Tourist Attractions & Activities
19th Century Portable Iron Houses
399 Coventry Street, South Melbourne, VIC, 3205
Seniors card entry at Concession price.
The three houses in South Melbourne are among the last nineteenth-century prefabricated iron buildings. With gold discovered in Victoria in 1851 accommodation was needed for the many migrants flocking to the colony. Iron houses met that need.
Ordered from a catalogue, the buildings offered ranged from modest cottages to theatres and even churches that could hold over 700 people. Constructed in Britain, the houses were dismantled, every component labelled then packed into crates and shipped abroad to be reassembled in their new location.
Specialist labour was not required and anyone could assemble them by following the instructions. As people had been living in Canvas Town – a small village of tents, paying five shillings per tent per week – being able to move into a two or even six roomed house was a luxury at the time.
By 1855 South Melbourne comprised nearly 100 portable buildings, of which Patterson House is on its original site. Abercrombie House and Bellhouse were relocated to the current sites from North Melbourne and Fitzroy.
Related & nearby business
Some helpful tips you might need
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Victoria Seniors Card Information
There are two cards available to seniors in Victoria, the Seniors Card and the Seniors Business Discount Card.
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Western Australia Seniors Card Information
Seniors Card To be eligible for the WA Seniors card, you need to be: Aged 63 years or above. An Australian Citizen or hold an Australian Permanent Resident Visa. Reside in Western Australia for more than half the year. Work less than 25 hours per week in paid employment.
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South Australia Seniors Card Information
Seniors Card Eligibility: You can apply for a South Australian Seniors Card if: you're aged 60 years or older you're a permanent South Australian resident you're not working more than 20 hours per week in paid employment (part-time and casual employees may average their hours over 12 months).
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