‘Invergowrie’

14 William Street, South Yarra VIC 3141

Victorian era residencein the heart of South Yarra

‘Invergowrie’ 14 William Street, South Yarra Vic 3141.A family home of grand proportions in a mature garden setting on approximately 900 square

metres of land.

Victorian Era Residence

In the Heart of South Yarra

A family home of grand proportions in a mature garden setting on approximately 900 square metres of land.

Recent building works

New roofing (2017) including restoration of all structural supports.

Exterior painting:- Complete exterior, while the roofer’s scaffold covered the house. All

windows, eaves, gutters etc.- Front and courtyard fences and gates.

Interior paintwork:- Kitchen/meals area/living roon

- Front Living room/study- Dining roon

- Den/music room- Laundry

- Shower room- Front bedroom- Rear bedroom

- Rear study

Other homes in close proximity to ‘Invergowrie’

21 William Street, South Yarra

16 William Street, South Yarra

10 William Street, South Yarra

‘Invergowrie’ was purchased by the vendors in 1974

The owners, a photographer/filmmaker and a journalist, raised four children in the home.

The noted publishing company McPhee Gribble rented the front room on the ground floor, and commenced business in 1975. Diana Gribble and Hillary McPhee along with

designer/illustrator David Lancashire commenced what was to become one of Australia’s leading book publishing companies, while at ‘Invergowrie’.

The photographer/filmmaker commenced his business at ‘Invergowrie’ in 1976. Many noted identities were photographed, filmed or worked in the dining room/music room

that was the Home Studio until 1982 when the business moved to larger premises in Prahran.

The journalst spent endless hours in her study, pondering over many noted assigments.

‘Invergowrie’ has long been affectionately referred to by current family members as “The Green House” for its luxuriant botanical setting.

Examples of productions undertaken at Invergowrie

Past residents of ‘Invergowrie’

Sir David Orme Masson and Lady Masson

Sir David Orme Masson KBE FRS[1] FRSE LLD (13 January 1858 – 10 August 1937) was a scientist born in England who emigrated to Australia. He is known for his work

on the explosive compound nitroglycerin.

In October 1886 Masson arrived with his wife in Australia to take up the position as Professor of Chemistry at the University of Melbourne. In 1915 Masson was asked by Prime Minister W.M.Hughes to act as Chairman of a committee to draw up a scheme

for the Commonwealth Institue of Science and industry.

Following retirement from the Univerity of Melbourne, the Masson family moved to ‘Invergowrie’.

Sybil Irving

Sybil Howy Irving, MBE (25 February 1897 – 28 March 1973) was the founder and controller of the Australian Women’s Army Service during World War II. She served in this position from 1941 to 1946 and was active in charity and social organisations until

she was aged 74.

Following her death in 1973, the vendors purchased ‘Invergowrie’ from her estate in 1974. The vendors retain a memorable link to Sybil and her private life.

Sir David Orme Masson Lady Masson Sybil Irving

Local Residential Amenity

Over the last four decades the owners of ‘Invergowrie’ have been actively involved in protecting the local residential amenity of ‘their patch’. In 1989 the community won an unprecedented victory against

the legal might of a prominent Australian development company.

The end result saw the land commonly referred to as ‘the South Yarra Railway Siding’ retained as community open space.

2017 image: South Yarra Railway Siding reserve. (The former site of The Royal South Yarra Tennis Club)

The ‘Village Green’ as it is referred to, is currently undergoing part of the Victorian Government Metro Tunnel Project and when completed will revert to community park land.

Metro Tunnel - Construction of the Eastern Entrance

A decline structure, or descending tracks, are being built so trains can enter the new Metro Tunnel near William Street and pass underneath the Sandringham and Frankston lines. From the eastern tunnel

entrance, the tunnels will pass under Osborne Street, Davis Avenue, Powell Street, Myrtle Street and Macfarlan Street and travel west under Toorak Road and St Kilda Road to connect with the new

Anzac Station.

Rail Projects Victoria (RPV) are working with the City of Stonnington and other South Yarra stakeholders as the project progresses.

‘Invergowrie’ was built in the1880s as part of a duplex construction (14 & 16 William Street) on land that was previously known as the Englefield Estate.

South Yarra Tennis Club

‘Invergowrie’ is located in the dark shadows left of centre. The double storey property, 10 William Street can be seen to the right of centre.

Formed eight years before the Lawn Tennis Association of Victoria, the club’s history closely followed the history of Australian tennis. The ‘Spring’ South Yarra Tournament, first played in 1886, became one of

Melbourne’s most prestigious sporting and social events.

In 1896, Norman Brookes, at the age of 17, began his tennis career at Royal South Yarra. Brookes, Australia’s first Wimbledon winner in 1907, became the most dominant figure in the first 100 years

of Australian tennis.

Amongst the host of other famous tennis stars that frequently used the William Street courts was the former Australian Davis Cup Captain, Neil Fraser, who spent his childhood as a resident of

Osborne Street, South Yarra.

In 1923, the club, requiring a larger site, moved to their present site, Glover’s Paddocks at the Northern end of Williams Road, Toorak.

Referenceswww.14williamstreetsouthyarra.com

https://www.rtedgar.com/property/14-william-street-south-yarra-vic-3141/39731/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFIvgiUIQKw