Name/TitleToorak House, Toorak, c. 1855
About this objectThis is a coloured drawing of Toorak House, which was the location of Victoria's second Government House, and was situated on the west side of St Georges Road, south of Tahara Road. The unknown artist views the property from the south and depicts the west entrance with square tower, south wing and surrounding grounds.
The house and grounds have been depicted in such as way as if it is an illustration in a gothic tale. The house is dark and shadowy, the tower taller and thinner, the grounds overgrown and windswept, and the tree branches in the foreground are quite menacing. Not a place to visit on a stormy night!
Toorak house was the residence of the Governor of Victoria from 1854 to 1876. This Italianate Victorian style mansion was originally built, c. 1848-51, for Melbourne merchant James Jackson of Jackson, Rae & Co, to a design by architect Samuel Jackson, no relation, but James never occupied the building, dying in 1851.
One of the many glass slides purchased from retailers or specifically made for illustrated lectures given by Isaac Selby between c. 1930 and c. 1955 to raise money for the Old Pioneers Memorial Fund. Selby gave a lecture on "Old Melbourne, Old Prahran and Toorak" at St John's parish hall in October 1929.
For more information about this image contact Royal Historical Society of Victoria.
MakerT.W. Cameron (Firm)
Maker RoleSlide Maker
Measurements8.2 x 8.2 cm
Period1850-1860
Object TypeGlass slide
Subject and Association KeywordsSelby, Isaac, 1859-1956
Subject and Association KeywordsToorak (Vic.)
Subject and Association KeywordsGovernment House (Melbourne, Vic.)
Subject and Association KeywordsJackson, Samuel, 1807-1876
Subject and Association KeywordsJackson, James, 1807-1851
Subject and Association KeywordsJackson, Rae & Co (firm) (1845-1852)
Subject and Association KeywordsHistoric buildings and sites
Named CollectionImages collection
Object numberGS-BCS-73
Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved