“Edzell” at 76 St George's Road Toorak, is one of Melbourne’s grandest mansions. It is strikingly located on an elevated site which is one of the most outstanding on the southern bank of the Yarra River, affording it a dominance of the bank’s skyline of magnificent mansions as well as providing it with wonderful 360 degree views of Melbourne. Consisting of 30 rooms “Edzel” was originally designed by the architects, Reed, Smart and Tappin in 1892 for James Cooper Stewart (1836 - 1919), a prominent Melbourne lawyer, Alderman of the Melbourne City Council and former Mayor. Built in Queen Anne style, it is constructed of red brick with feature bricks in brown and French inspired nogging, with extensive half timbered gabling, stone and dark red dressings, Marseille pattern tiles and terracotta ridging, along with two symmetrically placed turreted corner towers facing the river. There is also a two level timber verandah which provide wonderful views of Hawthorn, Kew, Richmond and the Melbourne city skyline. The building is one of the most successful and spectacular of the sprawling Queen Anne style attempted in Melbourne, partially due to its great size and prominence of location – matched perhaps only by “North Park” in Essendon (built between 1888 and 1889). The architect, Alfred Smart, was in charge of the design. In 1917 the noted architect, Walter Richmond Butler (1864 – 1917), designed extensive but sympathetic external additions and a garden for the building's new owner, George Russell. A large ballroom was added, and this continued the Mock Tudor manner of the original Queen Anne design with a panelled ceiling and dado. The main verandah was replaced with a half-timbered patterned brick balustrade and on the south the original gables were extended in the same pattern over a new brick verandah. Similarly, the entrance porch was built on brick piers. Walter Richmond Butler laid out many gardens for the buildings he constructed, and these gardens were then ranked among one of that architect's major landscaping works with terraced lawns supported by dry stone walls, with formally placed ornamental trees including palms and conifers across the grounds. It was during this period that “Edzell” was in its heighday, and many parties and balls for Melbourne society were held there. Subsequently, under the ownership of Mrs. Rose Krantz, the architect Edward Billson, a prominent Twentieth Century architect, designed the subdivision of the interior in two maisonettes during 1935 when the “servant problem” and the high costs of running such a large estate made it too difficult for her to maintain “Edzell” as one residence. This involved superficial internal alterations, a new staircase and the addition of a second entrance porch. Mrs, Krantz money problems only increased with the Second World War and higher taxes in the post war era, and by 1947 “Edzell” had been divided into six flats to obtain finances enough to keep the mansion maintained. In 1948 the house passed into the hands of the Spivakovsky family. The only alterations and additions carried out during their ownership was the installation of a new entrance and staircase in 1961. At the time of photographing “Edzell” stands empty, its tenants recently having been given notice. Does this mean that “Edzell” is due for another exciting chapter in its life? Joseph Reed was one of Melbourne's most distinguished architects. He was responsible for numerous important buildings, including the Public Library, Melbourne Town Hall and the Rippon Lea estate. Walter Richmond Butler was a prolific architect with a particular interest in Old English and Arts and Crafts styles. However, perhaps his best known creation was the Spanish Mission style Mission to Seamen in Flinders Street. Edward Billson was the first Australian pupil of Walter Burley Griffin and designed the splendid Sanitarium Factory buildings in Warburton (1936 -1939). His characteristic motif of a leaping deer is found on Edzell and some of the neighbouring buildings. “Revell” (also in Toorak) is one of the best surviving examples of the Prairie style he helped to spread through Australia.

Advent aims to provide a visual seasonal treat and bring an end to the period of expectant waiting, brightening up the festive season with a unique exhibition of new ideas and visual delights. This show will bring you work from a wave of the galleries newer artists who present an aesthetic of visually challenging work, ranging from classic figurative portraiture to the grimy and still developing genre of the street. Although this show will be far removed from the usual urban/street art crew they are both primarily associated. Selected from each gallery is a mix of local, international and national artists from as far afield as the USA, Portugal and Swansea! High Renaissance, Fran, ill joseph, Joshua Barber, Leanne Ellis, Motorboy, Pedro Matos, Ria Hill, Simon Riley and Tom Hine. Then open from the 5th to the 20th December (Wed to Sun 11am until 7pm)