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Rushall Park, Fitzroy North (Old Colonists Home)

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“Few modern pictures are better known than the late Frederick Walker’s ‘Harbour of Refuge,’ representing a group of homes in one of the western suburbs of London, erected by the thoughtful benevolence of a lover of his kind, belonging to a former generation, for the shelter of a number of aged people upon whom fortune has frowned in the closing years of their lives. The philanthropic spirit which prompted the foundation of this peaceful haven animated the veteran actor and manager, Mr. George Seth Coppin, … proposed the institution of an association having the following objects in view: ‘To assist necessitous old colonists, to promulgate facts relative to the early history of the colony, to promote the advancement of native-born Victorians, and to encourage friendly recognition between members.'” (The Cyclopedia of Victoria, 1903-1905, Vol 1, p. 344)

Matron and a resident, c.1910, at the corner of Coppin and McArthur avenues, Old Colonists’ Homes, Rushall Crescent, North Fitzroy. (Photo from Fitzroy, Melbourne’s First Suburb p. 62 and was provided to that publication courtesy of the Old Colonists’ Association)

The cottages were erected ‘as a rest for the weary’ in the vicinity of Rushall Crescent, North Fitzroy. In 1869 “Mr. Coppin convened a meeting of old colonists, to submit to them a proposition for the formation of an Association, for admission to which, all persons who had been resident in Victoria for a period of at least twenty-five years were to be eligible; those members who had arrived prior to the 23rd of November, the day upon which Constitutional Government was proclaimed in the colony- and their male descendants to be designated as ‘pioneers’. The Association was duly organised with Judge Pohlman as its first President, Mr. Coppin as Vice-President and Mr D. Ogilvy as Treasurer…”(The Cyclopedia of Victoria, 1903-1905, Vol 1, p. 344)

This first meeting was held at the Menzie’s Hotel on Tuesday 11 May 1869 and Mr. Coppin submitted a proposal that residents of twenty years should be eligible for membership and that the subscription should be 1 pound 1 shilling per annum. This was unanimously adopted and the committee was appointed (The Age, Wed 12 May 1869, p. 5). This slightly contradicts the information from the Cyclopedia.

The inaugural dinner of the Old Colonists’ Association took place on 1st July (Separation Day) at Menzies’ Hotel and over sixty people attended. The Association was well underway and had members of over 200 people (The Age, Sat 17 Jul 1869). Mr. Coppin was incredibly influential and involved in the fund raising for the Association. On Sat 17 Jul 1869 (p.8) it was advertised the Theatre Royal was having an Old Colonists’ Night to raise funds for the provision of Almshouses. The entertainment covered six popular pieces featuring Mr Coppin in each on Thursday 22 July.

At their meeting held on 20 July, a letter from Mr. Coppin was read which stated that he would undertake the erection of the first almshouse in connexion with the association to be called ‘Founder’s House’. To fund its build he was to use the amount raised from the theatre and would contribute the remaining balance from his own purse, approximately 250pounds. At this meeting they also resolved “That a tablet should be fixed upon each almshouse with the name of the donor inscribed upon it” (The Age, 21 Jul 1869, p.5). Coppin raised 110 pounds from his Theatre night (The Age, 30 Jul 1869, p.2).

“It was agreed that donors of ten guineas should rank as life governors; subscribers of two guineas or upwards, as governors; and subscribers of one guinea, as members; while life governors, governors and subscribers for ten years consecutively were alone entitled to vote at the election of inmates to occupy the homes. It was likewise decided that the names of donors of 50 pounds and upwards should be inscribed upon commemoration tablets to be erected at the homes” (The Cyclopedia of Victoria, 1903-1905, Vol 1, p. 344-345)

“The land upon which the homes are built consists of four acres thirty-six perches, and was a grant to the Association by the Government; and as the names of the benevolent founders deserve to be held in lasting remembrance, we subjoin a list of them.” (The Cyclopedia of Victoria, 1903-1905, Vol 1, p. 344) contained below.

The land was “in a very desirable situation on the banks of the Merri Creek adjacent to the Northcote Bridge. The fencing of the land was arranged by architect and surveyor Albert Purchas. Plans for two semi-detached cottages designed by G. R. Johnson were approved by the council of the OCA. The foundation stone of the cottages was laid by the President, Judge Pohlman, on the day of the first annual general meeting, 1 July 1870. By December of that year the first inmates were installed” (Source: Picturesque Charity: the Old Colonists’ Homes in North Fitzroy, by Frances O’Neill, part of ‘Fitzroy, Melbourne’s First Suburb, p.61-64)

MMBW Map 1904. You can see the Old Colonists’ Association takes the space from McKean Street up Rushall to the point where Rowe St intersects. The land to the left along Rushall Cres was used by the Australian Musical and Dramatic Association for the purposes of actors (also founded by George Coppin).

