East Melbourne, Hotham Street 121, Arcadia

121 Hotham Street, along with its twin neighbour, 125 Hotham Street, was built in 1860 by Robert Richardson for himself. Richardson was a builder and went on to build several other houses in East Melbourne. Two years later he sold both properties to George Black, another builder, who was also active in East Melbourne. During this time the properties were rented by tenants on an annual lease. But by the mid-1860s the properties were sold to separate owners. 

The new owner of 121 Hotham Street was James Gillman Seymour and his wife, Sara Eveleen. James Seymour was a partner in the firm of Chambers and Seymour, hardware merchants, corner of Collins and Swanston Streets. 

Mrs Seymour was a devoted member of her church and when, in 1869, a small Weslyan church was erected opposite her own house she devoted her time to it. ‘For seven years, she laboured faithfully in connection with this cause, and helped in many ways, particularly in leading the singing.’  However it was deemed that Collingwood was in greater need of a church and the Hotham-street ground was sold and a large part of the proceeds given, with the church, school, and contents, to begin the Gipps-street [Collingwood] Church.

The Seymour family lived in the house until the mid-1870s when it was sold to James Johnson, gentleman, and his wife, Elizabeth. They called the house Arcadia.  It would appear that the family enjoyed life at No 121.  James Johnson died in 1898. Elizabeth continued to live there until her own death in 1910.  The property then passed to their daughter, Dora Benson.  Her tenants throughout this time were the Locke siblings, Joseph, Bessie and Margaret Frances.

The property changed hands again around 1922 with Alexander Turnbull and his wife Clara Elizabeth becoming the new owners. Alexander was yet another builder. He died in 1937, followed by Clara in 1948 when the property passed to their daughter, Mahala (Dollie) Semple. She lived there until her death in 1967. 

The property was then sold to Francis Walter Graham, psychoanalyst and psychiatrist. He died in 1995 and his obituary in the Psychiatric Bulletin was ebullient in its praise of him, however it seems that in his private life he was less successful. In 1954 he arranged to have his estranged wife committed to Royal Park Mental Hospital in reprisal for her not relinquishing custody of their seven year old son to him. She had to take the matter to court in order to get released.  In her affidavit she expanded on the difficulties within their relationship. She claimed that he had boasted to her about his liking of young girls and how accessible they were among his patients and students. She was released after a week. Graham was awarded an Order of Australia in 1991.

The house during his ownership was rented out as rooms until it was sold. It was advertised for auction on 14 February 1973 as a development site along with 125 Hotham Street, 54 and 56 Powlett Street, forming an L-shaped block around the Cairns Memorial Church. 

Luckily the site failed to sell in one piece and the houses were eventually sold separately. The buyer of No 121 were artist Fred Williams and his wife, Lyn.  They never moved in.

Note:  Pre-1890 the street number for this house was No 30.