Salisbury Crescent did not exist according to the Sands & Macdougall directories in 1885, however, all the houses exist and are occupied by 1890.
The houses were owned by James Anderson, and built together, though interestingly, each has a double wall between them. The only other house on this side of the street is the double storey house owned by Michael Flynn, who also owned the land next to it.
James Anderson also owned the four houses opposite as well from 23-29. I can locate a James Anderson who lived on Nicholson Street who owned another 3 houses there, with land next to one of the houses which housed workshops and offices. He is listed in 1890 as a Contractor. So it is likely that James Anderson organised the build of these homes and many others in the area.
The first occupant to 24 was Ley Jackson, a Timekeeper. He remains in the property for some years until he moves to another property in Fitzroy North. Shortly after this, it appears that James Anderson goes bankrupt and the properties are listed from 1898-1900 as in liquidation by the Mercantile Bank.
The new tenants are John Wilkins, a builder (1898-1900), and then John Weate, an engineer, who moves (between 1903-1905). Weate hasn’t moved far having lived in #29 across the road from 1900-1903.
In 1908, William Higgs Middleton, an engine-driver is the occupant along with his wife Alice Mary Middleton, and their children. They had moved from 15 Woodhead Street in North Fitzroy. Mary Middleton is also living with them from 1912-1913 and it is likely that she was William’s mother, as her name was Mary Middleton (nee Buchanan).
By 1915-1916, it is only William and Alice Mary who are of voting age and therefore on the register. However, the house would have been quite full with four children: Jessie Mary Jane Middleton born in 1896, William Matthew Middleton born in 1898, Isobel May Middleton born in 1907 and George Charles Middleton born in 1912 (and who passed away at age 12 in 1924).
In 1919, before they moved, “Jessie Mary Middleton (before her marriage), and her mother Alice made a red fabric banner with ‘WELCOME HOME’ appliqued in white, to welcome Jessie’s fiancee John Thomas Bracey Elderfield back to Australia after active service in France.” (Australian War Memorial)
“John Elderfield had served with the AIF 23rd Infantry Battalion on the WesternFront from 1915 to 1919, embarking from Melbourne aboard the HMAT Hororata on 27 September 1915, aged 21. Elderfield was wounded and gassed multiple times, and spent much time in hospital.”(Australian War Memorial).
There is a heartbreaking letter, which I found in the World War 1 Service Records:
“John returned to Australia in May 1919. Jessie and John were married on 18 June 1921 at North Fitzroy Church of Christ and had two daughters“. (Australian War Memorial)
The photo below is of the wedding, which took place at the North Fitzroy Church of Christ. The minister-celebrant was John William Baker and the witnesses were William Higgs Middleton and Ella Grace Phillips. The photo was supplied by Elinor Scambler.
It appears they move out from the house in 1920-1922 when they move to Brunswick (35 Western Street). William senior is now recorded as a labourer, and William Matthew is also living there and is recorded as a law clerk.
As for little Isobel May (Maisie), the first person in the wedding photo above, she went on to complete her Domestic Arts Certificate at the Bell St School in Fitzroy in 1920 at age 13 (see certificate on the Bell St School post). This meant she was qualified in Housewifery, Cookery, Laundrywork, and Needlework. But Maisie, became a ‘confectioner’ living mostly in Brunswick and later Richmond. According to her niece, Maisie was an expert chocolate dipper – with the flick of a wrist, these artisans could take a centre with their tongs, and whirl the encasing chocolate into the correct design for the flavour. Sadly, Maisie had problems with alcohol and frequently changed employers, at various times working for all the elite confectionary firms in Melbourne. In 1934 Maisie married Alfred Hughes (d. 1970), and she died in Preston in 1976. (History of Maisie provided by Elinor Scamble, 2025).
Campaign for the removal of the houses in Brooks Cres and Salisbury Street
The photographer of these wonderful moments of history (which are featured below and on other posts in this area) was Elinor Scambler, who is the granddaughter of Jessie Middleton (who grew up in the house from the age of 12 till she was married, or close too).
Elinor was studying Urban Studies for Economics Honours at Monash in 1971 and chose the Brooks Crescent project because her father, an accountant, had a client, the Ivan Porter Shoe Company who were in the area. Most of their workers lived in the area and as a result Ivan Porter and Norm Yarr (the Manager) were very active in opposing the Housing Commission development. The plan was to demolish all the housing and construct high rise apartment blocks.
In the end many houses were lost, but not all. Numbers 26, 24 and 22. All classified as ‘good brick’. Builders inspection of No. 24- ‘a structurally sound, clean little house conforming in almost every respect to the Housing Commission requirements’. Apparently, the owner had spent c. $2000 to renovate the house.
This campaign was a turning point in public housing policy and practice in Victoria. (Text from Yarra Libraries).
