Iron Houses
Produced in the 1850's to provide affordable accommodation for the US and Australian gold-rush. Thers were complete kits with metal frames, corrugated and galvanised roofs, windows with glazing and floor bards were used to make the packing case to hold the complete kit.
1853 Almost 6500 portable iron houses were landed in Melbourne.
A number of UK firms built these houses and a few examples still exist in Australia (Melbourne) and elsewhere.
Manufacturers included-
- Boydell and Glasier
- Morewood and Rogers
- E. T. Bellhouse and Co
- Francis Morton and Co
- Walmsley
- John Walker
- Mannings
- Joseph Harvey of London
- L. R. Peacock
- James Matthews (of Bishopgate)
2016 Three houses are preserved at 399 Coventry Street, South Melbourne, and one can be seen in Royal Park, Melbourne