West Melbourne Road
291-319 Shannon Avenue NEWTOWN, GREATER GEELONG CITY
-
Add to tour
You must log in to do that.
-
Share
-
Shortlist place
You must log in to do that.
- Download report
Statement of Significance
What is Significant?
The West Melbourne Road Heritage Precinct, 293-319 Shannon Avenue, Newtown, has significance as a predominantly intact streetscape of nine interwar dwellings and three distinctive Federation houses of varying scales and elaboration built between 1910 and 1938. The diversity in the houses reflects the varying socio-economic status of the original owners that included the working and professional classes, and retired graziers. The interwar era dwellings are typically conventional in design, being single storey and detached, with hipped and/or gabled roofs, front or return verandahs, broad eaves, brick chimneys, corrugated sheet metal or tiled roof cladding, face brick, roughcast brick or timber weatherboard wall cladding, timber framed windows (some dwellings featuring bay windows), and detailing applicable to the interwar era.
The dwellings at 303 and 311 Shannon Avenue are particularly substantial and noteworthy examples of the Federation era. At 'Comara', 303 Shannon Avenue this is expressed in the elongated layout with complex hipped and gabled roofs, shallow-pitched return verandah with shallow-gabled portico near the corner, faceted front bay window, bowed bay corner window under the verandah, face brick wall construction, timber framed casement windows, and the brick verandah piers with slender Doric columns. At 'Retford House', 311 Shannon Avenue, the distinctive original features include the complex hipped and gabled roofs, and the projecting angled corner attic that terminates with a faceted balcony bay with a hipped roof above. Other original features include the slate roof cladding, face brick wall construction, rectangular bay windows, timber framed casement windows with highlights, broad eaves with exposed timber rafters, terra cotta roof ridge decoration and finials, ventilators in the gable ends, and the brick verandah pedestals and slender, tapered Doric verandah columns arranged in pairs and in three at the corner. The third Federation era dwelling, 'Derreweit', 305 Shannon Avenue, is more conventional in its Federation era design. The timber dwelling has main hipped roof form with projecting gabled wings at the front and side connected by a return verandah formed as an extension of the main hipped roof. The fabric is predominantly intact, including the corrugated sheet metal roof cladding, rendered chimneys, timber framed casement windows with highlights, broadly-projecting window hoods, gable infill and timber brackets, the unusual square timber verandah posts with elongated timber brackets, and the timber verandah balustrade.
While there is some variation in the front setbacks due to the different periods of development and diversity in the sizes of the rectangular allotments, they mainly feature landscaped settings. The location and layout of the pedestrian paths in the front gardens at 299, 303, 307, 311, and 315 are early. Also contributing to the significance of the precinct are three original front fences. They are the timber post and ripple iron fence (with timber fretwork capping) at 303 Shannon Avenue; low brick fence with expressed piers and hollow steel rails (and metal gate) at 315 Shannon Avenue; and the low brick fence with brick piers and plinth and open metal bays at 319 Shannon Avenue.
How is it significant?
The West Melbourne Road Heritage Precinct, Newtown, is historically and aesthetically at a LOCAL level.
Why is it significant?
