22-24 Thompson St
22-24 Thompson St HAMILTON, Southern Grampians Shire
Botanic Gardens Precinct Hamilton
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Statement of Significance
SIGNIFICANCE: »This house is significant as the home of the first Police Magistrate, its architecture and its 19th century garden adjacent to and associated with the Botanical Gardens.
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
Residence
24 Thompson Street
This house has local significance for its architectural interest as an elegantly detailed brick house with a substantially intact 19th century garden and for its historical associations with J P Hamilton (1827-84), Hamilton Police Magistrate, who lived there from 1873 until his death, ([i]) except for one year, 1875, when it was occupied by Nathan Thornley, surveyor. ([ii]) It has associations in the present century with Thomas Laidlaw, a well known Hamilton auctioneer. ([iii]) At first, in 1873, J P Hamilton's property was recorded as a house (NAV 100 pounds) but was identified in 1875-76 as house and stable with an NAV of 120 pounds, and in 1877 as a brick hose and paddocks (NAV 140 pounds). ([iv]) Although J P Hamilton was amongst the leading public servants dismissed by the Berry Ministry on `Black Thursday' in January of 1878, ([v]) he continued to own and occupy his Thompson Street home. His widow, Agnes, became the owner in 1885 and by the turn of the century, it was tenanted by Mary Learmonth, widow. ([vi])
The integrity of the house has been somewhat compromised by the partial replacement of the verandah. It is in good condition. The original layout of the garden has been changed however there is a number of trees which indicate a more extensive garden. Notable are the Acer opalus, Morus nigra, Acer campestre, Field Maple Euonymus europaeus, Spindle Bush and a large Quercus palustris, Pin Oak. This garden, being opposite the Botanic Gardens, appears to have benefitted in plant selection especially in the association of the Acer opalus and Acer campestre to the impressive Acer velutinum directly opposite in the Gardens and now on the Significant Tree Register.
[i] Hamilton Rate Book 1873, No. 146; 1885, No. 169; Garden, Don, Hamilton, pp 79, 88-89.
[ii] Hamilton Rate Book 1875, No. 147.
[iii] Ibid., 1912, No. 233.
[iv] Ibid., 1873, No. 146; 1876, No. 150; 1877, No. 132.
[v] Garden, Don, Hamilton, p 79.
[vi] Hamilton Rate Book 1885, No. 169; 1905, No. 218.
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22-24 Thompson St - Physical Description 1
MATERIALS:
Roof: »corrugated iron
Walls: »Hamilton brick
Dressings: »timber
Plinth: »brick
Windows: »timber double hung sash
Paving: »gravel/coloured concrete
Other: »timber pergola
NOTABLE FEATURES:»19th century garden layout and rockery works22-24 Thompson St - Historical Australian Themes
ASSOCIATED HISTORIC THEMES
Evolution of the Town. 1870-80s/1900s.
Government institutions. Local. Police
Notable men and women
Industry. Auctioneers.22-24 Thompson St - Integrity
Integrity: F
Conditions: G
Heritage Study and Grading
Southern Grampians - City of Hamilton Conservation Study
Author: Timothy Hubbard with Carlotta Kellaway & Michael Looker (plus Francis Punch)
Year: 1991
Grading: C
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MECHANICS INSTITUTEVictorian Heritage Register H2171
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HAMILTON BOTANIC GARDENSVictorian Heritage Register H2185
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HAMILTON GAS HOLDERVictorian Heritage Register H1086
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