St Kilda Town Hall Gates

In July 1923 it was reported that the St Kilda City Council had purchased massive wrought iron double entrance gates which were in use at Corry, Sir Lauchlan Mackinnon's house in Toorak, for erection at the entrance to the town hall grounds. (1)  Sir Lauchlan Mackinnon (1848-1925) was one of the proprietors of The Argus newspaper and also the general manager. The gates were originally imported from England for Sir Lauchlan and marked the entrance to his mansion in Heyington Place. Corry, one of the finest homes in Toorak, was sold in 1922 and some of the land was sub-divided into magnificent residential allotments. (2)

The only photograph we have of the gates.

The Argus, September 5, 1923 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1985865

In 1924, extensive renovations were carried out internally at the St Kilda Town Hall and externally with the erection of the Portico and construction of a new drive. It was during this time that the gates were installed at the apex of the town hall triangular site, facing the intersection of Carlisle street and High street. (3)

The St Kilda Town Hall, c. 1930. You can see the location of the gates installed at the apex of the town hall triangular site, facing the intersection of Carlisle street and High street.

The building on the right, along High Street (Brighton Road) is the St Kilda State School.  The building to the top of the Town Hall is the Balaclava Methodist Church, which faces Chapel Street, on the corner of Carlisle Street.

St. Kilda Town Hall, c. 1930. Photographer: Sir W. Raymond Garrett. State Library of Victoria, see full image here http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/278495

Historian, J.B. Cooper, wrote about the Corry gates in his History of St Kilda 1840 to 1930 - 

The Council, at this time, bought the massive wrought iron double entrance gates that had been in use at "Corry," the late Sir Lachlan Mackinnon's house, in Toorak. The gates were made by Bayliss of London, and they are wonderful examples of honest craftsmanship, in the difficult work of making wrought iron gates. Viewed from the City Hall's upper windows, as they stand, facing the intersection of Carlisle and High Streets, their fine iron work has the appearance that delicate lace patterns present when held up to the light. They are probably the finest wrought iron gates to be found in Melbourne. Examined closely they appear to be flawless. Even the keys of the gates are of solid British workmanship, with artistic mouldings, the like of which in key making is not seen today. (4)

Fourteen years later in August 1938, the St Kilda Council adopted an extensive scheme for beautifying the grounds surrounding St. Kilda town hall. (5)  The scheme, which included the removal of the Corry gates, had been prepared by Hugh Linaker, one of his last projects before his death at the age of 66 in October 1938. Amongst other projects, Linaker had undertaken the landscaping around the Shrine of Remembrance, designed the Pioneer Women's Memorial Garden and had been engaged by Sir John Monash to advice on the planning of Yallourn. (6)

There wasn't, however, unanimous support for the removal of the Corry gates, as the following report attests -
Cr. Moroney said he regretted that it was intended to remove the ornamental iron gates on the Brighton-road and Carlisle-street frontages. They were fine specimens of the iron workers' art, and had been an embellishment to the grounds for many years. It would be vandalism to remove them. Even if the hedges and fences were taken away the gates could remain.
Cr. Mitty: they are a relict of the past.
Cr Moroney: Yes. That is why I want remain. I also do not approve of the removal of old and beautiful trees from the grounds. Some of them were planted by distinguished people.
The Mayor (Cr. Dawkins): A number of the old trees will remain, and those removed will be replaced by other trees. (7)

The gates were removed but they were to be stored for possible re-erection elsewhere. (8)  We have no information as to whether the gates were ever used again. What happened to these gates, the fine specimens of the iron workers' art?

Should you have any information about this item's history or location, please leave a comment below or see 'Contact us' tab for anonymous emailing.

Footnotes
(1) The Argus, July 12, 1926, see here.
(2) Obituary of Sir Lauchlan Mackinnon - The Argus, December 5, 1923, see here; Sale of Corry - The Argus, December 13, 1922, see here.
(3) The Argus, September 5, 1923, see here.

(4) Cooper, John Butler The History of St Kilda from its first settlement to a city and after 1840 - 1930, v. 2 (St Kilda City Council, 1931), p. 62.
(5) The Age, August 16, 1938, see here.
(6) The Argus, October 11, 1938, see here.

(7) The Age, August 16, 1938, see here.

(8) The Age, April 1, 1939, see here.