Seymour High Street Precinct
Brettoneaux Street Villiers Street, SEYMOUR VIC 3660
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Statement of Significance
. The history and description, which precedes this Statement of Cultural Significance, is the source of evidence for the statement below.
The Seymour High Street Precinct is architecturally significant at the LOCAL level (AHC criteria D.2, E.1). It demonstrates many original and early design qualities associated with the residential development of the area north of the 1872 Seymour Railway Station, primarily between 1885 and the 1930s. It is a harmonious mix of single storey houses predominantly Victorian in style, complemented with a stylistic mix of Federation and a small number of Californian Bungalow and interwar Bungalow houses. These qualities include their horizontal weatherboard or bi-chrome brick wall construction, hipped or gabled galvanised corrugated iron and occasionally slate roof forms, one storey heights, brick chimneys, timber framed double hung windows (predominantly residential buildings), wide eaves, with picturesque skylines created by the pitched rooflines and chimneys, accented by a backdrop of sky and trees, and gardens visible over low fences.
The condition of most of the places is excellent to fair. Most of the significant houses in the precinct have decorative features, with verandah, roof and/or wall decoration. The area is enhanced by the orientation of the houses with the allotment boundaries configuration, front and side setbacks and side driveways accessed from the street frontage, with low fences, and footpaths with nature strips. The area has buildings that date from the period of the three main subdivisions, two churches and their accompanying halls and school.
The Seymour High Street Precinct is aesthetically significant at the LOCAL level (AHC criteria D.2, E.1). It demonstrates important visual qualities that reflect the historical and cultural development linking the area east of the old commercial town by High Street which is the original 'track used in the wet season' connecting the river crossing to the Sydney Road track to Avenel and beyond. These qualities include the rare bluestone, and red brick gutters in High Street, views along High Street, and views to the mountains to the south from President, Villers and Callen Streets. Significant urban foci are: the a cemetery park,, with its remnants of Seymour's first official cemetery, the Catholic Church complex and Uniting church and halls
The Seymour High Street Precinct is historically significant at the LOCAL level (AHC criterion H.1). It is associated with the early settlers of Seymour, Wallis and particularly Butler and the development of the first suburban allotments for residences on high ground, particularly after the 1870 floods and construction of the railway station in 1872. Associations with cultural developments from the nineteenth century are identified by the 1850s cemetery and tombstones, the Catholic Church, Convent and School, and associations with the twentieth century include the Methodist (now Uniting) Church and Mission Halls and the hospital gates and street names Villers and Bretonneux which commemorate the First World War and the avenues of trees.
The Seymour High Street Precinct is socially significant at the LOCAL level (AHC criterion G.1). Parts of this area of Seymour are recognized and highly valued by the local community for religious reasons, (the churches), the Memorial Gates and avenue of trees and the Pioneer Cemetery for commemorative and recreational reasons.
The Seymour High Street Precinct is scientifically significant at the LOCAL level (AHC criteria C2 and D2) for its archaeological potential, particularly the cemetery grounds.
Overall, the Seymour High Street Precinct is culturally significant at the LOCAL level.
Sourced by Lorraine Huddle P/L 2006
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Seymour High Street Precinct - Historical Australian Themes
8.7 Honouring achievement
8.8 Remembering the fallen
8.9 Commemorating significant eventsVeterans Description for Public
Seymour High Street Precinct - Veterans Description for Public
The Seymour High Street Precinct demonstrates many original and early design qualities associated with the residential development of the area north of the 1872 Seymour Railway Station, primarily between 1885 and the 1930s. Part of the precinct strongly highlights "Remembering the Fallen" of the First World War, with the combination of the street names - "Bretonneux" and "Villers", the memorial gates in front of the hospital and the former avenue of mature plane trees along Bretonneux and Villers Streets. Standing in place of the avenue of honour, is a red brick mounment on a median strip, commemorating the First World War.
Heritage Study and Grading
Mitchell - Mitchell Shire Heritage Study
Author: Lorraine Huddle Pty Ltd
Year: 2006
Grading: Local
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SEYMOUR RAILWAY STATIONVictorian Heritage Register H1591
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Reconstructed Log Lock-UpNational Trust
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Royal HotelNational Trust
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