic architects and in Robin Boyd's view he was one of the "pioneer moderns" of the twentieth century. The Ince House displays all of the characteristics for which the architect is best known, and many of the features that he himself advocated in his 1922 publication "For Every Man a Home" But as well it stands as a witness to the relationship between the client and the architect and as the physical embodiment of the clients' social and cultural aspirations. So successful was the house in doing this, that it has been left virtually unchanged since it was completed in 1933, and until his recent death, occupied by Mr Wesley Ince.
Classified: 12/12/1990