Thomas Cook Almshouses, Chapel And Railings

Thomas Cook Almshouses, Chapel and Railings

This group of almshouses, chapel and railings was built in 1891 by architect G Burgess for Thomas Cook, the famous travel agent. The buildings are constructed in red brick with tile hanging and applied timber framing to the attics, together with some terracotta dressings. They are roofed with steeply pitched red clay tiles and feature large brick ridge stacks with semi-circular headed panels to the sides, and moulded brick coped gables to both the caretaker's house and the chapel, which are positioned at the street end of the side wings.

The complex is arranged in a U-plan with a seven-bay central range and four-bay side wings. The three central bays of the central range are advanced. The buildings are mostly single storey with attics, except for the chapel which is single storey without attics, and the three central bays which rise to two storeys plus attics. These central bays feature a ground floor Tuscan columned arcade with four plain doorcases (two leading to open staircases) and three small-paned windows behind. Above this are three 5-light timber mullioned casement windows, with the central 3-lights of each canted out to form small oriels. A jettied attic storey above has applied timber framing and 5-light timber mullioned casements to each gable. Below the central window is a moulded plaque inscribed "Memorial House of call for Mr Cook and invited friends", and above is a projecting pedimented clock with balusters to either side.

Beyond the central bays on either side are plain panelled doors and two 3-light small-paned casements, with two gabled roof dormers above containing similar windows. Beyond again are angled segmental-headed doorcases with brick pilasters to each side and brick cornice above, at each corner.

The east wing has three similar 3-light windows to the ground floor and above in gabled dormers, with two panelled doors positioned between the northern windows. At the north end, the caretaker's house has advanced gabled bays to the west and north. The northern bay features a canted small-paned bay window to the ground floor and a stone plaque above inscribed "Memorial Cottages Caretaker No 1", with three small-paned casements above. The central casement is larger than the others and is set in a pilastered surround with a semi-circular blind arch above. The north elevation of the caretaker's house has three semi-circular headed arches to the ground floor with railing across, and three small-paned windows above in a pilastered surround with moulded eaves cornice topped by ball finials at the corners.

The west wing has an advanced gabled bay to the north of the angled doorcase, with a 2-light window below and a 4-light window above, together with lights to each side of the bay. Beyond to the north is a double-chamfered segmental-arched brick doorcase leading into the chapel, with a buttress beyond and three 4-light terracotta flat-headed windows featuring four-centred arched lights and incised spandrels. The north elevation of the chapel has a similar 4-light window with a plaque inscribed "General Baptist Memorial Cottages and Mission Hall. Erected by Thomas Cook, a Native of Melbourne 1890". At the centre of the chapel roof is a square tile-hung bellcote with louvred top and ogival leaded roof.

Between the wings are the original railings with two sets of gates, one to either side.