_{Back to Contents Page}

In 1948, 274 Domain Road, South Yarra wasn’t what you thought it was!
For a starter, it wasn’t like this:-

or this:-

When Charlie and Doss (yes Doss) were allegedly married, the addresses they listed as their normal residences were both conveniently nominated as 274 Domain Road, South Yarra!

274 Domain Road South Yarra was known unofficially as the “Tower House”.

About the time Charlie and Doss list their home address as 274 Domain Road it is part Nurse’s Quarters, part Crippled Childrens’ Hospital (taking overflow from the Carlton Crippled Childrens’ Home), part boarding house, part business and Lawyers’ Offices, part Returned Services Offices, Doctors’ Residences and anything else capable of moving at short notice.

It was also the meeting point for the Special Branch Operatives of Melbourne.

The Flats you see today were developed between 1964 and 1965 with the “Tower House” being demolished just beforehand. There have also been later modifications.

But what do we know about the building that once stood at 274 Domain Road, South Yarra?

Madame Robert Dulieu??? ……… formerly of New Guinea Administration!

Is it coincidence that Dorothy Jean Webb listed the “notify before” date of 29th October 1951, as the next day Alexander Robertson (supposed husband of Dorothy Jean Kirkwood Robertson) dies in Kew?

But let’s just have another look at what we’ve got here :-

You will see in this microfilm extract from the will of Dorothy Jean Kirkwood Robertson that the Article Clerk Charles B Malpas (who originally signed the document) had an “office” or residence at 274 Domain Road.
Malpas would later become a Partner in the Legal Firm he was employed by.
(More about the Malpas, Lewis, Keane and Orr names and their musical sides later)

BUT (and it’s a juicy BUT) :-

Dorothy Jean Robertson (nee Kirkwood) is the Scottish Highland Dancer associated with J C Williamson when JCW was known as “Professor” and ran a small dance academy in Footscray, with the Kirkwood’s as clients and friends.

Now let’s look at Doss getting closer to 1948:-

Dorothy Jean Kirkwood supposedly married Alexander (Sandy) Robertson on 21st April 1924. Alex enlisted and fought in WWI and was reported as having a Gun Shot Wound (GSW) to his back and shoulder. He was later listed as having a Bomb Shrapnel Wound (BSW) to his leg and both hands.

Was Alex a participant and member in the “Limbless Soldiers’ Association of Victoria” for Doss to leave them a bequest? Was he a research subject of the “Pain in Phantom Limbs” project with Dr Barbour and his Associates?

Is there something else going on?

Did Alexander Robertson die on 10th October 1915 in a Military Hospital in Cairo from wounds received in “Leane’s Trench”?

Yes, Leane’s Trench!

Died at 1st General Hospital, Heliopolis, Egypt, on 10.10.15, and was buried at Vieux Cemetery, (British Section) Cairo, on the following day, in Grave 162D, by Captain Chaplain McBain.

Or did he die while walking down Denmark Street Kew on 30th October 1951?
(Walking???)

Who did Dorothy Jean Kirkwood marry at West Hawthorn Presbyterian Church on 21st April 1924?

Of interest also is the list of assets listed as her possessions at Probate!
There are many (many) pottery items and artifacts of a Persian/Iranian nature.
Here’s an extracted bit:-

But back to the Big Room at 274 Domain Road:-

A legal firm which employed the Article Clerk Charles B Malpas (who took part in Doss’s Probate in 1965) was previously Lewis, Gibson and Orr and several variations through the period as it replaced expired Directors.

You may remember the ears in previous posts!
Well, here they are again belonging to a member of the Lewis Family.

The ear on the left belonged to Intelligence Officer Lt. Col. Robert Radcliffe Lewis and he’s listed as “Special Branch”. He frequented 274 Domain Road South Yarra with other members listed as “Intelligence”.

His extended entourage and others operated a Band (of the Musical type) out of 274 Domain Road South Yarra.

Take me to the Contents Page please!

Back to Home Page

To backtrack and brush up on what this case is about, go to Wikipedia here

_{To contact the author email onsomertonbeach@onsomertonbeach.com}