In 1886, Sarah and William Sloggatt of ‘Valency’ house on Burke Road, Malvern subdivided just over 9¼ acres on the southern corner of Burke and Malvern roads. The Valency Estate subdivision created Golden Quadrant and Valency Road, with lots also fronting Malvern and Burke roads. The first sale was to John Brown Scott, gentleman of South Yarra, who purchased six lots (including Lot 6 – the current 1564-1566 Malvern Road) in April 1887.
After Scott’s death in 1907, his executors on-sold each lot individually. Lot 6 was sold to Edward Mills, builder of Scotts Grove, Malvern, in December 1907. In October 1910, Mills sold to William E. Machin, auctioneer. The following year, the 1911-12 rate books recorded that William Machin, agent, was the owner and occupant of a seven-room brick house on Lot 6 with a Net Annual Value of 54 pounds.
This indicates that the house was built in 1911 for owner William Machin, possibly constructed by the former rated owner (and presumably a relative) Thomas Machin, builder. A Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works (MMBW) Detail Plan dated c1916 indicated that the house was called ‘Coliban’.
The footprint on the plan showed the early extent of the house and suggests that the north-west corner of the house was an open verandah (since in-filled). The quality of the design suggests an architect’s involvement, however, no architect has been determined.
Machin remained the owner of the property until April 1933, after which it had a number of subsequent owners, including the Cocks family from 1933, the Mathiesons from 1955, Andersons from 1967 and back into the Cocks family from 1990 to 1991 (LV:V3243/F534). The house was called ‘Ardnith’ from the 1950s.
The place has served as a dental clinic from the 1990s, under the ownership of the Dickinsons. In 2001 plans were approved for the extension to the rear, in a sympathetic style to the original house, to serve as a specialist dental clinic.
