This row of terrace house cottages is an unusual residential building style outside of major cities and larger regional centres. The cottages are known locally as the Sloss Cottages. They were built by Edward Sloss in 1890 as rental properties. The railway line had only recently been connected to Bacchus Marsh in April 1887. The station was nearby to this location so this encouraged this rather substantial development. A bakery and dwelling also built by Sloss stood on the opposite side of the street but these no longer stand.
Bacchus Marsh Express, 29 November, 1890, page 2.
Edward Sloss came to Australia in 1857 and is believed to have come to the Bacchus Marsh district not long after this. He appears in a very early issue of the Bacchus Marsh Express in October 1866 as seeking workers for one of his businesses. He died in August 1903 in Bacchus Marsh after a successful career as a farmer and businessman leaving real estate valued at £6,990, and personal assets at £2,788, to his widow and children.
The cottages still stand today and are recognized in the Moorabool Shire’s Planning Scheme as heritage properties.
Pictures of Sloss Cottages taken 1 July 2018. Tim Hogan.
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