New User
What's OnMyDoorstep.com.au?

Bruce Manor

Heritage Listed Location


34 Pinehill Drive Frankston, Frankston City, Victoria, Australia

Places Nearby

Frankston East, 3199 2.0km Karingal, 3199 2.4km Karingal Centre, 3199 2.4km Baxter, 3911 3.7km Pines Forest, 3200 4.5km

Details / Significance

What is Significant?

Bruce Manor was designed for Stanley Melbourne (later Viscount) Bruce by the Sydney firm of architects Prevost Synnot and Rewald, in association with Robert Bell Hamilton, in 1926. Bruce Manor is a Mediterranean inspired residence with paved courtyards, Cordova patterned roof tiles, a Juliet balcony and timber panelled interiors. The building has been used as hostel accommodation for the aged.

How is it Significant?

Bruce Manor is of architectural and historical significance to the State of Victoria.

Why is it Significant?

Bruce Manor is of architectural significance as a substantial and near complete example of a Mediterranean style house. In the 1920s and 30s houses of this style and scale were popularised by magazines such as Australian Home Beautiful. Mediterranean inspired designs were seen to be glamorous manifestations of Hollywood and the film industry and much more exotic than the modest Georgian or Bungalow styles which were prevalent at the time.

Whilst the building no longer has 'buff pink' walls or vivid blue shutters and doors, it has retained its original fittings, fixtures, piazzas and arcaded verandah and remains as a building of high integrity. Bruce Manor was influential in the stylistic development of architecture in Victoria and examples of this can be seen in later modest developments in areas such as Camberwell. The building also has an important association with The Lodge in Canberra which was constructed in 1926; both were built in a similar architectural style and both were first lived in by Bruce.

Bruce Manor is historically significant as the residence of Viscount Stanley Melbourne Bruce, Prime Minister of Australia from 1923 to 1929. Bruce Manor was constructed in 1926 for Bruce who was a prominent and distinguished figure in Australian politics throughout the 1920s. Bruce was the first Prime Minister to occupy The Lodge. Before entering politics Bruce was admitted to the Bar in Britain in 1907 and was a businessman involved in the importing business set up by his father, Paterson, Laing & Bruce. During the First World War he served with the Royal Fusiliers at Gallipoli where he was wounded twice and received the Military Cross.

User Stories

Do you have stories, notes or memories about Bruce Manor?

Share your story with others.


H01998 1bruce manor
H01998 bruce manor frankston exterior
H01998 bruce manor frankston rear verandah
H01998 bruce manor frankston yard
H01998 bruce manor frankston detail
h01998 bruce manor frankston internal 01 mz 1103
h01998 bruce manor frankston internal joinery 01 mz 1103
h01998 bruce maonr plan mz 0504
Bruce Manor Frankston Rear
Bruce Manor Frankston Study

Heritage Listed Locations Nearby

Ballam Park 1.6km
Westerfield 1.7km
onmydoorstep.com.au logo
Find us on facebook Follow us on twitter Subscribe to our RSS

User contributed content is licensed under the
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License with Attribution Required.