John Wilkins MRCS, FRCS (Edin.), 1826-1905: his house at 121 Collins Street East, Melbourne

The three-storeyed house at 70 Collins Street (formerly 121 Collins Street East), Melbourne, was built in 1857 as a home and surgery for Dr John Wilkins. It was associated for 100 years with surgical practice, especially general surgery and eye and ENT diseases, then with obstetrics and gynaecology, but in time had to yield to commercial pressures. However, the exterior remains intact, its special architecture reminiscent of its early elegance.