Do you recognise these historic houses?

[J Dickens]

My ancestor, John Spence was a gardener and I have 2 photos taken of houses where he apparently laid out the gardens - believed to be somewhere in NSW or Vic.

I know it is a long shot, but on the off chance someone may recognise these 2 photos of houses I thought I would give it a go.

You never know the power of the www!

Thanks

John

[ShaunJ]

I just adjusted the levels in that first picture to see if more detail became apparent:

[ShaunJ]

and the other one:

[earlybird]

I'd be tempted to add the photos to a few well known Australian gardening websites. Are there any references to John Spence in gardening books? Early

[Ruskie]

John the houses are stunning. I would give my eye teeth for either of them. I can't help with the identification though I'm afraid.

I'm very very sorry to say that knowing how little is thought of our beautiful historic buildings and the destruction that has taken place over the years, I would not be surprised if they are no longer standing. The other possibility is that they have been "modernised" and are no longer recognizable, or they may be surrounded by new builds or high rise and no longer have the lovely gardens your ancestor laid out.

I hope I don't sound too gloomy, and nothing would make me happier than to be proven wrong. It's just that the chances of someone recognizing them is quite slim. I hope for a miracle though. 

Is there any way you can narrow down the location? Perhaps tie them in with locations where he was living when his children were born? Have you found any mention of him on Trove? Obituary perhaps? Were there any other photos with these two, which may give something more for us to go on?

Looking at both, the styles of the houses could fit in with both NSW and Victoria, which is such a large area. 

[earlybird]

Clearly the owners were wealthy judging from the size of the homes. Pastoralists?
Looks like they has a large staff of gardeners, cooks, cleaners etc. Note the buildings are made out of stone and not timber. Would that give you some indication of the location? Where would the stone have been quarried from?

Sorry, I keep posing more questions than answers

[cando]

The second house may be built of Hawthorn bricks and reminds me of homes in the suburb of that name and surrounding suburbs in Melbourne.  I don't think either of the houses are large homes.  The second house is similar to a boarding house at my old school in a regional city in Victoria.  House long since demolished.  House was built in 1873.

The second house is certainly in a town...footpath, kerb and gutters along with a picket fence.  Not something one would see on a country property.

Cando

[earlybird]

Yep, Cando, you're right, fences, paths etc. suggest they're located in a town or city.

[J Dickens]

I have not found John Spence in any gardening books. This is my first line of inquiry about the gardens he was up believed to have done.

John Spence's children were born in the following places/years which may give a clue to the proximity of house and garden

1880 - Balmain NSW
1883 - Bright VIC
1884 - Richmond VIC
1886 - Bailieston VIC
1887 - Liverpool NSW
1889 - Armidale NSW
1891 - Queensland
1895 - Coolah NSW
1897 - Cobar NSW
1898 - Cobar NSW
1903 - Warren NSW

Thanks

John