Avalon
2 Rowe Street NORTHCOTE, Darebin City
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Statement of Significance
Avalon is of local architectural and historical significance. Externally substantially intact, Avalon is the largest Californian bungalow style house in the municipality and is most probably one of the largest in inner-suburban Melbourne. The house gains considerable distinction from its siting within expansive grounds which have remained relatively intact.
The house was the residence of Percy Adams, notable businessman of the 1920s and 30s and manager of the Alba Petroleum Company.
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Avalon - Physical Description 1
Avalon is a large, sprawling Californian Bungalow style, possessing typical features of this style including broad, shallow-pitched, terracotta-tiled gabled roofs, tapered rendered chimneys, bow windows with diamond patters lead lighting and a verandah supported on heavy rendered brick piers.
The horizontally emphasised eastern elevation is the most extensive and faces the expansive grounds.
The Rowe Street frontage presents a more modest attic-style Bungalow elevation. Across this frontage, is a swagged-profile, is a hit-and-miss brick fence, now painted, which connects to a matching single-car garage, now fitted with a new door.
Internally a library, lounge, 'spacious hall', a breakfast room, two large bathrooms and separate maids' and men's quarters were provided.
Within the garden, the conifer hedges, shrubs and trees (Roman cypress) epitomise the era, as do the exotic Canary Island Palms (phoenix canariensis), adding to the tropical setting for the bungalow styled house. Below the lawns, interwoven stone retaining walls supporting terracing and flowering shrubs, roses being originally prominent, in the descent to the Darebin Creek.
A conglomeration of evergreen shrubs and trees originally stood to the south of them, whilst the tennis court and tennis pavilion were sited to the west. A swimming pool and pergola dressing pavilion lay elsewhere. Most elements have survived but are obscured by overgrowth while other shrubs have been taken out.
With the exception of repainting of the render and a sunroom added on the north side, the house is externally near to original.
Heritage Study and Grading
Darebin - Darebin Heritage Review
Author: Andrew Ward
Year: 2000
Grading:
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WALLER HOUSE AND COLLECTIONVictorian Heritage Register H0617
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MACGEORGE HOUSEVictorian Heritage Register H2004
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DAREBIN CREEK 6Victorian Heritage Inventory
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