Trade operated from this site as early as 1865. The first person residing here was John Stephens, a horse dealer. The site was quite large, including both the house below as well as the property to the right of it, and extended all the way through the back and included 5 Highett Place.
Initially the numbering of the property was quite different. In 1865, this was number 209 Gore Street and then by 1870 it was 193 Gore Street. It did not become 309 Gore Street until the late 1880s.
John Stephens lived here or at least owned the property with his wife Mary Ann Stephens from at least 1865 – 1880. It is not clear whether he lived at the front Gore Street side or at the back on the Highett Place side. In 1876, the site was recorded as a 5 room brick house with a wood stable and land.
John was born in March 1827 in Sithney, Cornwall, his parents being William Stephens and Mary Polkinghorne. In January 1847 at the age of 19, he married Mary Ann Russell (also 19) and they had their first child Mary Jane Stephens in 1848. The records are not great, but it appears he is living in Collingwood in 1854 where they have a number of children who do not live more than a few years (Richard, Elizabeth and Fanny). In 1858 they have Ellen Stephens and in 1860 James Henry Stephens. They then move to the property in Gore Street where they have Richard James Stephens (who dies at 6 months of age), Charles Adrian and Frank. Finally, Herbert Alfred was born in Collingwood.
On the 3rd February 1892, John Stephens (late of Franklin House, Gore Street, Fitzroy), died at his residence in Parkville (above). He was 65 years. They had three sons, Charles Adrian Stephens, Herbert Alfred Stephens and Frank Stephens. His estate was valued at 25,342 pounds.
This is the first time that the term ‘Franklin House’ is used. It is interesting as there was another Franklin House at 6 Napier Street in 1885-1899 which was a boarding house and in the late 1800s another one on Barkly Street, East Brunswick.
Following John, William Henry Hosken (Minister) is living in the 7 bedroom Franklin House (note, that John still owned the property). William was previously at a property nearby on Gore Street owned by the Bible Christians next to a school after moving to the city from Daylesford with his wife. Unfortunately she passes away in 1881. He is recorded at John’s Franklin House from 1887 to some time shortly after 1890. It may be that Hosken could no longer afford to stay at 309 Gore Street as he was listed in June 1890 has being one of the unsecured creditors to The Sundercombe Insolvent Estate, losing 257 pounds. He was also at the time not working. By 1894, Hosken has moved into a rented property on Argyle St. Hosken died aged 65 at his residence at 434 Gore Street in 1907.
Franklin House then enters its phase as a potential hospital. The first advertisement in January 1893, advises “Mrs Folmer, Certificated midwife, 309 Gore Street, Fitzroy, late 170, ladies accommodated, outdoor practice, accouchements, 21s” (The Age). But it is in March of the same year that Dr Hewlett applied to have a private hospital ‘at his residence’, 309 Gore Street. The matter was referred to the Health Committee, who advised that the application of Mrs J C Folmer, not be granted (Fitzroy City Press). Despite this, the advertisements continue until January 1894 when by Dec 1894, Thomas McBain (Watchman) is recorded in living in the house, and his wife is the new certified midwife.
I am not sure who Dr Hewlett was, but he does not appear to be mentioned again. Jane Catherine Folmer, first appears at Mrs Dunlevie’s practice located on George Street, Fitzroy (close to Johnston St) in Feb 1892. She is then in March 1892 arrested, charged with performing an illegal operation on Jane Robertson, of Northcote. She was arrested from her house at 334 George Street, Fitzroy.
By the 29th March she was found guilty of performing an illegal abortion and remanded for sentencing
The next advertisement for Folmer’s services appear in October 1892. Folmer advertises throughout her time at Franklin House. Often her adverts had errors in them, including the one below where her name is misspelt.
But for the widow, all was not lost. In 1894 she marries Thomas McBain and the adverts continue in her new name until 1897. I am not sure what happens with Thomas and Jane from there. I think there may be a record of her living in Footscray in 1909, but there is no Mr McBain at the house.
In December 1897, it seems the house is rented by Martin Manning (a bootmaker) and his wife Mary Manning. They live her with their son Harry Manning for approximately 10 years. It appears that Mrs Manning uses the house to take in boarders from at least 1899 to 1907.
In 1900, the house is still owned by John Stephens (despite him passing away some 8 years prior).
On 8 May 1899, Charles Patrick Palfrey died here. Charles was only 27 years old. I am not sure of the story here. He was married to Lucy Maud Palfrey.
On the 15th Jun 1912, ‘Franklin House’ was put up for sale:
In 1912-1938, ponies and buggies were sold from the site. “Express Pony Waggon. English forecarriage suit grocer, fruiterer, perfect order; sell cheap. Livery Stables, 309 Gore St, Fitzroy. (The Age, October 1916). The Livery Stables were run by Albert Ernest Robinson according to Sands & MacDougall (1910), however when I search for him in Ancestry, the Electoral Roles show him at 305 Gore Street.
It appears that he had married Paulina Maud Biltris in 1894, but after a few years she leaves him and goes to Perth. There she has her son, Frederick Joseph Robinson, the only son of the marriage. She then has two more sons and two daughters before after demanding a divorce, Albert Ernest files for it in 1912, stating that he had not been of the means to do so prior. He only knows of the first son and it appears that the rest were not his children (all have Robert’s name on their birth certificates). In 1914, Paulina marries Robert Joseph Cahill and Fredrick takes his name to be Frederick Joseph Robinson Cahill.
It is hard to follow the property at this time. We know that in the Sands & McDougall for 1920, Richard Miller is recorded at the property, G Hacking remains at 303-305 (which is where Albert was living) and Mrs Sonenburg is at 301, her husband having given advice to Albert in 1910-1912 to divorce Paulina. Then add to this that it is Arthur Lee operating as the horse dealer in 1917.
The following is an article from the Age on 21 Sep 1917:
But it is known that the property operated such as a wagon, buggy, and pony dealer throughout this period.
On 5 Aug 1938, the properties of 307-309 Gore Street (so this time excluding the house to the right, which must have been separated at the last sale), and 5 Highett Place at the back were again advertised as a brick cottage, stables and brick villa.
Following this use, the garage is used for cars and vans.
The house sold again in May 1952 (The Age) and still included 5 Highett Place. This time the houses passed in for 2,575 pounds. It had a reserve of 2,650 pounds (The Age, 22 May 1954).
The photos below from the 1970s show a time when it was used as a factory.
And then in 1989 it was an art gallery (Australian Jewish News, 5 May 1989. It was called David Ellis Fine Art, but later the Lyall Burton Gallery (1995)
The building was purchased in 1995 and was turned into a residence and has remained as such to this day.