PHOTOGRAPH: 59 HAMERSLEY ROAD, NATIONAL ESTATE SURVEY COLLECTION

The building was constructed in 1910.

In 1901 James Chesters of Melbourne purchased a portion of Suburban Lots 249 and 250 (including the subject site). By 1905, Chesters had settled in Subiaco and was running a local business as a ‘House and Land Agent’. As part of this business he also built houses for sale and in February 1911 was advertising a new 7-roomed villa at 59 Hamersley Road. However, the place was later withdrawn from sale and by November of that year James and his wife, Sith, had taken up residence, remaining there until 1921. During this period Chesters was active in local politics, and was the Mayor of Subiaco in 1911-12.

Possibly as a result of considerable adverse press regarding his involvement in what was described as profiteering on land sales under the War Bonds scheme, James Chesters sold his house in May 1921 and departed for an extended visit to Europe.

The new owner of 59 Hamersley Road was a widow, Mrs Sarah Matilda Thornton, who had opened the place as a maternity hospital by June 1921. The building remained in the ownership of Mrs Thornton and then, from 1932, her son by her first marriage, Percival Moore, until 1951 but was managed by a number of different women over time.

The place continued to be used a private hospital until the late 1980s. In 1988 it was converted to offices for the Women’s Cancer Prevention Unit and was then occupied as health related offices until c.2011. As at April 2012 the building is vacant and for sale.