83-85 Victoria Street is nestled on the fulcrum of one of Australia’s loveliest tree-lined streets.

Its London Plane trees provide dappled light in Winter and an umbrella of shade in Summer.

These well-proportioned buddy buildings were built during the latter half of the 19^th century’s building boom circa 1880s in the popular Italianate style. Their pediments, urns, vermiculated sandstone and balustrades are all reminiscent of Italian Renaissance architecture and were re-popularised at the time.

Their building footprint is small and so land costs could be contained. Many builders/developers built their own home and then a neighbouring identical home as an investment. Today, this house-to-site ratio is considered highly sustainable and is highly desirable.

Unusually for today, they do not face towards the harbour. This was common at the time. It was felt a streetscape view was more interesting and more important to impress passers-by. The harbour was not as cherished as it is today. It was a source of raw sewage outlets and slaughter house waste pumping their detritus into the harbour direct.

There was no Opera House, CBD skyline or Harbour Bridge to admire.

Coal-powered boats excreted black smoke, smells and fumes into the sky.

Today, the opposite is true. And the area has popular parks for locals to enjoy such as Embarkation Park, 60 metres away.

By Andrew Woodhouse, Heritage Solutions