Former Shire Engineer's Residence
8 Rennie Street, LARA VIC 3212 - Property No 283088
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Statement of Significance
LOCAL SIGNIFICANCE
What is Significant?
The former Shire Engineer's Residence at 8 Rennie Street, Lara, has significance as a predominantly intact and outstanding local example of the Federation style, having been designed in 1911 by the Geelong architectural firm of Laird and Buchan. The fabric that contributes to the significance of the dwelling includes the single storey height and asymmetrical composition, horizontal timber weatherboard wall cladding, main hipped roof form at the front and the projecting minor gables at the front and side, recessive side projecting hipped wing, rear gabled wing and the return verandah formed under the main roof. Particular distinctive early details include the splayed corner window bay with a bank of timber framed casement windows and highlights, timber framed double hung windows, face brick and render chimneys, timber shingling in the gable ends, stepped northern gable end, curved timber gable brackets and the bracketed window hood above the windows on the northern gable. The paired timber verandah posts and curved solid timber verandah valances are particularly distinctive significant features. The dwelling served as the Shire Engineer's residence between 1911 and the 1940s, when it was purchased by the Victoria Police Department. The property was then the location of the local police station and residence until the construction of a new station building in 1963, although the dwelling continued to serve as a police residence in subsequent years. The dwelling is in fair condition when viewed from the street.
How is it Significant?
The former Shire Engineer's Residence at 8 Rennie Street, Lara, is historically and architecturally significant at a LOCAL level.
Why is it Significant?
The former Shire Engineer's Residence at 8 Rennie Street is historically significant for its associations with the Corio Shire Council and its engineer (and secretary) between 1911 and the 1940s (Criteria A & H). The first Shire Engineer to occupy the dwelling was H.G. Oliver (1911-1934). The residence also has historical value as the local police station and residence from the 1940s until the late 20th century. The residence is further associated with the prolific architectural firm of Laird and Buchan who designed a large number of timber dwellings during the Federation era in the Geelong region.
The former Shire Engineer's Residence at 8 Rennie Street is architecturally significant as a predominantly intact and outstanding example of the Federation style in Lara (Criteria D & E). It demonstrates several original design qualities reflective of the work of the Geelong architects, Laird and Buchan, and it is distinguished for this reason. The dwelling is also one of a small number of predominantly intact Federation styled houses in the Lara area.
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Former Shire Engineer's Residence - Physical Description 1
DESCRIPTION
The former Shire Engineer's Residence at 8 Rennie Street is set on a substantial and irregular allotment. The house has a large front setback denoted by an introduced, gravelled circular driveway with central grassed garden bed having some perimeter shrubs. The front is bound by an introduced timber post and woven wire fence with hedges behind. The main entrance has an introduced timber gateway structure, the timber fretwork detailing between the paired posts reflecting the valance detailing of the dwelling. At the rear of the site to the side (north) of the dwelling are introduced shallow-gabled outbuildings. The north-west portion of the site is also identified by trees.
The single storey, asymmetrical, horizontal timber weatherboard, Federation styled dwelling is characterised by a main hipped roof form at the front, together with projecting minor gables at the front (east) and side (north). These gables are linked by a return verandah formed under the extension of the main hipped roof. A minor hipped wing projects from the south side (at the rear of the front gable) while there is a rear (west) gabled wing (originally designed with a hipped roof). The roof forms are clad in lapped, red-painted galvanised corrugated steel. Four early face brick chimneys with rendered bands, projecting cappings and terra cotta pots adorn the roofline.
Other early features of the design include the splayed corner window bay with its bank of timber framed casement windows and highlights, timber framed double hung windows, exposed timber rafters to the return verandah, timber shingling in the gable ends, stepped northern gable end, curved timber gable brackets and the bracketed window hood above the windows on the northern gable (a window hood on the front windows under the gable has been removed since 1998). The paired timber posts and curved solid timber verandah valances are particularly distinctive early features.
Heritage Study and Grading
Greater Geelong - Lara Heritage Review Phase 2
Author: D. Rowe & W. Jacobs
Year: 2013
Grading:
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HOVELLS CREEK BRIDGE ABUTMENT, GEELONG RAILWAY LINEVictorian Heritage Inventory
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Former Corio Shire HallGreater Geelong City
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Old Shire Hall - LaraNational Trust
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