The first building of Sylliot Hill began in 1862-3 by Judge Richard Annesley Billing and was extended in 1873 into a twenty room mansion by Crouch and Wilson. After Billing’s death it was leased to Alexander William Robertson who eventually purchased it in 1887 and renamed it “Ontario” and extended further into a thirty-five room mansion circa 1890. In 1904 it was sold to mining magnate John Boyd Watson who restored it and renamed the property “Labassa”. In 1980 the national Trust purchased the mansion and the immediate adjoining blocks and demolished the houses that surrounded it to reveal the mansion at 2 Manor Grove, Caulfield as it is seen today.
The Argus, Melbourne, 26th August 1882.
“FOR SALE or TO LET”. “FAMILY MANSION known as SYLLIOT HILL, BALACLAVA and ORRONG ROADS, EAST ST. KILDA …”
“… The Residence of the Late Judge Billing, Q.C. The house is most substantially built, and elegantly furnished …”
“… spacious hall, leading to a very handsome staircase with elegantly stained glass windows by Ferguson and Urie …”
The magnificent three light stained glass window appears above the landing of the first flight of stairs and has four roundels in the centre light that represent the four seasons. These were likely to be the work of Ferguson & Urie’s senior stained glass artist, David Relph Drape in 1873 during the Crouch & Wilson extensions to the building.
Photos taken 16th February 2013.
The Argus, Melbourne, Thursday 22nd June 1882, page 8.
“DEATH OF JUDGE BILLING
Mr. Richard Annesley Billing, the recently appointed County Court judge, expired at his residence, Balaclava-road, at 25 minutes past 10 last night, after a short but severe illness. Mr. Billing returned from the Western district circuit on Thursday, and though somewhat exhausted by lengthened sittings and continuous traveling, was in his usual health up to Friday. On that evening, while at dinner, he was seized with a fit of serous [sic] apoplexy, and though his medical attendants, Dr. Embling and Lampriere, were in constant attendance, he grew rapidly worse. The attack was followed by paralysis of the right side, which gradually extended to the left, and at the hour named he passed away very quietly. The deceased leaves a widow and one son. Mr. Richard Annesley Billing was born in the year 1814. He was called to the Irish bar in 1839, and practiced in Dublin for some years. In consequence of ill-health he left Ireland in the year 1856, and came to this country. In October of that year he was admitted as a member of the Victorian bar. He was appointed one of the lecturers in law at the Melbourne University, the subjects on which he treated being the law relating to real property and that relating to procedure. A few years ago there was an alteration in the course of law lectures at the university, and four lecturers were appointed instead of two, and Mr. Billing had therefore to deal with only one branch of the law. Mr. Billing’s classes at the University were always well attended, and he had an aptitude for imparting information to the students. For a number of years he gave a gold medal prize to the student who obtained the highest distinction in his classes. Mr. Billing took no part in the political world. He was asked several times to come forward as a candidate for Parliamentary honours, but always refused the proposals made to him. He had at one time a leading practice at the bar, and was usually retained in cases in which the Crown or the Board of land and Works was a party. As a barrister he showed that he could easily master the details of complicated transactions, although he was not one of those who could make an impassioned appeal to a jury. For the last three years Mr. Billing had retired from general practice. In 1878 he was appointed a Queen’s Counsel for Victoria. In April last he was appointed a judge of the County Court, and the western circuit was allotted to him. During his short career on the bench Mr. Billing displayed a courteous demeanor to the practitioners and suitors who frequented his court, and paid the greatest attention to every case that came before him”.
The Argus, Melbourne, Vic, Saturday 24th June 1882, page 12.
“THE Funeral of the late His Honour Judge BILLING, QC., is appointed to leave his late residence, Sylliott-hill, Balaclava road, this day, at 2.30, and will proceed to St. Mary’s Church, Caulfield, where a portion of the service for the burial of the dead will be read, after which the remains will be conducted to the place of interment in the St. Kilda Cemetery.
ALF. AUG. SLEIGHT. undertaker, 53 Collins=street east, and High-street, St. Kilda.”
Richard Annesley Billing was buried in the St. Kilda Cemetery, Church of England, Compartment C, Grave 363.
External links:
National Trust web site: Labassa
YouTube media about Labassa – February 2010.
Acknowledgements:
Thanks to Andrew Dixon and Bronwyn Worrall for their assistance regards photos at Labassa.
Short link to this page: http://wp.me/p28nLD-Ac
Ferguson and Urie 