East Melbourne, George Street 121, 123, 125

A terrace of three two storey houses with cast iron balconies.

On 11 September 1858 The Argus advertised, ‘TENDERS are REQUIRED, for the ERECTION of four HOUSES in George-street, East Melbourne. Full particulars can be had from Mr. George Clayton, 76 George-street, East Melbourne’. 76 George Street is now known as 125a and sits out of sight behind the terrace houses under discussion. 

Obviously only three houses were built.  Was Clayton imagining that he would build right across the full width of his land and provide access via the rear lane perhaps? The houses would have been very narrow and he obviously changed his mind because about a month later he advised the Council of his plan to build three houses. These houses are now numbered 121, 123 and 125.  125a sits directly behind the last two, leaving 121 with land going the full depth of the block. The new tender notice advertised, ‘TENDERS WANTED, for the ERECTION of three two-storied HOUSES. Labor only, or otherwise, the foundation already down. Apply on premises, 76 George street, East Melbourne, near Bishop's Palace.’ 

In about 1875 Clayton sold 121 to Edward Waters, patent attorney.  The house continued as a rental property as it had been under Clayton’s ownership. Waters owned the house until his death in 1917.

By 1880 the two remaining terraces, 123 and 125 had been sold to David Goldie, licensee of the Town Hall Hotel in Bridge Road. David Goldie died in 1887 leaving the terraces at 123 and 125 to his wife, Kate. 

Kate died in 1892 but the properties remained in her estate until the early 1900s, when they were sold to Henry McDonough along with her properties at 86-90 Hotham Street. Henry was a wealthy grain merchant who lived with his wife and family of ten children at Tara, one of Victoria Parade’s grand mansions just west of Clarendon Street.