Heritage Citation Report

Transcription

1 Heritage Citation Report Name Address Place Type Wattle Hill House 195 Wilsons Road, Portland Residence Citation Date 20 June 2016 Heritage listings Recommended heritage protection Victorian Heritage Inventory (VHI) Wattle Hill House (H ) Glenelg Shire Planning Scheme (PS) Heritage Overlay (HO) Figure 1 : Wattle Hill House, undated (Source: Victorian Heritage Database) Hermes XXXX Place Citation Report Page 1

2 Figure 2 : Proposed HO extent History and historical context Wattle Hill House was built in around for the Minogue family, an early immigrant family to the Portland region. Simon and Johanna Minogue migrated in 1841, with their first two children. Simon Minogue was listed as being a shepherd who was unable to read or write on the passenger manifest for the Agricola. Simon and Johanna had an additional eight children whilst living in Portland, the majority of whom stayed living in the region as adults (Janson nd). Johanna Minogue has also been described as the first white woman to settle in Portland (Age, 22 October 1904). Simon and Johanna s ninth child, Julia Sutton, appears to have inherited Wattle Hill House. The difficulties of living outside of an established township are demonstrated throughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The first example of this occurred in 1884 when Mrs Minogue (Johanna) was robbed for the second time in a short period of time. The first time she was robbed, all of her jewellery was stolen. The second time two electro-plated sugar basins, a large amount of minor fixings and a writing case were stolen. Due to the lack of other people within the nearby area, the thief was not seen, and was therefore not able to be caught (Hamilton Spectator, 23 February 1884). The second example of the difficulties of living outside of the established township was the reluctance of the council to provide infrastructure to the property boundary. In 1913, Julia Sutton (nee Minogue) and B Minogue (most likely her unmarried sister, Bridget, a Milliner) submitted a request to the council that a road to the Wattle Hermes XXXX Place Citation Report Page 2

3 Hill property be constructed. Also in 1913, they requested that a drainage outlet be built near Wattle Hill House; however, the outlet was still not built in 1918 (Hamilton Spectator, 17 vember 1913; Portland Guardian, 15 March 1918; 12 April 1918). After the Minogue s occupation, Mr Stephen Kittson rented the land, and then Thomas Lightbody purchased the property in around His descendants still own the property. Wattle Hill House remains a private residence. Relevant Historical Australian Themes 4 Building settlements, towns and cities 4.5 Making settlements to serve rural Australia 8 Developing Australia s cultural life 8.12 Living in and around Australian homes 8.14 Living in the country and rural settlements Description Physical description Wattle Hill House is a two storey bluestone building built in the colonial Georgian style. The building has a hipped slate roof. The façade is symmetrical, with the door in the centre with a window on each side on the lower level. There are three windows on the upper floor, lining up with the windows and door on the ground floor. The windows are 12-pane, double hung sash windows. The windows and the door have timber frames that have been painted white. There is a bluestone chimney on each side of the building. Previously there was a kitchen and outbuildings near the house, however they have been removed. There is a bluestone fence immediately adjacent to the house. The house is surrounded by a garden and planted trees, which add to the picturesque nature of the house. The house was not inspected during this assessment, so this description is based on research, photographs and information from the property owner. Physical condition Good Usage/Former usage Residence Recommended management Maintain generally as existing Comparative analysis HO169 Gardeners Cottage, within the Portland Botanic Gardens, Corner Glenelg and Cliff Streets, Portland, Glenelg Shire The Gardeners Cottage is a rectangular, bluestone cottage with a high pitched slate gable roof, casement windows, rusticated stone quoins and massive chimneys. It was constructed in The cottage is significant for the association with Mr Elliot, the designer of the Botanic Gardens in Portland, and the first curator, Mr William Allitt, who was the first resident of the cottage. The picturesque style of the Gardeners Cottage is unusual for older buildings in Portland, which are usually of the classical style. Hermes XXXX Place Citation Report Page 3

4 HO424 O'Brien's Cottage, Hamilton Highway, Penshurst, Southern Grampians Shire O Brien s Cottage is a 1860s bluestone cottage located three kilometres to the north west of the Penshurst township. The cottage is of historical significance as an example of a rural cottage. It displays the principal characteristics of a 1860s rural vernacular building. It is also significant for its association with the O Brien family, who were the owners of the cottage for many years. architect or builder has been associated with the building. VHR H245 / HO27 Residence, 70 Julia Street, Portland, Glenelg Shire The building is an axed ashlar basalt building constructed in the Early Victorian style. It has a modest string course and elongated pilasters supporting a restrained cornice and parapet. The twelve-pane double hung sash windows have simple surrounds and there is a bracketed cornice over the door opening. The hipped, corrugated iron roof was originally clad in slate. The residence is associated with Dr Charles Grier, one of Portland s first doctors and an important figure in the social history of the town. It is also associated with John Barrow, a local engineer and architect who designed the building. The architectural features contribute to the aesthetic significance and the technical and creative significance of the building. The giant order pilaster and cornice are unusual features on an otherwise typical Victorian Georgian style building. The house still retained its original cedar staircase and marble fireplaces. Summary The comparative analysis indicates that due to their early construction dates, stone houses are often significant for their associations with the owner, builder or designer of the building. The buildings are also aesthetically significant, and can present styles that are rare or unusual and display principal characteristics of an architectural style. Statement of significance What is significant? Significant elements of Wattle Hill House include: External features including: the bluestone construction, the pitched slate roof with a hipped form, the timber 12-pane, double hung sash windows, and the timber door frames. The two bluestone chimneys. The garden and large trees which surround the house. How is it significant? Wattle Hill House is significant to the Glenelg Shire for its rarity (HERCON criterion B), potential to yield information (HERCON criterion C), demonstration of principal characteristics of a colonial Georgian style building (HERCON criterion D) and aesthetics (HERCON criterion E). Why is it significant? Wattle Hill House is significant for its rarity. It is one of two remaining two storey bluestone farmhouses that were constructed on the outskirts of the Portland Township, with Brierly, on Bridgewater Road, the other extant house. There were a series of these houses fringing the outskirts of Portland constructed in the 1850s-1860s including the White House on Mailings Road, Dawkins on McNeillys Road, Oakpark on Trangmar Street and Lightbodys, also on Wilsons Road, all of which are in a ruinous state. Wattle Hill House is significant for the way it demonstrates the principal characteristics of a colonial Georgian style residential building. Features include the pitched and hipped slate roof, the timber 12-pane double hung sash windows with timber frames and the timber door frames. Hermes XXXX Place Citation Report Page 4

5 Wattle Hill House has aesthetic significance for its situation in a picturesque location, surrounded by an established garden, planted trees and the remaining infrastructure, such as the bluestone garden wall. Wattle Hill House is listed on VHI for its archaeological remains and therefore has the potential to yield information for research purposes. However there are no further details available regarding the location and nature of archaeological features at the property. Recommended Controls (2016) External Paint Controls Internal Alteration Controls Tree Controls Fences & Outbuildings Prohibited Uses May Be Permitted Incorporated Plan Aboriginal Heritage Place Yes References Janson, E. nd Simon Minogue. Retrieved 9 June 2016 from Newspapers Age, Melbourne, Hamilton Spectator, Victoria, ; Portland Guardian, Portland, This information is provided for guidance only and does not supersede official documents, particularly the planning scheme. Planning controls should be verified by checking the relevant municipal planning scheme. Hermes XXXX Place Citation Report Page 5