I came across this photo of Palm Grove in Deepdene, planted with Palm Trees. Palm Grove, a short street of originally 8 houses, runs between Walsh Street and Barnsbury Road. It was established around 1926. The Palm Trees are no longer there, but it appears the original houses have survived, including the one with the four pillars on the right, which is No. 8 Palm Grove.
Palm Grove, Deepdene, 1930s? 1940s?
Looking east to Walsh Street. Photographer: George Naunton. State Library of Victoria image H90.49/32
I believe Palm Grove was established, as I said, in 1926, as it wasn't listed in the 1925 Sands & McDougall Directory
(1), but was in the 1930 edition. In August 1926, the Camberwell City Council accepted a tender to construct Palm Grove roadway and footways in concrete for £1183.00
(2)
Tender to construct Palm Grove
The houses were all constructed by 1940, as we can see from the following entries from the Sands & McDougall Directories. Deepdene was listed in these directories under Balwyn.
Palm Grove (listed as Palm Avenue) entry from the
1930 Sands & McDougall Directory of Victoria
(on-line at the State Library of Victoria)
Palm Grove entry from the 1935 Sands & McDougall Directory of Victoria
(on-line at the State Library of Victoria)
Palm Grove entry from the 1940 Sands & McDougall Directory of Victoria
(on-line at the State Library of Victoria)
I found references to two houses which were built in Palm Grove. In September 1930 an attractive new brick residence with 8 splendidly appointed rooms, a fitted up kitchen on land 70 feet by 125 feet was auctioned, as well as a two magnificent residential allotments (3). The advertisement listed the address as Palm Grove, Camberwell (North). Presumably Camberwell was seen as more upmarket than Balwyn or Deepdene.
Attractive new brick residence in Palm Grove to be auctioned.
Another Palm Grove house was designed by architect, Joseph Plottel
(4) of 31 Queen Street and it was written up in
The Argus in March 1937. The report reads in part -
Much thought has been given to the planning of the house illustrated, which has just been completed in Palm grove, Deepdene, so that all the requirements of good planning could be combined with the features of the site, which is on a hill commanding good views. The rooms are well grouped and proportioned, and there is no waste space. From the entrance hall and a short service passage direct access can be had to all the ground floor rooms. A modified form of the English cottage style has been adopted. The external walls are of smooth-faced clinker bricks, and the roof is covered with tiles in shades of red and brown to match. (5)
House in Palm Grove, Deepdene, designed Joseph Plottel
The Argus, March 25, 1937
The house was at No. 5 Palm Grove and designed for Mrs Hector James McDonald. Mrs McDonald was Doris Florence McDonald; Hector's occupation, as listed in the Electoral Rolls, was a manager.
(6) Architect, Joseph Plottel, advertised for tenders to construct the house in September 1936
(7)
Tenders invited for Mrs McDonald's house in Palm Grove
When were the Palm Trees planted in Palm Grove? Looking at the size of the trees and the established houses in the photograph, I presume the 1930s. They are no longer there, so when were they removed? In 1970 No. 5 Palm Grove was advertised for sale - with the street described as an interesting tree lined grove. (8) Was it interesting because the trees were Palm Trees, which was relatively unusual? I believe this was the case, so we can establish the palms were still there in 1970. Google Street View images start at 2007, and they had been removed by then; that year there were a few jacarandas and some recently planted trees, supported by stakes. Thus the Palm Trees may had been recently removed then, or the new trees may have replaced the trees that previously replaced the Palm Trees. In short, if you have any information as to when the Palm Trees in Palm Grove, Deepdene were removed, I would be interested in hearing.
5 Palm Grove, an interesting tree lined grove, to be auctioned on October 29, 1970
The Age, October 10, 1970, p.31 from newspapers.com
Footnotes(1) Sands & McDougall Directories are on-line at the State Library of Victoria
(2)
Box Hill Reporter, August 27, 1926, see here. (3)
The Age, September 27, 1930, see here. (4) Joseph Plottel (1883-1977) You can read about his professional and early life here
https://www.arbv.vic.gov.au/joseph-plottel Joseph married Dr Rachel Gross on December 15, 1915, the marriage being conducted by the Reverend Jacob Danglow. You can read reports of the wedding in the
Emerald Hill Record of January 1, 1916,
here and the
Weekly Times of December 25, 1915,
here; the
Weekly Times report is headlined -
Woman Doctor Married. Joseph died on May 28, 1977.
The Age, May 30, 1977, p. 30 from newspapers.com.
(5)
The Argus, March 25, 1937, see here.(6) Hector James McDonald and Doris Florence McLaughlin were married at St Peter's Eastern Hill in Melbourne, on February 23, 1924. He was a 29 year-old cabinet maker and she was a 23 year-old hairdresser. Hector was the son of James and Eliza (nee Nichols) McDonald; James was chair manufacturer. Doris was the daughter of John and Jessie (nee Ridley) McLaughlin; John was a policeman. Hector and Doris did not have any children (or rather, none are listed in their death notices). Hector died on May 27, 1973 and Doris on August 24, 1983. [Source - From Ancestry.com - Victoria, Australia, St. Peter's Eastern Hill, Marriages, 1848-1955]
The Age, May 28, 1973, p. 14 from newspapers.com
The Age, August 31, 1983, p.25. from newspapers.com
(7)
The Argus, September 12, 1936, see here.
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