There were buildings on this site as early as 1857-58. I believe these three houses were built in 1857-1858 by Joseph Saul Bray, a builder (Burchett Index). It is clear there was a group of three houses were situated between two schools from this period. The schools sat on the corner of Greeves St (South) and Chapel St (North).
In addition to the three houses in 1859, there is a wooden house to the south owned by William Townsend (a carpenter) (Rate Books 1859). The wood house is later removed as it is called ‘land’ from 1869. The three brick houses remain owned by Joseph Saul Bray to approximately 1879, when Mrs Mary Moore who was resident of the first of the three houses (likely now 311) in 1869 became the owner.
The challenges with the history of these three houses is that the numbers appear to have changed twice and prior to 1865 had no numbers. In 1865, they are 203-207, but in 1869, it appears the numbers may be 195-199. But 207 still exists (so we have an additional house, this time to the north, which appears to have later been removed to expand the school (where the kids playground now is)), then in1875, the Sands & McDougall is just blank on any of the detail other than acknowledging that schools existed on this block.
This could be because the teacher Thomas H Templeton(son of Hugh Templeton, who was the original owner of the George Street School (from approx. 1841) purchases the houses or the school does, it is unclear.
All I know is that in 1870, the Girls’ Common School on George and Greeves St had Mrs Templeton as the teacher, then next door to this on George St was an Infants School with Miss Templeton as teacher. On the Chapel St corner of George St, Thomas Hugh Templeton was the head teacher. Then in 1879, the three houses are owned by the ‘Executors of Templeton’. But he appears to still be alive at this time working n Prahran, so the transaction and ownership around this time is a little of a mystery. Especially as the land the school was on was purchased by the Department of Education in 1874.
Owners and Renters
Being owned by Jacob S Bray until about 1869/1870, and then owned by Mrs Moore in 1871, and then by 1879 owned by the Executors for Templeton, there is initially high turnover for these houses.
The renters are (311 and 313 respectively):
- 1859/1860 – Mrs Webb / John Flower
- 1861 – Joseph Johnson / William Johnson
- 1863 – W. E Valentine / Samuel Martin (Both are brick 3 rooms)
- 1864 – W. E Valentine (Traveller), / Berry? Gap (Draper)
- 1865 – W E Valentine (#203) / E A Duncome (205)
- 1869 – Mrs Moore (#197) / James Henness (#199) (Gentleman)
- 1870 – Mrs Moore /James Ellis
- 1871 – Mrs Mary Moore / James Ellis (Contractor)
- 1879 – Arthur Hughes (Brick layer), Arthur Bloomfield (Baker)
- 1880 – Arthur Hughes (#201) / Arthur H Bloomfield (#203)
- 1885 – Harry Dowdy / Thomas R Benson
- 1890 – Thomas Rees (#311) / Frederick Creed (#313)
- 1895 – Mrs Emily Sharpe / Mrs Louisa Nankervis
- 1900 – George Stewart / George A Toms
- 1905 – Mrs Mary A Jones / Mrs Jinny Dodd
- 1910- Alfred Milton / Percival J Lucas
- 1915 – Richard P Daly / Percival J Lucas
- 1920 – George A Robinson / Percival J Lucas
- 1930 – William Campbell / Percival J Lucas
- 1935 – William Campbell / Percival J Lucas
William Edgar Valentine (311)
Going back to 1864-1865, the house numbered 203 was being lived in by W E Valentine. Valentine was previously living in 3 Granite Terrace on Gertrude Street and the advert states that W. E. Valentine, Esq. was moving to the country, so was selling the house and all its furniture (Jul 1860). A few months later in September, Valentine was made a ‘Grand Officer’ at the Grand Lodge I.O.O.F. But what is interesting is in Dec 1862, Valentine’s name comes up on an Insolvent List, which eventually lapses in Feb 1863 by his failure to attend. At this stage he is living in Richmond. But looks like to have moved into this house in 1863. T Valentine was listed as a traveller in 1864 (Rate Books).
In 1864-1865 the address, regularly ran advertisements looking for Sewing Machinists, Mantle and Dress Makers. Like most of the tenants he doesn’t stay long, about 3 years and by the time he is being prosecuted by J H Matthewman in August 1868 he is living elsewhere. He again appears in the news in 1870 after being swindled by a firm promising to find him employment
In 1905, a Madame Phillipeaux was living in the house and ran an advert “Madame Phillipeaux, 311 George St. Fitzroy receives clients, evening 7 till 10.” (The Age, 1 Jul 1905)
Little more on the residents has been located.
