42 Chester Street, Teneriffe

This simple timber cottage was probably built in the mid-1880s as the residence of Nicholas Le Gros, a grocer. In early 1881, Philip Le Gros, a master mariner, acquired the long narrow allotment of just over 18 perches on the corner of Chester and Arthur Streets. In 1883, the property was transferred to Nicholas Le Gros who operated a grocery store on the corner part of the lot. The property was sold in 1923 after the death of Nicholas Le Gros and the corner building continued to operate as a store.Chester Street and the surrounding streets were part of the 119 acres at Teneriffe purchased by property speculator, James Gibbon, in 1850. The area was subdivided for residential development from the 1860s to the 1880s and many workers’ dwellings and corner shops were constructed in the area.