Emerald Hill Cottage

South Melbourne, Victoria

White brick house with wooden front door, two small trees in planters, and a black metal fence gate

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Icon of three people representing guests.
Icon of a bedroom representing bedrooms available.
Icon of a bed with two pillows represents beds available.
Icon of a bathtub with a towel hanging over the edge and a showerhead above represents bathrooms available.

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Ideal for couples, small groups & families, including pets, everyone loves Emerald Hill Cottage.

Highlighting the charm of Emerald Hill in its formative years (now known as iconic South Melbourne), Emerald Hill Cottage is a historic Workers’ Cottage, which has been carefully curated, providing a sublime combination of aesthetic pleasure, comfort, and practicality.

Emerald Hill Cottage is centrally located, within easy walking distance of the South Melbourne Market, Clarendon Street, cafes, restaurants, MCEC/Southbank & the CBD. A nearby tram (200m walk) will take you to Marvel Stadium, MCG or St. Kilda.

The History

The land on which Emerald Hill Cottage and her 3 adjoining workers’ cottages now stand was purchased as two lots by Samuel Rowley Peel (1830 - 1900) at one of the first subdivision auctions in Emerald Hill on 13 September 1864, just before his marriage to Elizabeth Tout in 1865. They initially made their home at 219 York Street, on the corner of Peel Place, which was named after Samuel Peel, at which time he was a coach builder. Samuel Rowly Peel went on to become the Mayor of Williamstown from 1898 until 1900.

At the time of the land subdivision, the population of Emerald Hill was 8,322 (now 13,199) and about to undergo a property boom, to permanently accommodate those who had come from the goldfields, establishing the ‘canvas town’ on the south bank of the Yarra River, at the foot of Princes Bridge. In anticipation, the Emerald Hill Train Station had already been established (in the present-day Stop 127 location on Ferrars Street), and land had been allocated for the establishment of the South Melbourne Market, which was then built in 1867.

It was during this period of growth that Emerald Hill Cottage was built and is one of the original properties that formed what is now South Melbourne.

The Home

Approaching the home from the street, you will immediately get a sense of the tight-knit community that has been the foundation of the area since its establishment and remains so to this day. This is a demonstration of inner city living at its best, so be ready with a smile and a wave to greet those who cross your path during your stay.

Entering the single-fronted home, you will pass through the iron gate and cross the wide, iron-laced verandah before passing through the heavy timber front entry door to the central hallway.

The first room off the hallway, a bedroom, has a beautiful shuttered window which overlooks the street and an electric log fire to keep you cosy on chilly Melbourne nights. A queen bed with a luxury mattress, linen bedhead and hotel-quality bed linen invites the perfect night’s sleep, and each side table has a dimmable lamp. The room is also equipped with a generous robe. A desk, desk chair, printer and basic stationery are also available for those who require a dedicated workspace separate from the main living area.

The additional bedroom is the next room along the hallway. Here, a double-pane glass sliding door looks out onto a plant-filled lightwell, allowing a flood of beautiful natural light into the room along with a direct connection to nature. Again, a queen bed with a luxury mattress, linen bedhead and hotel-quality bed linen beckons. A generous robe and dimmable table lamps, and an electric panel heater are also available for your convenience.

As you approach the end of the hallway and pass through the stained glass feature door, the space opens out before you as the two original rooms (kitchen & living) are now combined into one, with the adjoining lightwell creating a bright, light-filled living & dining space. Here, a dining table & sofa setting provide a comfortable and welcoming space to relax and unwind at the end of a day exploring the local area. Books, magazines and a television are on hand for entertainment, and an electric logfire and luxe throw rugs entice guests to curl up and read or watch a movie. A split-system air conditioner is also located in this space to ensure guest comfort during the warmer months.

The galley kitchen connects the living/dining space to the private rear courtyard. Equipped with gas hotplates, an electric oven, a microwave and a full-size fridge/freezer, the space is well equipped to accommodate the produce from a shopping spree at South Melbourne Market. The pantry is stocked with the basics to get you going, if having a cook-up of all your delectable market finds and clean up is easy work with the Miele dishwasher.

Stepping outside at the rear of the home is a gorgeous, fully enclosed, high-walled, private, sun-filled courtyard. Here, a generous outdoor setting under festoon lights awaits, perfect for enjoying breakfast, a morning coffee, pre-dinner drinks or a meal off the Weber BBQ, either night or day.

The bathroom, located off the main living area, includes a shower over bath, vanity and toilet. Also within this space is a laundry trough housed in a European-style laundry.

Living room with a beige sofa and pillows, a floral armchair with a blanket, a black metal bookshelf with decorative items and books, a large abstract botanical painting on the wall, with hardwood floors and potted plants.
Exterior view of South Melbourne Market with large trees in the foreground and market signage visible on a modern building with metal and glass facade.
A modern dining table with two blue coffee mugs, an open newspaper, a silver coffee pot on a wicker tray, and a magazine, set in front of a window with white blinds and a view of a brick wall and a green plant.
A view of South Melbourne Beach with sand, water, and sky, seen through bushes in the foreground.
A cozy scene with an open book, a mug, and a blanket, with a fireplace emitting a glow on a wooden floor.
Exterior of the O'Connell Centenary Hotel, South Melbourne, with two trimmed trees in front and outdoor dining tables.
Coffee cups and a stainless steel coffee pot on a woven tray, placed on a wooden outdoor table with a newspaper nearby, set against a lush green hedge backdrop.
Front view of the National Gallery of Victoria with a fountain in the foreground
Decorative black metal shelving unit with green plant, books, and ornaments next to a beige couch and a colorful framed artwork on the wall.
Crowded indoor market with a sign reading 'South Melbourne Market' and a food stall named 'Pickadeli' amid shoppers and vendors.
An open book, two coffee mugs, and a French press on a tray on a bed with white pillows in a dimly lit room.
Indoor view of South Melbourne Market's organic produce section with fresh fruits and vegetables, and customers shopping.
A neatly made bed with white pillows and sheets, a beige headboard, a black nightstand, and a window with white blinds showing a brick wall and outside greenery.
A black saucepan on a gas stove with a blue flame, a wooden cutting board, a set of black measuring cups, and a silver spoon on the countertop.
A pet bed and two food bowls placed on a hardwood floor near a window with white shutters, with a large indoor plant in a black pot nearby.
City skyline with tall skyscrapers across the Yarra River, with trees along the riverbank and a decorative bridge in the foreground.
Variety of bouquets and bunches of colorful flowers including roses, peonies, and hydrangeas, displayed at South Melbourne Market.
Bathroom with bathtub, a glass of water, a white towel, and a plant.

All photographs by Mel Tonzing

Interior Design by Jo Powell

 
Floor plan of a house showing a verandah, two bedrooms, a living and dining area, bathroom, kitchen, courtyard, and a back bench. The bedrooms have built-in robes, and the kitchen includes a refrigerator, dishwasher, and washing machine.