FORMER RESIDENCE
300 QUEEN STREET MELBOURNE, MELBOURNE CITY
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Statement of Significance
This place is included on the Victorian Heritage Inventory, for its potential to contain historical archaeological remains associated with the settlement and growth of early Melbourne. Under the terms of the Heritage Act 2017 there is protection for all historical archaeology sites and objects in the state.
Please visit the Heritage Victoria website to find out more about the Heritage Inventory.
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FORMER RESIDENCE - History
Heritage Inventory History of Site: In July 1847 J.T. Smith recieved a portion of a crown grant. He constructed a two storeyed house with basement and outbuildings. This house was added to in 1859 with a third storey. The outbuildings consisted of stables, a machine yard, offices, sheds and workhouse. All except the stables were occupied in 1863 by David Munro. Between 1881 and 1882 Munro bought various allotments from the Smith estate. In 1896 the property passed into the hands of the Land Mortgage Bank. It changed hands several times before being purchased in 1950 by the state government. All except the Smith residence were demolished.Heritage Inventory Description
FORMER RESIDENCE - Heritage Inventory Description
Extant 3 storey brick and stone residence (Georgian Townhouse) constructed in a number of phases for John Thomas Smith, early Lord Mayor of Melbourne (mayor 7 times between 1851 & 1864).1849 - 2 storey; 3rd storey added 1859. Houses visible 1880 Panorama, also shown on the 1855 Bibb's map and on the 1866 Cox map (house and outbuilding).Since late 1850s used as gold store, Treasury, Govt Offices, jam factory, boarding house, nurses' home and offices. (1905 map - 3 storey building, boarding house)
Heritage Inventory Significance: The two storey Georgian townhouse now known as 300 Queen Street was built in 1849 for John Thomas Smith. The original design is attributed to Charles Laing, and a third storey was added in 1858 to the design of David Ross. An adjoining two storey building on the northern side of the former smith residence was built in the early 1860's. Smith leased his house to the government for use as a treasury and gold office and other departments including mines and agriculture between 1859 and 1875. The significance of the building is derived partly from its associations with John Thomas Smith, who was a prominent early mayor of Melbourne and member of the state legislature between 1859 and 1879. Later associations were with David Munro, an engineering contractor involved in railway building, and land deals with Thomas Bent. The building, used as a treasury and gold office at the end of the gold rush period, is the earliest surviving building used for this purpose in Melbourne. It was also associated with the mines department as the office of the geological survey. The property at 300 Queen Street is of architectural and historic significance for the following reasons: 1) the former Smith residence is one of very few buildings dating from pre-1850's, maintaining a link with the pastoral era in the central city area and is the largest and most intact house surviving in the central city area. 2) the form of the building is virtually unique in Victoria and relates more to New South Wales and Tasmanian examples. 3) the building contains particularly important evidence of early building technology from the two periods of the pre 1850's and the late 1850's. 4) the setting of the building gives it added significance as a residence located within the important Queen Street public building precinct opposite the titles office and the public record office, with proximity to the law courts and the former Royal Mint.
Recorded by: Lee Scott Virtue;S. Lavelle Date Recorded: July 1984; 1992
Archeological Potential: Potential/Disturbed
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FORMER CARLTON AND UNITED BREWERYVictorian Heritage Register H0024
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ROSAVILLEVictorian Heritage Register H0408
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MEDLEY HALLVictorian Heritage Register H0409
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