Place Name
Takes its name from a former early Victorian property called Villa Retreat, which was built sometime between 1833 and 1838. By 1865 it was being referred to as The Retreat with two nearby properties being called Retreat Villas. All three were part of Friars Lane until 1899. In 1988 all but the facade of The Retreat Villa was knocked down and its garden redeveloped as luxury housing. As for the name, Richmond’s proximity to The City had made it a favourite place for the wealthy to escape the noise and smells of urban life. It was a fairly common name.
