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Grantham

Other Name Bona Vista Location 67 - 69 Kensington Road, SOUTH YARRA VIC 3141 - Property No B1072 File Number B1072 Level Demolished/Removed

[1/5] B1072 Grantham 67-69 [2/5] B1072 Grantham 67-69 [3/5] B1072 Grantham 67-69 [4/5] B1072 Grantham 67-69 [5/5] B1072 Grantham, South Yarra

Statement of Significance

Grantham a single storey house at 69 Kensington Road, South Yarra originally situated on a large allotment on the southern bank of the River Yarra and known as "Bona Vista", was erected c. 1845 - 48 for physician and naturalist Dr. Edmund Charles Hobson possibly to the design of early Melbourne architect John Gill. The ten room asymmetrical plan brick and stone house of simple colonial design survived virtually intact until the 1920's.

Grantham has been partially demolished and so radically altered such that the original structure is virtually unrecognisable. The building is of negligible architectural importance even though the present ad hoc complex may contain, in part the oldest house surviving south of the Yarra in the City of Prahran. The structure has interesting historical associations with the original owner and pioneer physician Dr. Edmund Hobson and later with Australian romantic impressionist painter Frederick Mr Cubbin

The integrity of Grantham is extremely low and the original 1840's structure is virtually unrecognisable save for part of the facade and a narrow interior room. The nature of the alterations has all but destroyed the original building form and only a small section survives intact.

Of No significance.