East Melbourne, George Street 187

Rate books describe it as a brick house of twelve rooms

This house was designed by Crouch and Wilson for Bernard Marks. Thomas Newton of Charnwood Crescent, St Kilda was the builder. It was completed in 1881. In 1901 Bernard Marks and his family travelled to England and rented the house out. They never returned to the house, moving instead to St Kilda. The Marks retained ownership of the house and it became a boarding house offering ‘superior board and residence, double and single vacancy’. In 1909 Mrs Marks (Jane, nee Benjamin) died. The house was listed in the inventory of her assets for probate. It was let at that time for £140 a year and valued at £2250. The house continued in her estate until Bernard Marks’ death in 1915. It was put up for sale the following year and again in 1919 when it was advertised in part as follows:

LAND having a frontage of 64ft. 9in. to the south side of George street, by a depth of 165ft., together with that handsome brick residence thereon, known as "Nestlewood," and containing drawing-room (27 x 17), dining-room (27 x 17), sitting-room, 5 bedrooms, 2 kitchens, and pantries, with all conveniences. The residence is of substantial construction, surrounded by a well-established garden.

By 1922 the house was in the ownership of Mahala Mary Miller. She renamed it Hala Flats and one of the flats became her home. Later she married John Bruce Fogg, a second marriage for both of them. John died in 1932 but Mahala continued there until her own death in 1945. The house, still operating as flats, was demolished in the late 1960s to make way for a new block of 22 apartments, known now as 185-191 George Street