ARCHITECTURE:
This two-storey, hip-roofed, shingled house is built in symmetrical Georgian Revival-style. There are wide eaves with many unusual modillions resembling dominoes. It has wide, hip-roofed dormers on the front, right side and rear. Two full-height angled bays on the front flank the flat-roofed entry porch with fluted Doric columns. The two floors are separated by a belt course. A one-storey extension is on the right side, with a two-storey extension at the rear. It cost $14,000 and is one of the few houses in Victoria by Crawford Coates (b. Cape Town, SA 1866-1944), who worked here 1910-23, before going on to a long career in California (see 528 St Charles St).
ORIGINAL OCCUPANTS:
1913-35: James Hunter ( b. Edinburgh, SCT 1881-1931) came here in 1898. Josephine (née O’Sullivan, b. Victoria 1880-1929) was educated at St. Ann’s Academy (835 Humboldt St). They married in 1906. James was managing director of Pither & Leiser, importers and wholesalers of wine, liquor and cigars. Josephine was a devout Catholic and a member of St. Andrew’s Cathedral. She spent much of her life in service to the church, as a member of the Altar Society, Catholic Women’s League, and the Women’s Auxiliary of St. Joseph’s Hospital. After his parents’ deaths, son Douglas James Hunter (b. Vancouver, BC 1907-1970) retained the house.
OTHER OCCUPANTS:
1940-44: Duncan MacBride (b. Vale of Leven, Dumbartonshire, SCT 1883-1962) and Louise (née Rigg,1881-1970) emigrated from SCT in 1926 and came here in 1931. Duncan was a Victoria sheriff 1948-53. He was also president of the Victoria Highland Games and a member of the Victoria Chamber of Commerce.
1943-50: Proprietors Frederick William Plant and Evelyn Margaret (b. Newcastle-on-Tyne, ENG 1914-1956) divided the house into five suites, then six, known as the Penkridge Apts. In 1982 another suite was created, and in 1984 two more.