25 November 2010

Libby Spurr
Statutory Planning
City of Stonnington

Dear Libby

Re: HERITAGE ASSESSMENT

652 High Street, Prahran (former Toorak Grammar School)

I have been asked to provide a brief memorandum in relation to the appropriateness of

a heritage control over the former school and residence at 652 High Street, Prahran. I
have inspected the exterior of the building and reviewed some documentation from
secondary sources – most notably historical notes posted on the Walking Melbourne
website (www.walkingmelbourne.com) and material available on the Heritage Victoria
website (www.heritage.vic.gov.au). I have undertaken limited primary research.

Figure 1 Aerial photograph, Source: Google Maps.

Figure 2 Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works, Detail Plan No 1000, 1900. Source SLV.

Current listings and controls

City of Stonnington
The building is not currently subject to a local government heritage control. It was
identified as part of the former City of Prahran Character and Conservation Study
(Context Pty Ltd, 1992). A building grading data sheet was prepared at that time. This
includes some limited information in relation to the building. The Study graded the
former residence A2. A2 graded buildings are defined as being

… of regional or metropolitan significance, and stand out as important milestones in

the architectural development of the metropolis ...
The Study did not recommend a heritage control.

Further investigations into local building stock have taken place since that time. These
have focused on those building presenting the strongest cases for heritage controls.
None of these reviews have identified the subject building for heritage protection. This
is presumably a consequence of its poor condition, the loss of its residential and/or
educational use and the degradation of its context.

The building is currently included on an informal list of buildings for future investigation.
It is noted that this list is particularly inclusive and contains a number of buildings which
will never, in all likelihood, be protected under a heritage control.

National Trust of Australia (Vic)

It is not included on the Register of the National Trust.

Heritage Victoria
The building is not included on the Victorian Heritage Register. It was recently added to
the Victorian Heritage Database as a site of potential archaeological significance
(H7922-0478).

Australian Heritage Commission

The building is not included on the Register of the National Estate or its successor, the
Australian Heritage Places Inventory.

Description
Heritage Victoria describes the site as comprising ‘a derelict 1880s two storey building
and associated adjoining structures, some of which are still used as office space by the
current tenant. The front yard is occupied by a car dealership’.

The early mansion building is a substantial but otherwise straightforward, two-storey

dwelling with projecting gable-ended bay to the street. It is finished in Hawthorn and
Cream brick with a slate roof. Verandahs visible on the MMBW Plan of 1900 are no
longer extant and had been largely removed prior to the earliest photograph of the site
located during the preparation of this report (refer Figure 3 below).

Figure 3 652 High Street, Prahran, c.1985: Source: Stonnington History Centre

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The building adopts an unusual form as a consequence of additions to the front and
rear of the original dwelling. A single-storey element extending across the rear of the
building and projecting to its west provided the principal teaching spaces of the Toorak
Grammar School. This addition is likely to date from c.1890. It reiterates detailing found
elsewhere on the building and provides a separate entry to the school rooms. This
wing is visible in the image above. A more modest single-storey addition projects from
the front facade. These, later additions are likely to date from the mid-twentieth
century. The context has been substantially diminished through the demolition of
similar residences on adjacent sites and the loss of front setback to paving. As noted
above, this site is currently used as car lot with the front setback used for vehicle
parking and the schoolrooms used as an office.

History
Following brief history is largely compiled from material available on Heritage Victoria’s website
(heritage.vic.gov.au) and Walking Melbourne website (www.walkingmelbourne.com). It has not
been checked by the current author.

The large allotment at 652 High Street was purchased in 1868, but not developed for
some years. The extant dwelling was designed by architects, Henderson & Smart in
1879 and built in 1880. It was named Correa after the native flower. It appears that the
house was built for Frederick Goldstraw, headmaster of Wesley College, who founded
the Toorak Grammar School on the site around 1890. A single-storey wing to the rear
of the building accommodated the school rooms. The school rooms are constructed of
slightly different brickwork and were not noted when tenders for the building were
called in 1879. It is likely that this section of the building is a later addition possibly
dating from c.1890.

There is some ambiguity as to the establishment date of the Toorak Grammar School.
The first advertisements for the school in The Argus newspaper appeared in 1888.
However the biography of Sir James Whiteside McCay, Principal of Castlemaine
Grammar School, notes Goldstraw as a teacher at the Toorak Grammar School in
1883. Further documentation survives which states that Wesley College refused to
release Goldstraw from his contract as headmaster until mid-1895. Nonetheless, it
appears that the school was in existence more than a decade earlier. The Cyclopedia
of Victoria states that Toorak Grammar School started operations in 1896.

The Royal Historical Society of Victoria holds two prospectuses for Toorak Grammar
School. The first, dated 1896, when Mr Goldstraw was headmaster, points out that the
school is on the High Street omnibus route and advertises a liberal table and hot and
cold baths for boarders who paid ten to sixteen guineas a term. Major Lucas provided
drill instruction to the boys for an additional two shillings and sixpence per term. Dr RH
Featherston and Dr AVM Anderson (an old boy) were also in attendance. Day boys
paid two to four guineas a term.

