c. 1900
H 59 x W 39 x D 35 cm
Collection: Lila Rait
H 59 x W 39 x D 35 cm
Collection: Lila Rait
Who were Minnie & Ruby?
This house is believed to have originated in Camberwell and was built by a father for his two daughters (Minnie and Ruby). Interestingly, this was a common pairing of names for sisters. We have found 42 sisters with these names, with Minnie the elder, mentioned in family notices in Australian newspapers between 1897 and 1949.
Minnie & Ruby is a homemade box back house.
Box back houses have front opening facades with solid sides and back. They also usually have a flat roof. The front opening gives great access to the playing spaces which are simple; for example, there is no staircase. Minnie & Ruby’s interiors feature original wallpapers and flooring, but the fireplace is a later addition. The facade is like that of the typical Victorian terraces seen in capital cities here.
