Tudor Court, Melbourne
| Tudor Court, Melbourne | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Residence, Reception Centre |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne Revival |
| Location | 141 Kooyong Rd, Caulfield North, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 37°52′26″S 145°01′01″E / 37.873904°S 145.017074°E |
| Completed | est. between 1901-1908 |
| Demolished | c.2007 |
Tudor Court was a well-known reception centre in the Melbourne suburb of Caulfield, described as "one of [Melbourne's] favourite venues for a celebration involving hundreds of guests eating and dancing late into the night".[1] Despite its historical and cultural value, the property failed to make the Victorian state heritage register. Rather, the value of the land it sat upon would decide its fate. The property was sold by actor Costas Kilias[2] on 12 July 2006 for $6.4mil[3] and a year later, in October 2007, to Becton Property Group for $12.5mil, more than double the price one year before.[4] The iconic building was demolished in 2007, to make way for a "luxurious" 110-suite aged-care facility opened in 2014, and operated by Arcare Pty Ltd.
History[edit]
Based on the New World Queen Anne Revival Style in which the original house was built, its estimated construction was between 1901-1908. In 1909, the property "Airdrie" was home to Isabella and John Richard Rippin, director of the Port Swettenham Rubber Company Ltd,[5][6][7] who most likely purchased the land and commissioned the building. They hosted a wedding reception there for their adopted daughter and niece, Ida Margaret Rippin. An account of the event describes a "wide entrance hall", "drawing-room, with its white walls and tinted pink frieze", "morning-room", "billiard-room", "side lawn" and "beautiful garden".[8] The Rippins were still living there in July 1918.[9]
In 1922, the property was home to Arthur Leslie Harden, a merchant, and his wife, Emily.[10] The house was named "Airdrie",[11] possibly named after the Scottish town of Airdrie North Lanarkshire. In 1923, Frederick Sefton Holt, a manufacturer, moved in with his wife Annie Ethel, and daughter Nancy.[12] Annie Ethel was still the proprietress in 1934.[13] The Proprietor in 1954 was Cyril Edwin Charles Skuse.[14]
The new ballroom renovated at a cost of £4,000[13] was opened as Tudor Court on 1 April 1933 with an April Fool's dance organised by the junior auxiliary of Caulfield Convalescent Hospital.[15]
References[edit]
- ^ "Scene for a final celebration". The Age. No. online. Melbourne. 8 July 2006. p. 0. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
- ^ "Tell her she's dreamin'!". The Age. No. online. Melbourne. 26 July 2006. p. 0. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
- ^ "Property History for 141 Kooyong Road, Caulfield North VIC 3161".
- ^ "Becton Buys Tudor Court Reception Centre in Caulfield North". Victoria, Australia. 30 October 2007.
- ^ Victoria Electoral Roll 1909, District: Balaclava, Subdistrict: Orrong
- ^ "Family Notices". Table Talk. No. [?]. Victoria, Australia. 12 October 1911. p. 7. Retrieved 26 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "MONETARY AND MINING". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 20, 008. Victoria, Australia. 6 September 1910. p. 10. Retrieved 26 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Family Notices". Table Talk. No. 1372. Victoria, Australia. 9 November 1911. p. 32. Retrieved 26 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "SOCIAL". Table Talk. No. [?]722. Victoria, Australia. 25 July 1918. p. 29. Retrieved 26 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Victoria Electoral Roll 1922, District: Balaclava, Subdistrict: Caulfield West
- ^ "Advertising". The Age. No. 21, 284. Victoria, Australia. 20 June 1923. p. 2. Retrieved 26 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Electoral Roll 1924
- ^ a b "EXONERATED BY GEN. BLAMEY". The Herald. No. 17, 796. Victoria, Australia. 30 May 1934. p. 26. Retrieved 26 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Advertising". The Age. No. 31, 004. Victoria, Australia. 15 September 1954. p. 18. Retrieved 26 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Dance at Tudor Court". The Age. No. 24, 329. Victoria, Australia. 3 April 1933. p. 11. Retrieved 25 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia.