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Koonwarra

Other Name Sir Roy Grounds Office Location 549 St Kilda Road,, MELBOURNE VIC 3004 - Property No B4787 File Number B4787 Level Demolished/Removed

[1/4] B4787 Koonwarra [2/4] B4787 Koonwarra [3/4] B4787 Koonwarra Demolition [4/4] B4787 Koonwarra Demolition

Statement of Significance

'The former residence, then professional offices at 549 St Kilda Road, was erected in 1912-13 for Frederick Thomas. The Architect was Arthur H. Fisher and the contractor was George Leeder. The brick structure comprises two sections; the front section comprising the entrance, stair hall and principal rooms has rendered facades and features a full conical tower above the entrance vestibule. The rear section comprising a main floor (containing several lesser rooms) and an attic, has exposed brick walls and is partially encircled by a timber verandah. A stable block at the rear is probably contemporary with the main building.
The front fence with wrought iron panels, gates and lamp standards is intact.
This very complete residential complex was one of the last surviving and the most intact of the once substantial number of individual residences that lined St Kilda Road. The building was designed in a free neo-classical style and includes a number of fine external and internal features. Its exceptional external composition with conical roof above the entrance vestibule and the semi-circular bay window and pedimented window flanking the central recessed segmental arch in the main facade was superbly enhanced by fine decorative mouldings and ranked the home as architecturally one of the finest buildings of its period in Melbourne.
Classified: 23/04/1981
Demolished 1984