I am yet to research this house, but wanted to create a book mark for it and drop in the photo from 1970-1974. I find it interesting the development on 442. I am not sure that this would be allowed today as the council want it very clear as to which parts are old and which are new, but this appears old, but it clearly wasn’t there in the early 70’s.
442 Rae street was definitely a single story. I worked at the AW Patrick Badge factory which occupied 440 front cottage which was gutted late 60s to move the printing plant from old stables at rear off 446 Rae St. The rear section was built probably about 1915 when AW Patrick badge business took off. This business was sold by the manager, my late uncle Ron Russell to Patrick Brothers Australia in North Melbourne. The rear building was effected by drought of early 60s and had developed quite a lean towards 442. Ron had the building underpinned to save it.
That wide doorway on 440 Rae was enlarged to fit a Thomson Platen printing machine through in late 60s. The new owners have restored brickwork to the old cottage size.The original cottage had a walk-through passage on RHS and 3 rooms to the left. Then some add on kitchen and laundry. Customers walked through a maze of ancient rooms to get to factory at rear and stairs to upstairs office and production finishing room. Downstairs were6 Heine metal stamping presses run from overhead leather belts and a lathe, drill press and a couple of guillotines for tin cutting.