By 1900, when the second prospectus was issued, G Merrick Long was headmaster
and Goldstraw had resumed his position at Wesley College. He died in 1909 of Bright's
disease aged 57 years.

An MMBW Detail Plan from 1900 (refer figure 2) shows the building in a very different
context to that encountered today. The south side of High Street accommodated a
number of grand residences on neighbouring sites including Killara at No 644 and
Athol at No 666. Buildings such as the handsome church group on the opposite side of
High Street and important early mansions such as Sebrof, Larnook, and Redcourt on
Orrong Road to the east combined to create a precinct of stately suburban homes on
large allotments to the east of Airlie Avenue.

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The Toorak Grammar School continued to operate from 652 High Street after Frederick
Goldstraw's death with SG Coad acting as Principal. However the school was closed
and the house was sold in November 1912. After the sale, the house was known as
Lynwode and ran as a guest house offering rooms to let. In 1927 the house was sold
again and continued to operate as a guest house known as Airdale.

In 1940 the house was sold to Arthur Ronald Allan, a used car proprietor. However, the
aerial photograph of the area held at the ERC Library of the University of Melbourne
shows nothing to indicate that the site was used as a car yard at that time. This use
commenced during the postwar period. It appears that the large block visible in the
MMBW Plan of 1900 was subdivided to its present size around this time and the
dwelling sold on a reduced allotment.

A fire in the building occurred sometime after 1950. It is understood that the upper
level of Correa was destroyed and has been untrafficable since that time. The house
has not been occupied for the last sixty years. The photograph above (refer figure 1)
suggests that the building was reasonably weatherproof as recently as the 1980s.
However, the building has been allowed to fall further into disrepair over the past two
decades. A storm in the mid-2000s damaged the principle projecting gable to the street
and some sections of the slate roof (refer figure 4 below). The building has been open
to the elements since that time. With the exception of the single storey school room,
which continues to serve as an office to the car yard, the building is derelict.

Discussion
Condition
As noted above, the building survives in a near-ruinous state. It is inhabited by pigeons
and would require hundreds of thousand of dollars in restoration works before it could
be rehabilitated. Key elements such as the verandahs and exterior timber detailing
have been lost and the original design intent is no longer legible.

Figure 4 652 High Street, Prahran, 2010, front façade showing damage to gable end.
Figure 5 652 High Street, Prahran, 2010, rear of building and single storey school hall addition.

Some observers have noted that the external walls to the building survive in good and
structurally sound condition and that the building could be restored to its original use
and appearance. While this is correct, it would require the removal of later additions,
construction of a new slate roof, new floors at ground and first floor level, stairs, new
ceilings throughout, almost total replacement of internal and external joinery, some

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hardplaster and brickwork repairs, the construction of new verandahs and various
other works to bring the structure to a reasonable standard of accommodation.

Henderson & Smart.

Correa was constructed to designs by the firm of Henderson & Smart. This firm existed
for a brief period and is best remembered for its association with Melbourne’s foremost
Victorian architect, Joseph Reed.

Reed established an architectural practice in 1853, becoming Reed and Barnes in

1862. Ankatel Henderson and CP Smart served articles with Reed, leaving to form
their own partnership in 1879. They rejoined their mentor in 1883 to form Reed
Henderson & Smart. Over the ensuing years, Reed, Henderson & Smart was
responsible for some of the most distinguished buildings in the Metropolis. These
include:

 Old Pathology Building, Melbourne University (1885)

 Lombard Building, 15-17 Queen Street (1887)
 Baldwin Spencer Building, Melbourne University (1887)
 Redcourt, 506 Orrong Road, Armadale (1887-8)
 Old Physics Conference Room and Gallery, Melbourne University (1888)
 Sacred Heart Church, St Kilda (1891)

While Correa is a substantial suburban villa it is reasonably straightforward in terms of

its design and detailing and does not compare favourably with the best work of Reed,
Henderson & Smart. Redcourt, at 506 Orrong Road (1887-8), provides the most
striking local example of the difference in quality between the output of the two firms.
While very broadly similar to the subject site, Redcourt is an impressive structure
which pioneered the use of so-called, Queen Anne detailing in Melbourne. Correa by
contrast is more generic in terms of its massing and detailing. This difference has been
exaggerated by the loss of the verandahs and other alterations to the subject building
which have obscured the architects’ original design intent.

Local comparisons
The subject dwelling survives within a broad precinct retaining some early dwellings on
large suburban allotments. This includes a number of grand early homes such as
Larnook, (now King David’s School), Sebrof and Redcourt in Orrong Road. All of these
sites are protected under local heritage controls. Correa is less imposing than these
important early mansions and compares more comfortably with a number of less
commodious two-storey villas in the area. A number of directly comparable buildings
such as those at 600 and 612 Malvern Road and 878 High Street are not protected
under heritage controls (although they might reasonably be considered for heritage
protection at some stage in the future). Further similar buildings survive in Grandview
Grove and are protected as a group the heritage overlay HO135. While each of the
buildings noted here demonstrates a broad similarity with the subject site – they are all
grand two-storey Victorian, suburban villas - they are differentiated by their good
condition and their continuity of use.

