Stonnington locals and visitors will have the opportunity to explore local history and heritage when the history centre opens its doors to the public on Saturday, 27 July as part of Open House Melbourne 2024.
A free-roaming, open house event, history centre staff will be on hand to answer questions as you explore the historic house Northbrook and our extensive archive collection. Entry is free and bookings are not required.
The Stonnington History Centre is an archive dedicated to preserving and interpreting the history of the City of Stonnington and its community.
Situated within the historic house Northbrook, right behind Malvern Library, the centre is a branch of the Stonnington Library and Information Service and provides local history information services, and holds an impressive archival collection.
The collection comprises photographs, maps, building and subdivision plans, annual reports, and correspondence, in paper and electronic formats.
Northbrook is a Victorian Italianate villa built in 1888/89 to the design of architect Charles D'Ebro.
The house was originally set on 2.5 acres of gardens facing High Street and included a 160-square-metre ballroom, timber outbuildings and brick stables.
Northbrook features a small portico with pressed-metal ceiling, elaborate mouldings and a balustrade parapet. The black-and-white marble floor of the entrance foyer leads to the main vaulted vestibule, featuring heavily panelled timber walls, a large over mantle with inlet mirrors and detailed encaustic tiles in the fire surround.
The two smaller vestibules leading into the Morning and Dining Rooms, feature elaborate, stencilled-and gilded vaulted ceilings with cherubs, while the rooms feature elaborate cornices, ceilings, centre roses and over mantles. The Dining Room features timber panelling, as well as three built-in sideboards and a large over mantle.
The building has been owned by the Council since the mid-1940s, and the Stonnington History Centre has occupied the building since 2008. A branch of the Library and Information Services, the Centre maintains the extensive Council Archives. You can see select items from this collection, which includes photographs, building plans, maps, subdivision plans, newspapers and general local history information. Go out and come on inside.
27 July, 10am to 2pm
Stonnington History Centre
1257 High Street, Malvern
stonnington.vic.gov.au/history
This year's Open House Melbourne is on the weekend of 27 and 28 July. The theme is Re/Discover your City and invites people to rediscover the city, seek out new and unique places and spaces and reconnect with some old favourites. The event celebrates design through opening buildings, places and spaces to the public and inspiring people to engage in conversations about the Melbourne's future.
