Cora Lynn

10 Lewis Street, Frankston

History
The map of landholders in Frankston North in 1878 gives J.L Petrie as the owner of the Crown Allotment 5.1 James Rabone Petrie, a St.Kilda coal merchant, had improved his property in this location by 1888-9, adding a house and stables etc. to the rate description.2 Two houses were listed on lot 5A by the following year, both of equal value3 and adjacent to 11 acres of vacant land.

MG Stevenson owned Cora Lynn until c1905 when Frederick Morgan, a warehouse man of North Melbourne, owned what was described as house on Petrie's estate, lots 68-69.4 Morgan owned the property until 1922 when John James Tomlin, a manufacturer, purchased lots 65 to 69.5 Tomlin died on the 6th August, 1927, at which time the property became part of the John Tomlin estate and continued to be so at least until 1953.6 Annie Fisher was a later occupier.7

Description
Arising from an early subdivision (Petries's), the house is easily distinguishable as from the late 19th century, being of polychrome brickwork (red, cream and brown), and designed on the conservative Italianate villa style. Typically, the roof is a M-hip form and clad with slates and the chimneys are also decorative brickwork. The main under-verandah window is a three-light opening, while the protruding bay has arched windows with almost a Moorish-arch shape to the voussoirs over each. The verandah cast iron frieze and brackets are an unusual pattern but the verandah roof is more typically convex in form.

External Integrity
The rounded floor has been replaced in concrete and the elevated on a dwarf wall stripped of their capitals. The side wall has been rendered and the front fence removed.

Context
Distinctive as a much older house among mid -20th century housing.

Significance – Study Grading C
Architecturally, this is a typical villa for Melbourne's middle suburbs, but rare in Frankston: of high local importance and regional interest.

Historically, represents by its obvious age, as from an early development period in the area's history and a rare reminder of the character of pre World War 1 Frankston. It is also linked with one of Frankston's early land owners (Petrie): of high local importance.