"Cumnock" - Parkville
"Cumnock" is a grand Victorian Italianate mansion designed by Melbourne architect Charles Webb (1821 - 1898), located on The Avenue in the Melbourne suburb of Parkville.
"Cumnock" is a splendid exmple of the fine domestic architecture available to those who were either wealthy by birth, or had made it rich during the boom period of Victoria's Gold Rush, when Melbourne was the weathiest city in the world.
Completed in 1889 for George Howat, the 26 room, 6 bedroom mansion remained with his family until it was purchased by Ridley College (a theological school) in 1919 after his death. It remained in the hands of the college, and was well maintained with beautiful gardens about it. Then in June 2007, Ridley College sold it to developers Drapac.
At the time of photographing, the gardens of "Cumnock" were in a sad state of affairs as workmen commenced subdividing the interior to make several prestige townhouses.
As a tall block of modern apartments which are not at all in keeping with the mansion are being constructed behind "Cumnock" as part of the subdivision and development of the estate, I thought it best to photograph it in its current state, before a tower of glass and balconies blocks out the blue sky behind this Grande Dame of Marvellous Melbourne!
Charles Webb also designed Melbourne's Grand Hotel (now known as the Windsor Hotel), the Royal Arcade in Bourke Street, "Charsfield" on St Kilda Road, "Mandeville Hall" in Toorak and the Melbourne Church of England Grammar School amongst other buildings.
"Cumnock" - Parkville
"Cumnock" is a grand Victorian Italianate mansion designed by Melbourne architect Charles Webb (1821 - 1898), located on The Avenue in the Melbourne suburb of Parkville.
"Cumnock" is a splendid exmple of the fine domestic architecture available to those who were either wealthy by birth, or had made it rich during the boom period of Victoria's Gold Rush, when Melbourne was the weathiest city in the world.
Completed in 1889 for George Howat, the 26 room, 6 bedroom mansion remained with his family until it was purchased by Ridley College (a theological school) in 1919 after his death. It remained in the hands of the college, and was well maintained with beautiful gardens about it. Then in June 2007, Ridley College sold it to developers Drapac.
At the time of photographing, the gardens of "Cumnock" were in a sad state of affairs as workmen commenced subdividing the interior to make several prestige townhouses.
As a tall block of modern apartments which are not at all in keeping with the mansion are being constructed behind "Cumnock" as part of the subdivision and development of the estate, I thought it best to photograph it in its current state, before a tower of glass and balconies blocks out the blue sky behind this Grande Dame of Marvellous Melbourne!
Charles Webb also designed Melbourne's Grand Hotel (now known as the Windsor Hotel), the Royal Arcade in Bourke Street, "Charsfield" on St Kilda Road, "Mandeville Hall" in Toorak and the Melbourne Church of England Grammar School amongst other buildings.