b'Marvellous MelbourneAs the city of Melbourne grew and railway lines facilitatedland speculation. He experienced both its highs and tragic access to rural Victoria, property prices began to climb. Inlows. Crisp had always been lucky with his investments, but 1889 the cost of land in some parts of Melbourne was aswhen boom turned to bust in the early 1890s, he incurred high as in London. The epitome of this growth was theheavy losses. Fearing insolvency, he took his own life as the opening of the Australian Building at 49 Elizabeth Streetpain of his financial situation became too great to bear. in 1889. At twelve floors and a height of 53 metres, the building towered over the city and remained the tallestAfter Crisps death, the firm became known as Lewis building in Melbourne for forty years. Hedderwick & Fookes, recognising William Fookes, whohad worked with Henry Hedderwick for many years. As Crisp Lewis & Hedderwick was involved in extensiveMelbourne grew and its economy diversified, the firms conveyancing work during this time, as areas of Victoriapractice evolved from one focused on managing family were subdivided. Thomas Crisp was one of manyestates and trusts to a predominantly commercial practice.Melburnians caught up in the exciting prospects ofDuring the property boom of the 1880s large areas of Australia were subdivided. Land sales were often advertised with elaborate posters like this one for Burke Road Railway Station Reserve in Malvern, Victoria, in 1889. The solicitors for this estate were Messrs Crisp Lewis & Hedderwick. 54'