Stonnington’s early schools

A Common School was opened in 1854 by St Matthew’s Church of England in a
schoolhouse near the southwest corner of Chapel and High Streets. It has been
suggested that a Presbyterian Common School operated near the site of the Toorak
Presbyterian Church (now Uniting Church) in Toorak Road in the 1870s. In Malvern,
the Anglicans received a government grant to build a denominational school in
Glenferrie Road. The schoolroom also served as an Anglican place of worship until St
George’s Church was built in 1865. It is understood that none of these early school
buildings survive.

From 1874, the State government began to provide free and compulsory education
and number of substantial new schools were constructed locally including: Hawksburn
Primary School, Malvern Road, Hawksburn (from 1874) Stonnington Primary School
(formerly Windsor PS) Hornby Street, Windsor (1877) and Armadale Primary School,
Densham Road, Armadale (from 1886).

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The Church School system operated, and continues to operate, alongside the State
School system.

Despite the advent of State education system, many individuals established private
fee-paying schools as commercial ventures. Running a school was one of the few
career options for middle class women and many of these institutions took the form of
Ladies Colleges, frequently operating from a large residence rather than purpose-built
school buildings. 32 School private venture schools were operating in South Yarra,
Prahran Windsor and Toorak before 1872. In Horsburgh Grove a short distance from
the subject site Daniel and Martha Connelly operated Cornelia College for Ladies
through the 1880s. Mme Latour's School for Ladies operated in Hillingdon Place
Prahran from 1853 until 1900. Toorak Grammar appears to one of few private venture
schools providing for education for young boys. The education provided by private
venture schools was of variable quality and many were short-lived. Toorak Grammar
survived for less than thirty years. However some, notably those which acted as
preparatory schools the private school system, did survive - often being integrated into
the modern private school system.

The subject building adopts an unusual plan form with a single transverse wing
attached to the rear of the building and projecting some distance to its west. Its form
suggests that Henderson & Smart had produced a novel design for a residential school
building. However, the building is not a purpose-built school with attached residence
but an ad hoc adaptation of the original house to suit Frederick Goldstraw’s changing
needs. Detailed investigation of the physical fabric indicates that the school volume is
a later addition to the original, residential volume. These additions are likely to date
from c.1890. It is unlikely, but not impossible, that Henderson or Smart were
associated with the later works. The survival of a school wing, built to facilitate the
activities of a private venture school, is unusual within the Municipality although no
detailed comparative analysis has been undertaken in the preparation of this
memorandum.

Significance
The building is of some, primarily historical, significance. It illustrates to various extents
the following historical themes identified in City of Stonnington Thematic Environmental
history:

9.1.3 Private venture Schools

8.2 Middle Class suburbs and the suburban ideal
8.4.1 Houses as a symbol of wealth status and fashion

It is of some additional interest as an example of the work undertaken by the practice

of Henderson & Smart and its associations with Frederick Goldstraw.

Conclusion
Correa/former Toorak Grammar School is of some significance at a local level.
However the extent of damage and change have substantially undermined the
presentation of the building to the street and the extent to which it illustrates the
residential themes noted above. In particular, the loss of detailing to the façade and the
loss of verandahs limits an appreciation of the architects’ original design intent. The
school wing, added c.1890, survives in better condition and is of greater architectural
and historical interest although the important educational use of this fabric is no longer
legible.

Had this building retained its original residential and/or educational use and been
maintained to a habitable standard, a reasonably strong case to extend heritage
protection over the building may have existed. However, in its current derelict state, it
would not be appropriate to implement a heritage control over this site. Although not
stated explicitly, this appears to have been the view of various consultants undertaking

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Heritage Studies for the Municipality over the past two decades. It should be noted
that:

(i) Council cannot mandate the restoration of this building. Council can only insist
on works that address threats to public safety. On the basis of my limited
inspection of the site, no such threat exists.

(ii) While the building is of some interest, it is not of sufficient individual

significance to warrant preservation in its current, near-ruinous state. The ruins
of some buildings such as the Duke of Cornwall Mine in Fryerstown, the early
Hospital ruins in Church Street, Beechworth and others continue to be of high
significance despite their degraded condition. This is not the case on the
subject site.

(iii) Much of the significance of the building is historical and may be best
understood through a brief history and photographic record of the building.

A heritage control is not an appropriate response to the reasonably modest

significance and poor condition of this building. Naturally this advice could change in
the event of the building being restored and some of its ‘lost’ significance reclaimed.
However, this outcome appears unlikely. In the event that a permit for its demolition is
issued, a brief history and photographic record of the building should be made and
lodged with the City of Stonnington History Centre, prior to demolition.

I trust that this is sufficient for your current needs.

John Statham
Heritage Advisor I City of Stonnington