GULF STATION
1029 MELBA HIGHWAY YARRA GLEN, YARRA RANGES SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
The Yarra Glen area originally, known as Yarra Flats, was first settled in 1837 by the Ryrie brothers, overlanders from New South Wales who grazed cattle on the rich Yarra River flats. The Ryrie brothers also planted grapes in 1838, beginning an industry that brought fame to the Yarra Valley in the latter part of the centuryThe open flood plain also attracted early pastoralists from Melbourne who settled in the district and beyond towards Healesville. During the early 1860s, the beginnings of a township was established by traders who set up to cater for local settlers, timber cutters and the many gold prospectors then on their way to the Woods Point goldfields. Rail access increased the town's profile in the Yarra Valley and in 1889 the name of Yarra Glen was adopted for the town. The decline of the Yarra Valley wine industry in the 1890s resulted in the local diversification into dairying and orcharding, and into the production of sheep and beef cattle in the Yarra Glen area. In recent times the return of viniculture to Yarra Glen has revitalized the wine and food industries and revived the popularity of the area as a tourist destination.
Gulf Station is of architectural and historical significance to the State of Victoria.
Gulf Station is of architectural significance as one of the most complete surviving complex of farm buildings of vernacular timber construction in Victoria dating from the mid nineteenth century. The homestead demonstrates the change in vernacular building techniques over a one hundred year period while in the occupation of one family. The structures range from those of vertical timber slab with shingle roof of the 1850s, through extensions in stud frame with split weatherboards, galvanized corrugated iron and the fret cut verandah brackets of its Edwardian wing. The homestead is also significant for demonstrating the change over a century in interior finishing techniques of a relatively unpretentious dwelling.
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GULF STATION - History
Contextual History:History of Place:
Source: AHC
After the surveyor Robert Hoddle explored this area in 1838 it became known as Yarra Flats, however the Scottish settlers who came to farm the area in the following decades favoured the name Yarra Glen, after the homestead built by James McPherson to the south along the Yarra River. William Bell and his three sons became established landholders by 1854. William Bell died in 1870 but the property remained with his descendants until after Word War Two. Thereafter, a soldier settler, J. Smedley took over. The State Government purchased the remnants of the property, totalling sixteen hectares in 1976, and appointed the National Trust as the Committee of Management. Gulf Station has since been available to a wider community and is likely to increasingly become a place of importance in the hearts of the Melbourne community as properties such as Como have already become.
Associated People: Assoc.People ROBERT HODDLEAdditional History 2005
The Yarra Glen area originally, known as Yarra Flats, was first settled in 1837 by the Ryrie brothers, overlanders from New South Wales who grazed cattle on the rich Yarra River flats. The Ryrie brothers also planted grapes in 1838, beginning an industry that brought fame to the Yarra Valley in the latter part of the centuryThe open flood plain also attracted early pastoralists from Melbourne who settled in the district and beyond towards Healesville. During the early 1860s, the beginnings of a township was established by traders who set up to cater for local settlers, timber cutters and the many gold prospectors then on their way to the Woods Point goldfields. Rail access increased the town's profile in the Yarra Valley and in 1889 the name of Yarra Glen was adopted for the town. The decline of the Yarra Valley wine industry in the 1890s resulted in the local diversification into dairying and orcharding, and into the production of sheep and beef cattle in the Yarra Glen area. In recent times the return of viniculture to Yarra Glen has revitalized the wine and food industries and revived the popularity of the area as a tourist destination.While the origins of European occupation of Gulf Station are not clear, John Dickson possibly occupied the site of the station from about 1844. He erected a dwelling elsewhere on the Gulf Station property and there is no evidence to indicate that the present homestead is of 1840s origins. There is a possibility however, that part of the existing kitchen wing may be an 1840s structure originally erected as a combined hut and animal shelter. In 1855, Dickson sold a covenant for the Gulf Station pre-emptive right to William Bell and Thomas Armstrong and Bell and Armstrong bought the freehold in October 1858. Armstrong, however, is believed to have formed a new station at Yarra Flats by 1856, leaving William Bell’s son William in occupation of the Gulf Station property. William Bell Jnr ran the property until his death in 1877 when his widow Mary Ann Bell assumed control. Gulf Station stayed in Bell family hands until the death of Dinah Bell in 1951 after which the property was sold to soldier settler Jack Smedley. Recognizing the unique value of the station, the State Government purchased the remnants of the property, totalling sixteen hectares in 1976, and appointed the National Trust as the Committee of Management. Gulf Station is now a tourist destination visited by groups who are interested in experiencing what farm life was like during nineteenth century.
Sources:
Meredith Gould Architects P/L. Gulf Station, Yarra Glen Conservation Policy and Plan. 1998
S Balderstone, D McIntosh, F O’Neill. Gulf Station Homestead, Yarra Glen: Conservation Analysis. 1993
D V Bick. Conservation Analysis Report on Gulf Station. 1980
Australian Heritage Commission. Register of the National EstateGULF STATION - Permit Exemptions
General Exemptions:General exemptions apply to all places and objects included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). General exemptions have been designed to allow everyday activities, maintenance and changes to your property, which don’t harm its cultural heritage significance, to proceed without the need to obtain approvals under the Heritage Act 2017.Places of worship: In some circumstances, you can alter a place of worship to accommodate religious practices without a permit, but you must notify the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria before you start the works or activities at least 20 business days before the works or activities are to commence.Subdivision/consolidation: Permit exemptions exist for some subdivisions and consolidations. If the subdivision or consolidation is in accordance with a planning permit granted under Part 4 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the application for the planning permit was referred to the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria as a determining referral authority, a permit is not required.Specific exemptions may also apply to your registered place or object. If applicable, these are listed below. Specific exemptions are tailored to the conservation and management needs of an individual registered place or object and set out works and activities that are exempt from the requirements of a permit. Specific exemptions prevail if they conflict with general exemptions. Find out more about heritage permit exemptions here.
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PREFABRICATED TIMBER HOUSEVictorian Heritage Register H2024
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GULF STATION, YARRA GLENVictorian Heritage Inventory
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Gulf StationNational Trust H0384
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..estervilleYarra City
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1 Alfred CrescentYarra City
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1 Barkly StreetYarra City
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