Newtown Heritage Study Review 2008 - City of Greater Geelong

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Newtown Heritage Study Review, July 2009 – Volume 1 J P Fawkner was the first purchaser of Allotment 3, Section VII, Parish of Moorpanyal, County of Grant at the Crown land sales on 26 August, 1840. The allotment contained 25 acres located on the west side of Frederick Street (now Cumberland Street). 6 An early resident was A.J Eyre, appointed Clerke to the Bench on 4 October 1839. On an early plan, from the 1840’s or 1850’s, his name was written across two and half acres on the south-eastern corner of Skene and Frederick (now Cumberland) Streets (Figure 3.03). 7 During 1844, subdivision of suburban land became more common. Both Ashby (Geelong West) and Newtown were sold in this way, sometimes in building sites, others in one acre lots. The activity led to an increase in the population. By 1846, New Town had a population of 256 and Irish Town (further south between Belfast Street and Pakington Street) with 135. It was from the 1850’s that land in this area soon began to be subdivided. N. McLeod subdivided his estate into residential allotments with frontages to Aberdeen Street, Frederick Street (now Cumberland Street) and Skene Street (Figures 3.05 and 3.06). 8 The subdivision plan prepared by Gibbons and Grist Surveyors dated 1858 indicates further subdivision of land between Pakington Street (known as Great North Road) and Cumberland Road (referred to as Frederick Street) and Skene Street and Great Western Road (Aberdeen Street) (Figure 3.04). 9 James Austin was the owner of this land in 1858. There are a number of buildings shown on the plan including a chapel on the south east corner of Frederick Street and Great Western Road, a residence probably at 66 Skene Street and two other buildings to the east of this building fronting Skene Street. Another building is located on the south west corner of Skene Street and Frederick Street. By June 1864 other secondary streets, including Cumberland, Blessington, Charles (now Chadwick), Park and Hermitage Streets had been laid out as shown on the map of the Borough of Newtown and Chilwell (Figure 3.07). 10 At the turn of century the pace of development was slow with occasional building blocks released when larger properties were divided. This did not encourage uniformity. Parts of Newtown at the turn of century seemed to be hardly built on. 11 Between 1906-1915 the average rate of house construction was a little over thirty per year. 12 In the twenty and thirties it was about forty per year, with a noticeable decline in building permits in 1930. Eyre Heritage Area In addition to the land sales offered by N. Mcleod’s Estate and the Gibbons and Grist plan of 1858, further residential development occurred after other subdivisions in the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries. The Plan of Subdivision 6 Ibid 7 Model Borough “An Introduction to old Newtown and Chilwell” by Gladys Seaton p14. 8 N McLeods Subdivision Plan 1850’s. 9 Plan of Subdivision prepared by Gibbons and Grist Surveyors 1858. 10 Map of the Town of Geelong and Boroughs of South Barwon and Newtown and Chilwell, 1864. 11 Ibid p 28. 12 Ibid p 30. Prepared by City of Greater Geelong 54
Newtown Heritage Study Review, July 2009 – Volume 1 of Geelong Town Properties (Figure 3.08) probably dated 1889 shows allotments for sale along Aberdeen Street between Frederick Street and Pakington Street and to the north in Geelong West (Virginia Street and Virginia Terrace). The undated (probably 1910-12) Plan of subdivision for Kenwith Estate shows seven allotments fronting the east side of Park Street (now Pescott Street), three allotments fronting Retreat Road and eight allotments on the west side of Manning Street (Figure 3.09). 13 This plan shows a residence known as “Kenwith” House on a large allotment referred to as Allotment No 1 fronting Retreat Road (an image of the Victorian styled Kenwith House is shown on the sales plan), with a large parcel of vacant land to the north referred to as Allotment No 11 (now known as Kenwith Reserve). Houses are marked on the plan on the west side of Park Street. No physical evidence remains of the residence of A. J Eyre or “Kenwith” House today. Land in the area was considered to be ideal for residential development, as declared in the description on the “Kenwith” real estate plan 1910-12 as follows: “This estate comprises one of the picked positions in Geelong. Gas, Water and Electric Light mains pass this property. Very close to the approved Electric Tram route. New residences going up all round.” At a similar time as shown on the Overton Estate subdivision plan of 1909, there were eight residential allotments fronting Manning Street, and a large undeveloped allotment fronting Skene Street (south side) (Figure 3.10). Physical evidence shows that the area largely developed in the early 20 th century, as most (but not all) of the dwellings which survive today were built between 1909 and 1935. Commercial activity Shops were built in the Eyre heritage precinct to serve the needs of the people living locally in Newtown. In the period 1850-1880 the following commercial development was entered in the Council rate books. 14 Gold Diggers Hotel The Gold Diggers Hotel was first listed in the rate books from 1854 and licensed to William Lindsay. In 1895 Mary Breheny was listed as licensee in 1895. In 1922 Mary J Breheny was listed as the publican. Shops William Bennett, Thomas Parker, John O’Neill, Charles Wilkinson, Robert Stow, Edward Fowler, E. Farrell, William Hill, John Hobbs, William Matthews, James Hart, and John Cotton all operated shops in Skene Street. Other shopping strips at this time included Clarendon Street, Russell Street, LaTrobe Terrace and Pakington Street all located south in Chilwell. Baker There was a baker operated by Robert Cottle in Frederick Street (Cumberland Street) and Anderson Bros in Aberdeen Street. Butcher 13 Kenwith Sales Plan c. 1910-12. 14 The Earlier days of Newtown and Chilwell complied by Charles S Walker 1958 p42. Prepared by City of Greater Geelong 55
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Newtown Heritage Study Review 2008 - City of Greater Geelong

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