The Dramatic Association was not as popular as the Old Colonists Association and by 1907 the two Associations merged and the complex of nine acres became one institution. “This settlement had no master plan but evolved in an extraodinarily orderly and functional manner. The complex consists of several brick and stone cottages erected from 1870 until recent times. Each cottage has been privately donated and is marked by a memorial stone. Coppin donated the earliest stone cottage and these were designed by G. Johnson. Rushall park is a unique complex of national significance and is of great architectural importance. The complex is unified by its superb garden and picturesque architecture all on a domestic scale. Recently some of the old cottages were demolished to be replaced by an unappropriate modern structure. Any future additions or alterations to buildings should be carefully considered.” (North Fitzroy Conservation Study 1978) (Glossary)

Laying of the Foundation Stone – Weekly Times 6 May 1905, p.18 – Laying foundation stone for “Edwin M James” and “Charles Young” cottages
Mr George Coppin laying the foundations stone of the Charles Young Cottage- – Weekly Times 6 May 1905, p.18 – Laying foundation stone for “Edwin M James” and “Charles Young” cottages
Some of the Committee Members – Weekly Times 6 May 1905, p.18 – Laying foundation stone for “Edwin M James” and “Charles Young” cottages
The Old Colonist Association Homes – 1905 – Weekly Times 6 May 1905, p.18 – Laying foundation stone for “Edwin M James” and “Charles Young” cottages
Image held by Fitzroy Library. The plaque to George Coppin, founder of the Old Colonists Home. The plaque is on the original cottage ‘The Founders Cottage’. 1975
Need to source a better copy of this picture – this is a clip from the PDF – (North Fitzroy Conservation Study 1978)
Two women residents standing on the verandah of Clarke Cottage. c. 1910. The cottage was built in 1880, the gift of the Clarke family, whose generosity is conspicuously recorded int he stone above the parlour window. The architect was George Wharton. (Photo from Fitzroy, Melbourne’s First Suburb p. 63 and was provided to that publication courtesy of the Old Colonists’ Association)
Held by Fitzroy Library – Old Colonists Home, Rushall Park,Falconer Street, North Fitzroy. 1975. This is a photo of Felton Cottages.

The following four cottages were designed by Joseph Crook and constructed in 1898 (North Fitzroy Conservation Study 1978)

Need to source a better image – this is from the PDF North Fitzroy Conservation Study 1978. Note that it calls the second cottage Bower, but the Cyclopedia calls it Bown

The Cyclopedia of Victoria 1903-1905, Vol 1, p345, provides a good summary of how the Association operated at this time “Each inmate of a cottage has a separate sitting-room and bedroom, and receives a weekly allowance of eight shillings. Irrespective of the inmates who are thus accommodated, there are eighteen persons who are in receipt of a weekly stipend, but for whose reception no cottages are available and this disbursement amounts in the aggregate to 500 pounds per annum. The list of members of the Association shows that there are 320 life governors, about 110 governors, and nearly 200 subscribers on the roll”

“When a vacancy occurs in one or more of the cottages, applications are invited by advertisement from old colonists desiring to be admitted. Each applicant must be recommended by at least three members of the Association to entitle the application to consideration. The applications are considered and inquired into by the relief committee, acting on whose report the council recommends to the members entitled to vote (life governors, governors, and ten years’ sub-scribers) three or four of the most deserving applicants, one of whom they elect by ballot to the vacancy”

“Members of the Association are particularly requested not to sign a recommendation of applicants unless they have some personal knowledge of them and their circumstances. A right of nominating an eligible person as an inmate is also vested in donors of 250 pounds to the buildings or endowment funds”

The kitchen at 8 Grace Avenue, Old Colonists’ Homes, Rushall Park in 1955 (Photo from Fitzroy, Melbourne’s First Suburb p. 64 and was provided to that publication courtesy of the Old Colonists’ Association)

According to Frances O’Neill, Fitzroy, Melbourne’s First Suburb, “Although there was a good deal of emphasis on the deserving qualities of the recipients of the charity of the OCA, those who received charity were not admitted to membership of the OCA. There was a clear demarcation between those who gave and those who received. The cottages themselves were the most obvious demonstration of this relationship. To enter one was to be identified as a member of the deserving poor. And in spite of the OCA’s rhetoric about the contribution made to the colony by the honest toil of the early settlers, one would look in vain among the inmates of the Old Colonists’ hoes in the nineteenth century for the calloused hands of a retired railroad digger or railway navvy. Here in so far as backgrounds of the inmates can be ascertained, the emphasis was on the semi-genteel, the governess or schoolteacher, the clerk or failed squatter”.

In total O’Neill states there are “142 single-storey cottages … in which stand examples of Australian domestic architecture ranging from the early colonial bluestone to Californian bungalow and 1960s home units.” She writes that “each avenue (is) named for a Victorian pioneer”.

Image held by Fitzroy Library. c1960
Image held by Fitzroy Library. Shows a bluestone house. c.1975
Image held by Fitzroy Library.
Image held by Fitzroy Library. Detail of house and garden.
Old Colonists Home, Rushall Park , North Fitzroy 1975 – Held by Fitzroy Library
Image held by Fitzroy Library. Detail of house and garden at Old Colonist’s Home, Rushall Park. 1975
Image held by Fitzroy Library. Photograph shows Fripp Avenue. 1975
Image held by Fitzroy Library. Old Colonists Home, Rushall Park ,Falconer Street, North Fitzroy

Additional sources of information from the North Fitzroy Conservation Study 1978, include:

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