Wardlow, Parkville, Melbourne facts for kids
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Wardlow is a beautiful old house with a lot of history. It's located in the Melbourne suburb of Parkville, Victoria, Australia. This grand house was built in 1888 by a man named John Boyes. It's a great example of a building style called Italianate architecture, which was very popular back then. Because of its history and design, Wardlow is listed by the Victorian National Trust as an important building.
You might even recognize Wardlow! It was used as the outside of Phryne Fisher's house in the popular TV show Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, which was shown on the ABC.
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Who Lived at Wardlow?
John and Mary Boyes
John Boyes, the person who built Wardlow, was born in Sheffield, England, in 1833. His father was a carpenter, and John followed in his brother's footsteps, becoming a saw maker.
Around 1860, John Boyes moved to Australia. He lived for some years in Heathcote, Victoria. In 1863, he married Mary Hill, who had also moved from England. They lived in Heathcote for two years. In 1865, John's brother William came to Melbourne. The brothers then started a business together called Boyes Brothers, selling iron goods and making saws. Their business grew, and they started importing hardware. They even owned several buildings in Russell Street, Melbourne, which are still important historical places today.
In 1879, John built two houses next to where Wardlow now stands. He and his family lived in one of them until 1888. That's when he built Wardlow, along with three more houses behind it. These six houses were a big part of John Boyes' property. They are all still standing today and are listed on the National Trust (Victoria) heritage register.
John and Mary Boyes had four children. One of their daughters, Mary Elizabeth Boyes, was born in 1868. In 1892, Mary Elizabeth married Frederick Arthur Booth. They had four children together. Sadly, in 1901, Frederick was hit by a train, and Mary Elizabeth became a widow. She moved into Wardlow with her father, John, who had also lost his wife the year before. Mary Elizabeth and her four children lived there until John Boyes passed away in 1910. In his will, John made sure his daughter Mary and her children would be looked after. He left the six houses to them in a special arrangement.
Mary Elizabeth Booth and Her Children
Mary Elizabeth Booth and her four children continued to live at Wardlow for the next twenty years. Three of her children moved out in the 1930s when they got married. One of her daughters, Mary Eileen Booth, stayed single for a while longer and lived at Wardlow with her mother. In 1950, when she was 55, Mary Eileen Booth married Samuel Frederick Arthur Fripp. Samuel's father was a director of The Herald newspaper and The Weekly Times.
Mary Eileen and Samuel Fripp
After she married in 1950, Mary Eileen continued to live at Wardlow with her mother. Her new husband, Samuel, also moved in with them. Mary Eileen's mother passed away in 1959. So, Mary and Samuel Fripp lived together in the house for another thirteen years. Samuel died in 1972. Three years later, in 1975, Mary sold the house.
Kimberley Kitching and Andrew Landeryou
Kimberley Kitching and Andrew Landeryou bought Wardlow in 2001 for $1,175,000. They were known for hosting fun parties at their home. Guests would say these parties were like the fancy gatherings described in the famous book The Great Gatsby. Later, the couple faced some money problems. The house was sold in 2005 to help clear their debts.
Images for kids
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Wardlow, Parkville
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A part of John Boyes' will about Wardlow
