71 Riversdale Road Hawthorn was a grand single story Victorian Brick House built circa 1880. This house was one of the original houses built on Riversdale Road. The house was originally named Craigievar. It was demolished circa 2007 to build a block of flats.

The house has an interesting history.  Originally owned and built by John Hutchings of
T. Robinson & Co, Agricultural Implement Makers. The house was later owned by John Zevenboom, Melbourne city councilor, and brushmaker. Zevenboom Lane in Melbourne is named after him.

Very few photos of this house exist. If anyone has photos of this house I would greatly appreciate anyone letting me know via the comments section at the bottom of this post.
I'd also be interested to hear stories of anyone who lived at 71 Riversdale Road.


Download some of the history of this house here:
https://copy.com/2tjV6wHZtGPDiw4y


The photo below was taken circa 2001 and shows the front door of  Flat 2/71 Riversdale road, and the bay windows on the right hand side which were part of 1/71 Riversdale Road.

Photos showing the front room of the house circa 1990:

Bay window in the front room which faced Riversdale Road

Mantlepiece and door in the front room

Box window in the front room which faced the Power street direction. In the 1880's this window faced the paddock at the side of the house.

Extract of 1903 MMBW Map of Riversdale Road showing "Craigievar" 71 Riversdale Road Hawthorn

 

I've written this post because I used to live at 2/71 Riversdale Road and because it shows a so far undocumented part of Hawthorn's history which is now lost to time. I remember Riversdale Road as a beautiful road with grand houses.