Media Release

Library Presents Architectural Drawing to Bayside Mayor

The State Library of Victoria will present the Mayor of Bayside, Cr Craig Tucker with a full size colour print of an original drawing of the Brighton mansion Kamesburgh. The function will be at the State Library of Victoria at 5pm, Wednesday 25 May.

Kamesburgh is regarded as the finest example of architect Lloyd Tayler’s domestic architecture. It is a splendid two storey colonnaded mansion with a tower, set in a beautiful garden. The original interior was elaborately decorated by Paterson Bros. The mansion was built for William Kerr Thomson, founder of McEwan’s hardware store, in 1872.

The original magnificent perspective drawing by Lloyd Tayler was generously donated to the Library by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs in 2004.

In 1918, Kamesburgh was acquired by the Repatriation Department as a hostel for disabled soldiers, and for many years it was known as Anzac Hostel. Veterans’ Affairs transferred ownership of the mansion to the Bayside Council in 1996.

The original perspective drawing with added watercolour was removed from the mansion for preservation purposes. It will be well looked after by the State Library and from time to time it will be exhibited. A digital scan of the image is already available for viewing on the Library’s online Pictures Catalogue. www.slv.vic.gov.au

Lloyd Tayler was a distinguished architect of houses, banks and churches, and joint designer of the Houses of Parliament, Adelaide. One of his most prominent houses still stands at the corner of Collins and Spring Streets, and his work also included the extensions to the National Trust heritage-listed house Rippon Lea.

The Library is proud to have this wonderful example of Lloyd Tayler’s skill as a draftsman since very few drawings by him have been preserved.