I am yet to research this property in terms of its history, but I received information in relation to one of the residents ‘Ella Grace Phillips’ who lived in the property with her parents, Ferrar (or Ferrer) Phillips, 1849-1942 and Mary Harper Phillips nee Scott, 1854-1937.
Ferrar had the fascinating profession of “horse dentist” – Ferrar & Mary lived at 669 Brunswick St from at least 1916.
They had 8 children while living in Collingwood and Fairfield and must have moved to Fitzroy after most of the children had moved out. Jeanine Inglis Wyles (1877), William Arthur (1879), Emma Elizabeth (1880), Arthur William (1884), Alice Lucy (1886), Florence May (1888), Lilian Maud (1890), Lottie Hilda (1892), Leslie Ferrrar (1894), and Ella Grace (1896). Ella Grace would have been 20 years old in 1916 and is recorded as being here in 1919 and 1924 (Electoral Roles).
Ella, is in the photo below and was the best friend of Jessie Middleton, who was getting married. They remained friends up until Jessie’s death in 1966. They may have met at the same primary school in North Fitzroy. Ella was likely living in Fairfield at the time. There is more information about Jessie Middleton here.
In 1926 Ella Grace married Alfred John Dickson and in 1931, Ella Grace Dickson and merchant Alfred John Dickson were living at 8 View Point Road, Kew (Kooyong).
