I've always liked this house in Ballarat.
It has a deco feel to it. The two rooms at the front of the house have rounded corners and rounded windows but it is the fence that is the real killer for me.
It consists of black musical notes and ballerinas in red, blue, green and yellow. I can't read music so I don't know if the notes are a particular tune or just for the design. The small gate bears a large treble cleft and the arch above the gate carries more notes and a pair of ballerinas holding the street number.
The wire-screen door, of course, has more musical notes and a dancer in red while the metal railing leading to the door features a pirouetting ballerina in blue.
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great find David
ReplyDeleteNice find David, the fence detail is certainly carried out throughout the entirety of the property.
ReplyDeleteWhat an incredible fence!
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone.
ReplyDeleteHello Everyone, I don't know if my reply went onto David as I adore his photos he has taken above and wanted to share with all of you that this was my late Grandmothers house, 'Emily Eeles'. She was a self taught Ballerina and also held her own Ballet school in Ballarat when she was younger that you can read about on the Ballarat Saint Majesty's Theater website under 'Ladies of Dance'. She was a amazing lady and I as well as my family have many memories of playing in the front yard, and listening and also seeing many photo's of her Ballet days and her concerts that she performed at the Ballarat Theater. The house and the fence was built by her husband (my Grandfather) Angus Eeles (Who's name may be familiar if you know of Angus Eeles Plumbing in Ballarat North). He built the fence for Emily as her love for Ballet, and the musical notes along the fence, Play out to the Piano tune of a song names 'Tammie', This was Emily's Favorite song. She took much pride in their property and mostly of her fence as it became known to may who lived in the area and to some tourists who as I child I would regularly see taking photos and taking their time to admire the fence on their travels. I and as well as my family have many fond memories of playing in the front yard alongside the 'dancing ladies' and for the last 80plus years it has stood in its glory and hope that for many more years it will continue to be looked after and stand in all its glory and hopefully its story will linger for those who are interested in its history and of the lovely couple who built, lived and raised and very proud family of what still stands in the historical and much loved street of Ballarat! - Great, Great Grand Daughter of the Lady with the Dancing Girls Fence xx
ReplyDeleteHello Bronwyn, hope you get this. I have been a long time fan of the fence and of Emily herself. Made a short film here: https://vimeo.com/album/2399432/video/66981539
Deleteand also put it on register for tour by heritage folks from the UN here: http://ballarateast.net/be-tours/
Could you please contact me as Id love to get some images of Emily for a story I am writing. Thanks Erin
Thank you so much Bronwyn. You have answered so many questions and given us a lovely story of how Angus built the fence for Emily. I couldn't agree more with your final sentiments about the fence and long may it bring pleasure to many passers-by and decophiles for a long, long time to come.
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