Como
South Yarra: Architecture
Many historic mansions can be found in South Yarra. Heritage registered houses include Como House (1847), one of Melbourne s earliest mansions on its large estate on Williams Road, now owned by the National Trust and known for its long association with the Armytage family, Richmond House (1859), in Avoca Street, formerly home to Sir Rupert Clarke Bt, Barwon (1881) and Airlie House on Domain Road, once the townhouse of the Chirnside family of Werribee Park fame, which now serves as a leadership college for Victoria Police.
Other grand South Yarra houses include 'Wavendon', formerly home to film director Fred Schepisi, in Walsh Street, and 'Raveloe', in Domain Road, built by Dame Nellie Melba s father in the 1870s. Domain Road, with its proximity to the Kings Domain, the Royal Botanic Gardens and Government House, is at the centre of the exclusive Domain precinct. Fairbairn, built for the pastoralist Fairbairn family and the next-door property, 'Poolman House', on the corner of Domain Road and Punt Road, are among the largest mansions in South Yarra. 'Poolman House', originally known as 'Ernest Poolman House', was built by stock and station agent Richard Goldsbrough in 1865 and extended in 1880. 'Poolman House' was owned by the Poolman family from 1921, who entertained grandly in the ballroom that they added in 1928.
'Cantala' 29 St. George s Road, Toorak. Built for Septimus Miller, one of seven children of Henry Miller, a well-known Melbourne financier and politician. The Victorian Racing Club s Cantala Stakes was named in recognition of Miller s contribution to the industry. His horse Chal won the inaugural race in 1919. Miller died at his mansion Cantala in Dandenong Road, Caulfield not the one on St. George s Road, Toorak.
An important area for Art Deco enthusiasts can be found along Alexandra Avenue, Lawson Grove and Darling Street. This area was subject to renewal in the 1920s and 1930s by entrepreneurial builder Mr Lawson, as a kind of medium-density village enclave development. As a result, a large number of Art Deco apartment buildings were built in a Hollywood Hills style overlooking the Yarra River. One of the most famous of these apartment buildings, 'Beverly Hills', on Darling Street, retains the original 1930s grotto-style swimming pool for the use of all residents. Nearby in Lawson Grove the Lawson Grove Café can be found on the ground floor of a 1930s Art Deco building. It was originally intended to run as a convenience store for local residents, but is now a chic café for those in the know.
