The home of one of Yarraville’s best-known identities will go under the hammer this weekend.
The Francis Street property, built by late Wembley Avenue pharmacist Ian Keelan and wife Betty in 1961, was one of the first to be designed in an experimental open-plan style by Lawrence Atley.
The Keelans arrived in Yarraville in 1950, when Ian established his first pharmacy in Somerville Road, opposite St Augustine’s Church.
His son, Tony Keelan, said he was there for a decade before seeing the opportunity afforded by a new shopping strip in Wembley Avenue, opposite Wembley State School.
“It was there that dad served the local community as the family chemist for almost 40 years until his retirement in 1998 at the age of 75,” he said.
“He was well known and respected in the local area, especially for his hand-made mixtures and creams which went throughout the western suburbs.”
Mr Keelan said his father was a proud president of the Wembley Traders Progress Association and played a central role in helping Yarraville Bowling Club locate to its current site.
Mr Keelan said the open-plan home his parents built on the corner of Francis and Hawkhurst streets was revolutionary for the time.
“There are also many other classic features designed by Lawrence Atley which were built into the house and they have all been perfectly preserved,” he said.
About 1970, the Keelans bought the adjoining block of land and Betty developed it into a garden.
Mr Keelan said he and his sister, Louise, shared fond memories from their childhood as they prepared the blocks at 337 and 339 Francis Street for sale by Jas Stephens this weekend.
