The cottage known as “Redfern House” in South Yarra is to be sold at auction.
“… The front door is fitted with stained glass to a beautiful design by Messrs. Ferguson & Urie, bearing the crest and motto of the noble house of Douglas…”.
This building no longer exists. Nothing further is known about the stained glass window or who the original owner was but based on the crest depicting the noble house of Douglas, it is a clue that may yield something in the future.
The Argus, Melbourne, Saturday 11th August 1866, page 2.
“TUESDAY , AUGUST 14.
Mr. STUBBS is favoured with instructions received from the owner and present occupier, Jno. Drysdale, Esq., to SELL by PUBLIC AUCTION, at the rooms, 81 Collins-street, on Tuesday, the 14th August, 1866, at twelve o’clock precisely, That new and universally admired suburban residence, beautifully situated, and known as REDFERN-HOUSE, South Yarra.
Architecture is said to be one of the fine arts. Its principles and designs are developed in a variety of forms; but here is a rare specimen of it in the order of cottage economy and taste, inexpensive to keep up, and the prettiest thing of the kind in Victoria.
The grounds around it have been artistically laid out in delightful walks and flower-beds, the latter full of the choicest shrubs, moistened whenever necessary by the aid of the water, and taps conveying it, of the never-failing Yan Yean. The property is part of the Yarra-bank Estate. There is a gorgeous assemblage of objects far and near to be seen from it, and it were vain to attempt a formal description of them. Parties are respectfully requested to judge for themselves. The whole neighbourhood may be named “a place of gardens and retired leisure.
The cottage, which is of no common order, includes a beautiful drawingroom, with bow windows, gorgeously furnished; diningroom, equally so; hall, five bedrooms, bathroom, pantries, kitchen, servants’ room, cellar, coach-house, stables for four horses, laundry. The verandah is designed with consummate taste, the pilasters of which are supported by 29 ornamental pillars.
The Hall is 42 feet long by 6 feet broad. The front door is fitted with stained glass to a beautiful design by Messrs. Ferguson and Urie, bearing the crest and motto of the noble house of Douglas. The floor is laid with variegated tiles, and the ceiling is broken only by the introduction of a neat arch, and the end doors ornamented with coloured glass.
The Drawingroom is perfection; lofty ceiling, artistic cornice, centre and flower piece, splendid and costly statuary, marble mantelpiece, with elegant register stove and fender to match. The painting is a fine piece of work in bird’s-eye maple, and the paper is in white and gold.
The Diningroom is, in point of taste and finish, upon an equality with the drawingroom; it is of the same length (22 feet), fitted also with real black Italian marble mantelpiece, with register stove to agree. The painting is in oak, and the paper is a lovely pale green and gold. Everything, in fact, has been perfected with the eye of an artist, and built to plans suggested by the well-known architects, Messrs. Crouch and Wilson.
The approach is by beautifully-formed carriageway, through expensively laid-out grounds, after the design of the world-renowned parterre and flower gardens of Drummond Castle, in Scotland.
Cards to view at the rooms. Title, T. J. Wyburn, Esq., solicitor, Chancery lane. Terms – One-third cash, balance at four and eight months, bank interest.”
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Ferguson and Urie 