Cottage Complex
80 Gebbies Road, LARA VIC 3212 - Property No 297531
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Statement of Significance
LOCAL SIGNIFICANCE
What is Significant?
The cottage complex at 80 Gebbies Road, Lara, has significance as a rare grouping of Victorian vernacular stone buildings associated with farming and lime burning developments during Lara's fledgling years of development in the 1860s and 1870s. Variously constructed of rendered limestone and basalt, the original cottage and store were built in 1869, with the main gabled dwelling possibly constructed between c.1872 and 1884 when the property was first owned by William Foot. Foot and his family had occupied the land from 1869, having made a successful application for the site as a result of the passing of the 42nd clause of the amended Land Act (which came into force in 1869). Foot sold the property to George Walker, farmer and lime burner in c.1883-84 and it is also possible that main dwelling was built at this time under his ownership. With the death of George Walker in 1901, the property passed to his wife, Margaret, and from about this time she operated a bakery on the property in a gabled building that may have been built for this purpose. The bakery ceased in the 1920s on the death of Margaret Walker. Further contributing to the rarity as a 19th and early 20th century farm complex are the stone and galvanised steel outbuildings in the south-east corner of the site, possibly limestone quarries to the north of the site, rendered masonry wells and the mature peppercorn trees.
How is it Significant?
The cottage complex at 80 Gebbies Road, Lara is historically, architecturally and scientifically significant at a LOCAL level.
Why is it Significant?
The cottage complex at 80 Gebbies Road, Lara, is historically significant for its associations with 19th century farming and lime burning developments and particularly with William Foot and the Foot family, original owners and occupiers from 1869 (Criteria A & H). It was not until 1872 when William Foot formally purchased the land, a consequence of the enactment of the 42nd clause of the Land Act which enabled the formal acquisition of small farm landholdings. The property also has associations with the farming and lime burning developments by George Walker and his wife, Margaret, and from 1901 until the 1920s, the operation of Walker's bakery by Margaret Walker.
The cottage complex at 80 Gebbies Road, Lara, is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level (Criterion D). Although the main dwelling has been altered in the 20th century, this building and the 19th and early 20th century farm buildings are a rare surviving legacy of early farming and lime burning in the Lara area. They demonstrate original vernacular design qualities in their gabled forms, rendered limestone and basalt construction, modest scale and rudimentary appearance. The rendered masonry wells also contribute to the significance of the place. The main dwelling is also one of a small number of surviving Victorian vernacular styled dwellings in the Lara area, all of which have experienced alterations.
The remnant lime quarries at 80 Gebbies Road are scientifically significant as a legacy of 19th century lime operations in the local area, a process no longer in practice (Criterion F).
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Cottage Complex - Physical Description 1
DESCRIPTION
The cottage complex at 80 Gebbies Road, Lara, consists of approximately eight 19th and early 20th century residential and farm outbuildings associated with evolution and development of farming, lime burning and baking. Most of the buildings are situated near the southern boundary of the site, with the main dwelling being centrally located. The buildings are set on a rural, irregular allotment above the southern bank of Hovells Creek. There appears to be evidence of early lime quarries adjacent to the creek bank. To the south-east of the main dwelling are two early rendered masonry conical tops comprising underground tanks or wells. A number of mature peppercorn trees and perimeter garden beds contribute to the rural landscaped setting.
In the south-west corner of the site is an early gabled outbuilding constructed of random rubble limestone wall construction, the exterior walls being rendered. This building appears to have been the original cottage that was built in 1869. There is an original rendered limestone chimney at the eastern end. The roof is clad in introduced corrugated sheet metal, with an original door opening with an early vertically boarded door on the north facade. Small horizontally oriented timber framed windows have been introduced on the south facade. Internally, there are exposed timber rafters and lined coved ceiling of timber planks that might indicate that the early roof was originally clad in shingles. There is an earthen floor and lime washed walls. Overall, the kitchen outbuilding is in fair condition, with evidence of spalled render and damp build up (both externally and internally), due in part of the overgrown vegetation around the building and the lack of gutters and sealed drainage.
The Victorian vernacular styled main dwelling is located to the north-east of the original cottage. It may date from c.1872-84. It is characterised by a simple gable roof form with an early skillion wing at the rear that has been extended and which also projects beyond the dwelling on the north-west to form an open carport. These roof forms are clad in corrugated sheet metal. There is also an encircling hipped roof verandah supported by painted brick piers with fluted and tapered squat square columns and painted solid brick balustrades. This verandah appears to have been introduced in the 1920s or 1930s, given the construction and detail of the piers and columns, possibly having replaced an earlier front verandah. The dwelling is constructed of early rendered limestone having painted brick quoinwork on the building corners and around the front window and door openings. Other original features of the design include the face brick chimneys, central doorway and window openings, timber framed 12 paned double hung windows and the front four panelled timber door with highlight (although the upper glazed panels in the door have been introduced). Overall, the dwelling appears to be in fair condition. There is evidence of rusting in the verandah roof and some damp build up in the walls. While the integrity of the dwelling has been compromised to some degree by the interwar verandah, the original Victorian design is clearly discernible.
Immediately adjacent to the main dwelling on the west side is a partially submerged gabled store outbuilding that was built in 1869. It is constructed of rendered random basalt rubble (with introduced overpainting) and corrugated sheet metal roof cladding. Access is from the south end and there is a small early window on the east facade. Surrounding the north and west facades is elevated concrete paving. This outbuilding appears to be in fair condition and predominantly intact. There is debris build up in the gutters and the gutter on the west side is falling away.
To the north of the original cottage (and north-west of the main dwelling) is an early bakery outbuilding that may have been built in late 19th or very early 20th century. The building has an elongated gable roof form that terminates with a hipped roof face at the south end. A gabled wing also projects from the south-east corner. These roof forms are clad in corrugated sheet metal. It is constructed of rendered masonry construction. There are early timber framed door openings on the east and west facades, together with an original shallow segmentally-arched window opening in the northern gable end that has an early timber framed double hung window (with elaborate detailing) and an early painted masonry sill. This building appears to be in fair condition and is predominantly intact. Like the dairy outbuilding, there is debris build up in the gutters and the east gutter has perished and is falling off the building.
In the south-west corner of the site are narrow-gabled stone and corrugated galvanised steel outbuildings that appear to date from the late 19th or early 20th century. At the east end is an early timber ventilator in the gable end, as well as skillion additions. These outbuildings appear to be in fair-poor condition. To the north-east of these outbuildings is a shallow-pitched 20th century shed with a skillion wing. At the entrance to the property to the north-west is a gabled shed with a skillion wing on the north side. It is constructed of lightweight wall cladding with a corrugated sheet metal roof and vertically boarded timber doors. It may date from the early 20th century.
Heritage Study and Grading
Greater Geelong - Lara Heritage Review Phase 2
Author: D. Rowe & W. Jacobs
Year: 2013
Grading:
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BLAIRS ROAD COTTAGE RUINSVictorian Heritage Inventory
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FORMER DUCK PONDS SCHOOLVictorian Heritage Inventory
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RUINS (FACTORY? & COTTAGE)Victorian Heritage Inventory
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