5 Millbank Street

Bacchus Marsh VIC 3340

From its humble beginnings as a wooden cottage, built in 1891, followed by some
alterations, the current "Kelvin Grove" was established in 1920 as a private hospital operated by Matron Harriet Campbell. Only after the opening of the Bacchus Marsh Hospital in 1957 did "Kelvin Grove" cease operating as a hospital and became a private residence. The current owner since 1970 has retained many architectural features from
its origin including wide skillion verandahs with original cast iron balustrades and fluted
columns, bay window, 5 open fire places and decorative ruby glass all combined with 3
bedrooms, small study in the main residence plus additional accommodation in the old
"hospital" wing.




In 1889 William Grant, owner of Millbank and farmer, subdivided 61 acres(24.7ha) of his farm between what is now the hospital and Main Street. In December 1890 William Jones Humphreys, a contractor, purchased lots 26,27 and 28 facing what Grant had named Milbank(sic) Street. It is probable that he built a wooden cottage on one of the lots. By October 1891 he sold his lots to Thomas Cain. Extensive alterations designed by Thomas Cain were carried out in 1892 by Mr Brady, a builder from Gisborne. Cain called the house Green lodge. Thomas Cain also purchased other lots in the subdivision ( Land Victoria, The Express 10 Oct 1891).

After Thomas Cain"s death in 1913 relatives Eugene O"Connell and Gerald O"Connell became owners. The house was then rented by McKenzie Tyres, Shire engineer/secretary.
In May 1920 the property was purchased by Mrs Harriet Campbell who named it Kelvin Grove. She converted it into a private hospital. It functioned as a general hospital and was operated by Matron Campbell for many years. Sisters Webb, Alma and Eileen Hughes, C McGeorge and A.C. Morton tended to patients at Kelvin Grove over the years.

Bacchus Marsh and District War Memorial Hospital in Grant Street opened in 1957. Then Kelvin Grove ceased to be a hospital and was sold to Andrew and Elbertine Muir. Since 1970 Mr Geoff Camm has owned Kelvin Grove maintaining its period garden. The weatherboard building has three chimneys, a hip roof, bay window, ruby glass decoration around the windows and a skillion verandah with beautiful original cast iron balustrade with fluted columns and eave decoration.
(Courtesy Bacchus Marsh Heritage Guide)