Merricks Beach. Friends in front of an open fireplace at ‘Tusmore”.
Merricks Beach. Friends in front of an open fireplace at ‘Tusmore”.
MEDIAImage
COLLECTIONBalnarring and District Historical Society
REG NO.P 0504
HISTORYMerricks Beach. Friends sitting in front of an open fireplace at ‘Tusmore” in Bayview Road.
Otto Washatz was born in Dresden, Germany, came to Australia in 1876. In 1915 he patented a fibrous plaster wallsheet under the trade name ‘Lottoid”. Some of his decorative plasted adorned the Melbourne Public Library, the Town Hall, Spencer Street Railway Station, Melbourne, Austin and Heidleberg Hospitals, Stat Savings Bank in Elizabeth St, Bank of NSW in Collins St, ES&A Bank and the School of Mines Library.
Otto purchased two acres of land at 91 Bayview Road, Merricks Beach in 1923 and planned to retire tther to live in ‘Tusmore’ the house he had built on this property. His wife Ruth decided she did not wish to retire there because of its relative isolation, so only the lounge - dining - kitchen was built at that time in the early years.