Tasma Terrace
Hours Open
10am - 5pm (last guided tour at 4.00pm, last general access at 4.45pm)
Address
2-12 Parliament Place, East Melbourne
Architects
Charles Webb
Year Built
1878 - 1887
Building Type
Residential (now office)
What is Open
Ground level reception, two restored sitting/dining rooms and The Council Room on the first floor
Tour Frequency
Guide tours for 30 people every hour, self guided with notes any time
Tram Stop
Stop 10: Parliament Station on routes 31, 112 and 109
Description
Tasma Terrace is the headquarters of the National Trust, which led a campaign to save the treasure from demolition in the 1970s. Designed by the prolific architect Charles Web, the rendered brick structure with a fine cast iron verandah and iron palisade fence and piers is one of the finest terraces in Melbourne. Constructed in two stages, the first three houses were built in 1878-79 for George Nipper, grain merchant and shipowner. He overstretched his investments however with the construction of the nearby Windsor Hotel, and had to sell both in 1885 to Joseph Thompson, a flamboyant bookmaker, who extended the terrace to the corner in 1887.
Significance
A superb example of boom style terrace architecture, Tasma Terrace is a rare example of a three-storey terrace in Melbourne. The restrained cast-iron decoration used as delicate arcading with quatrefoil brackets to verandas over two levels is especially fine and the terrace gains much from its setting amidst trees and a small park. State government plans in the 1970s to replace the terrace with a massive 30 storey office block were opposed by one of the Trust’s longest and most successful campaigns. It was not only saved from demolition, but handed over the Trust to use as its headquarters. It had an extensive refurbishment including two main rooms decorated with reproduction Victorian wallpapers, colour schemes, curtains, and restoration of the original cast iron colours.
What's Open
MOH visitors will gain access to the ground level, reception area two restored sitting/dining rooms as well as The Council Room on the first floor. Guided tours will take place on the hour or you are welcome to wander freely with guided notes. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available for sale.
Referenced from: "Walking Melbourne: A Guide to the Historic and Architectural Landmarks of Central Melbourne", produced by the National Trust of Australia (Victoria), text by Rohan Storey, 2004, p. 83 and "A guide to Melbourne architecture", by Philip Goad, 1999, p. 50. The Watermark Press, Sydney
