CITY VIEW FROM RUCKER'S HILL

Rucker's Hill is an elevated part of Northcote, named after William Rucker who built a mansion on Bayview Street in 1842. In 1835, after arriving from London, William Frederick Augustus Rucker established himself as a wine merchant in Hobart. In 1837 after moving to Melbourne, he opened one of town’s first stores. In February the following year he also opened Melbourne’s first bank, an agency for the Derwent Bank of Hobart. This merged with the Union Bank, of which Rucker became a director.

At the time, the mansion was described as "the most expensive country house in the colony". It probably was never occupied by Rucker and became known as "Rucker's Folly". Rucker went bankrupt and the Union Bank took over his estate.

Whilst Rucker’s Hill itself has the form of a flat topped plateau, the sides are quite steep with the result that it constitutes a discrete element in the urban landscape. The 360˚ views from the top of the Hill are quite spectacular. These photos look towards the South, with the Melbourne CBD prominently.

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme.