Tasma
7 Muir Street HAWTHORN, Boroondara City
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Statement of Significance
Tasma, 7 Muir Street, Hawthorn, is of local historical and architectural significance as a handsome and relatively intact example of a Victorian villa of the later 1870s, modified in the Federation period. It is of interest for its incorporation of what appears to be an original or early kitchen or general service wing. The house is an energetic and strongly formed design in bichrome brick which derives additional interest from its overlay of Federation period elements and detailing. It is prominently sited and has a commanding presence in the streetscape. Though it incorporates a number of unusual elements, other than for the overpainting of the bichrome brickwork, the house appears to be generally intact as viewed from the street.
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Tasma - Physical Description 1
Tasma, at 7 Muir Street, Kew, is a double-fronted Italianate house with a return verandah, in exposed Hawthorn brick in a lively bichrome pattern, and with rough-faced bluestone ashlar to the wall bases. The house has a hipped roof with slate tile cladding and modern ridge capping (Colorbond or similar). The chimneys are in exposed brick with a distinctive pattern of white overpainted brick bars on each, and sturdily sculpted rendered cornices. The eaves are boxed with intermittent paired brackets, each pair interspersed with another, elongated set of white overpainted brick bars, one of which runs through two intersecting brackets over the front door. The bichrome brick quoining around the windows and striped courses across the facade have been overpainted in white.
The original windows to the front bay are double-hung sashes, with a canopy over. A single-pane arched window near the front door is believed to be a later, albeit comparatively early, addition due to its awkward relationship to the verandah; similarly the leadlit bay window in the west facade appears possibly to have been added in the Federation period. The front door case also appears to have been renewed in the Federation period, and the glazing to the door has Art Nouveau leadlighting.
The verandah is separate from the main roof, with its roof positioned several brick courses below the eave line. The verandah frame and lacework may have been altered at a later stage, possibly in the Federation period when the bay window and front door were added. The junction of the verandah with the projecting front bay is awkward, perhaps suggesting that one or the other has been modified.[i]
A secondary wing is visible to the rear (north) of the principal brick wing, and is of timber with a hipped slate roof and brick chimneys matching those to the main wing. Probably used as a kitchen or general service wing, this element is thought to have been either original or an early addition and appears on the MMBW plan of c. 1901.
The low picket fence nearer the Myrtle Street corner is of recent origin,[ii] and the age of the hedge garden is uncertain - possibly early twentieth century. The rear timber wing is partly concealed by a high timber fence, thought to have been constructed in 1980.[iii]
There are a number of unusual components in this design, reflecting its combination of Victorian fabric with later Federation detailing. These elements include the use of bichrome panels against eave brackets, the wide verandah framing intervals, and the intersection of verandah frieze and arched window.
Other than for the overpainting of the brickwork, as viewed from the street, the house appears to be basically intact to the Federation period, when it appears to have undergone a series of modifications. Unspecified alterations were made in 1945, the house was reblocked in 1978, and a garage was added in 1991.[iv]
[i] While not documented, it is possible that the verandah may have been rebuilt or modified.
[ii] City of Hawthorn Building Card Index, item 12662, dated 7 April 1976.
[iii] City of Hawthorn Building Card Index, item 15786, dated 22 April 1980 ('T/fence' - '900 mm'). Another fence was approved on 20 April 1977.
[iv] City of Hawthorn Building card Index, items 637, dated 2 July 1945 (cryptically annotated 'dwelling'); 14533, dated 21 September 1978 (reblocking, completed 2 October 1978); 0311/91, dated 26 November 1991 (garage).
Heritage Study and Grading
Boroondara - Review of C* Grade Buildings in the Former City of Hawthorn
Author: Lovell Chen Architects & Heritage Consultants
Year: 2006
Grading: C*Boroondara - Hawthorn Heritage Study
Author: Meredith Gould Conservation Architects
Year: 1993
Grading:
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