Edsall Street Precinct
Edsall Street Malvern, Stonnington City
-
Add to tour
You must log in to do that.
-
Share
-
Shortlist place
You must log in to do that.
- Download report
Statement of Significance
What is Significant?
The Edsall Street precinct is a residential area developed during the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century. The earliest dwellings in the precinct are predominately timber cottages and villas built during the wave of suburban development in Malvern during the 1880s land boom. Later dwellings in the precinct generally date from the 1910s and take the form of modest villas and semi-detached pairs. The development of the precinct in these two distinct eras is readily apparent and an important aspect of its significance.
Elements which contribute to the significance of the precinct include (but are not limited to):
-high degree of intactness of the area to its c1918 state arising from the very low proportion of modern infill development;
-intactness of individual buildings to their original states. Dwellings typically survive with their presentation to the street largely unaltered retaining verandahs and decorative timber or cast iron detailing;
-face brick, timber or render materiality and gabled or hipped roofscapes with chimneys and slate or terracotta tiles or plain corrugated galvanised steel cladding;
-the consistent, modest single-storey scale of built form (the Victorian villa at 9 Isabella Street being a notable and valued exception);
-generally uniform pattern of small front and side setbacks;
-low front fences in most sections of the streetscape;
-road alignments and allotment patterns resulting from nineteenth and early twentieth century subdivisions; and,
-low incidence of modern interventions such as parking provisions in front setbacks.
How is it Significant?
The Edsall Street precinct is of historical and aesthetic significance at a local level.
Why is it Significant?
The Edsall Street Precinct is of historical significance as an illustration of the major phase of suburban development which took place along the commercial spine of Glenferrie Road during the 1880s land boom (Historic Theme: 3.3.3 Speculation and land boomers - subdivision from 1880 onwards). Speculative development on Edsall Street in this period brought about the construction of rows of modest timber cottages and villas on relatively small allotments. This type of settlement pattern is relatively rare in Malvern where there was little industry and limited employment opportunities for the working class. 'Dunrobin', the grand double-storey villa at 9 Isabella Street demonstrates the less segregated nature of Victorian suburban development whereby small dwellings could often be found in close proximity to the houses of the more affluent middle and upper classes. The later Edwardian dwellings in the precinct are historically significant as an illustration of the wave of development that occurred in the Malvern area from the 1910s, spurred on by the extension of the electric tram network (Historic Theme: 3.3.5 Recovery and infill 1900-1940). This pattern of settlement demonstrates the symbiotic relationship in Malvern between suburban development, improved public transport and increased commercial activity along the main Glenferrie Road shopping strip.
The Edsall Street Precinct is of aesthetic significance as a highly intact late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century residential streetscape generally comprising rows of single-storey, single-fronted Victorian timber cottages, double-fronted villas and Edwardian red-brick semi-detached pairs. These dwellings display a level of intactness and consistency in terms of their architectural character, form, scale and setbacks which sets the precinct apart from many other areas of the municipality with similar building stock. The impressive Victorian Italianate style polychrome brick villa at 9 Isabella Street also makes an important contribution to the aesthetic significance of the precinct.
-
-
Edsall Street Precinct - Physical Description 1
The Edsall Street precinct is a small residential area branching off the Glenferrie Road shopping strip. Built form in Edsall Street typically comprises modest single-storey Victorian residences but also includes a number of later Edwardian houses. The Victorian dwellings generally take the form of double-fronted villas or smaller single-fronted cottages with modest front and side setbacks. Most have hipped corrugated iron roofs and front verandahs trimmed with cast iron. Timber picket front fences common (although most fences appear to be of modern construction). The Victorian building stock in the precinct is almost exclusively of timber construction aside from the brick cottages at 25, 27, 32 and 34 Edsall Street and the much grander 'Dunrobin' on the corner of Isabella Street. The later is an impressive double-storey Victorian Italianate villa with cast iron verandah and polychrome brick walls.
Most of the Edwardian building stock is concentrated about the eastern end of the street, reflecting the later period of development for this part of the precinct. The Edwardian dwellings typically occur as semi-detached pairs which reinforce the scale and setbacks of nearby Victorian dwellings. They are generally of red-brick construction with characteristic Edwardian period detailing including timber casement windows, terracotta tiled roofs and half-timbered gable ends to the street.
Building stock in the precinct is generally in good, original condition. There are very few additions visible from the street and only two non-contributory late-twentieth century houses at 23 Edsall Street and 7A Isabella Street. Overall, the precinct is of note for the consistency of its built form and high degree of intactness to its c.1918 state.Edsall Street Precinct - Historical Australian Themes
The following themes are drawn from the Stonnington Thematic Environmental History (Context Pty Ltd, 2006, Addendum March 2009).
3.3.3 Speculation and land boomers - subdivision from 1880 onwards
3.3.5 Recovery and infill 1900-1940.
Edsall Street Precinct - Local Historical Themes
3.3.3 Speculation and land boomers - subdivision from 1880s onwards
3.3.5 Recovery and infill 1900 - 1940
Heritage Study and Grading
Stonnington - City of Stonnington Heritage Overlay Gap Study - Heritage Overlay Precincts Final Report
Author: Bryce Raworth P/L
Year: 2009
Grading: Various
-
-
-
-
-
MYOORAVictorian Heritage Register H0490
-
MALVERN RAILWAY STATIONVictorian Heritage Register H1575
-
MALVERN TRAM DEPOTVictorian Heritage Register H0910
-
-