Historic homes turn to new page
TWO historic Victorian houses linked to literary legends are ready for a new chapter. Famous American novelist MARK TWAIN (pictured) is connected to a National Trustprotected residence at 10-12 Seaby Street in Stawell, which is on the market with a $1.35m price tag.
Monaghan’s Real Estate director Terry Monaghan said The Adventures of Tom m Sawyer novelist paid a visit to wealthy homeowner er MARY HOBBS when n he arrived at the regional Victorian town in 1895.
“A previous owner was a schoolteacher who researched the house use and found that Twain ain met Mrs Hobbs and d was very impressed with her wealth,” Mr Monaghan said.
“He came through the area in that time and was shown off to some of the local celebrities.”
Mrs Hobbs was a prolific mine owner and Seaby Street resident at the time Twain was in Stawell, in transit from Adelaide to Melbourne.
Mr Monaghan said her elaborate riches could still be seen in the historic five-bedroom home, featuring a grand dining room and formal living space off a commanding central hallway, a library and stables converted into a garage.
“Seaby Street is one of the better streets in the area, but this house is even at another level. It’s one of the best period-era homes in the district,” he said. “The money that was poured into this house was no nothing but unb unbelievable.” A Surrey Hills h house once lived in b by CHARLES DICKENS’ daughter-in-law, d CONSTANCE C DICKENS,D also sold last week. Invermark, at 41 S Suffolk Road, shot more tha than $100,000 past reserve to $ $3.41m at an auction with two bidders.
Records show Ms Dickens lived at the 1880s house when she was newly wed to the novelist’s youngest son, EDWARD, who worked on a sheep station in New South Wales.
Marshall White Boroondara’s Nicholas Franzmann said historic features, including a rooftop widow’s walk, attracted families.