100 years of Bacchus Marsh housing estate

TODAY marks the one hundredth anniversary of the sale of a significant piece of residential development land in Bacchus Marsh.

It was on this day, 13 September 1924, that the Grantbank Estate was offered for sale in 58 lots following its subdivision.

The six hectare site, close to the town’s main shopping centre, was part of the Millbank Estate and had been in the hands of the Grant family for 75 years.

The lots had frontages to Gisborne Road and Patterson, William and Sutherland streets, and represented a major expansion of residential development in the town.

The Bacchus Marsh Express from 6 September 1924 reported that the newly-named Grantbank Estate was “ideal for the erection of private residences, being in close proximity to the town – 10 or 15 minutes from the post office, with a good metal road to the door; churches and schools adjoining; water, electric light and phone wires waiting to be linked up to the new homes, which will assuredly follow the sale.

“Liberal terms are offered to purchasers, and anyone in search of a home-builder’s block should not miss this great opportunity.”

The lots were auctioned by Smith, Blake and Co. William Grant had owned land from the Werribee River up to Sutherland Street and, when he died in March 1924, his son William junior sold the top part of the land.

William junior named Patterson Street after his paternal grandmother’s maiden name, Sutherland Street after his maternal grandmother’s maiden name, and William Street either after his father or himself.

The book Centenary of Bacchus Marsh contains an entry about Grantbank, saying the subdivision of “large tracts of rich and valuable land held by such early settlers as Gill, Grant, Young and Pilmer, has resulted in the birth of new streets and consequent expansion of the residential area.

“Grant Street was brought about by the gift of land by Mr William Grant and Mr Pilmer.”

The book says about 35 new houses “all of a good type and commodious” had appeared soon after the sale and growth continued.

“Land at the sale brought as much as £2/4/- per foot, a wonderful appreciation of values, when we remember that the growth of Bacchus Marsh has been a gradual one,” it says.