The West Melbourne Road Heritage Precinct is historically significant as a physical legacy in residential development fronting the traditional key transport route between 1910 and 1938, and for its associations with some notable figures (Criteria A & H). Although the area was especially defined by commercial development from the early 1850s, including Jeffrey's Fernery Hotel and well-known fernery garden at the corner of West Melbourne Road and Aphrasia Street, it was transformed into a residential area during the Federation period with the construction of 'Comara', 303 Shannon Avenue, in 1910-11 for George England, manager; 'Derreweit', 305 Shannon Avenue, in 1914 by and for Ernest Beach, builder' and 'Retford House, 311 Shannon Avenue, in 1914-15 for the retired grazier, Joseph E. Cutts. These dwellings, together with the subdivision of the Fenery Hotel site in 1922 and the gradual demolition of mid Victorian shops in the northern part of the street, were the catalyst for the construction of several single storey interwar Bungalows in the 1920s and 1930s. These dwellings were more modest in scale compared to brick Federation dwellings, reflecting the working class socio-economic status of the original owners which included a teacher, ironmonger, sports administrator and agent. The dwelling at 319 Shannon Avenue was built by Harold Robert Leach, masterbuilder, as his family home in 1938. It replaced the Fernery Hotel. During his long-term residency at 319 Shannon Avenue, Leach contributed much to local professional and community life, including a term President of the Geelong branch of the Master Builders' Association, and lengthy terms as a Councillor with the Newtown and Chilwell Council in 1946-1958 and 1975-1991 (including a term as Mayor in 1950). Leach was awarded an O.B.E. in 1979 for services to his community. Through the notable designs of 'Comara' at 303 Shannon Avenue and 'Retford House' at 311 Shannon Avenue, the precinct also has associations with the local architectural firms of Tombs and Durran, and Laird and Buchan, respectively. Both firms were prolific in Geelong and region during the Federation period and these dwellings are distinguished examples of their work.
The West Melbourne Road Heritage Precinct is aesthetically significant for its predominant interwar Bungalow character and distinctive Federation styled dwellings situated on steeply-sloping topography (Criterion D). The interwar Bungalows largely demonstrate conventional design qualities for the 1920s and 1930s, and are predominantly intact examples of their type. The variations in the designs reflect the evolution of development and diversity in socio-economic status of the owners. More substantial in scale and setting are the Federation era dwellings. 'Comara' at 303 Shannon Avenue and 'Retford House' at 311 Shannon Avenue are unusual brick examples of Federation design, and have a notable presence in the Shannon Avenue streetscape. 'Derreweit' at 305 Shannon Avenue is a contextually typical Federation style example, but it demonstrations several intact design qualities for its type and has unusual square timber verandah posts with elongated timber brackets.
SIGNIFICANCE OF COMPONENTS
Regional Significance
This place has previously been assessed (and included in a heritage overlay) as having regional significance given its high level integrity, design quality and rarity. In reviewing the significance of these properties in relation to current assessment criteria it is considered to meet the local significance threshold.
* 311 Shannon Avenue - 'Retford House'.
Local Significance
This place is considered to be of sufficient integrity and therefore meet the local significance threshold. This is due to its local high design quality, rarity value and overriding historical value to the area:
* 303 Shannon Avenue - 'Comara'.
Contributory Significance
These places make an important contribution to an understanding of the historical evolution and aesthetic character of the West Melbourne Road, being representative examples of residential development in the important period between the 1910 and 1938:
* 293 Shannon Avenue.
* 295 Shannon Avenue.
* 297 Shannon Avenue.
* 299 Shannon Avenue.
* 301 Shannon Avenue.
* 305 Shannon Avenue - 'Derreweit'.
* 307 Shannon Avenue - 'Banchory'.
* 315 Shannon Avenue.
* 317 Shannon Avenue.
* 319 Shannon Avenue.
Non Significant
This place does not relate to the significant era of building development of the West Melbourne Road Heritage Precinct between 1910 and 1938:
* 313 Shannon Avenue.
-
-
West Melbourne Road - Physical Description 1
DESCRIPTION:
Precinct Boundaries (see plan above)
The precinct comprises 13 properties on the west side of Shannon Avenue from 293 to 319 Shannon Avenue.
Subdivision Layout & Urban Design
The West Melbourne Road Heritage Precinct is characterised by rectangular allotments of varying sizes set on steeply-sloping topography. Most have similar frontage widths with narrower side setbacks, except for 303, 311 and 319 Shannon Avenue that have wide frontages and more substantial side setbacks. These are the larger properties in the heritage area. While there is some variation in the front setbacks to the dwellings, they all have front garden settings defined by open grassed areas, garden beds and trees (ranging in size, maturity and species). At 319 Shannon Avenue are mature pine and cypress trees, possibly planted in the late 1930s. The location and layout of the pedestrian paths in the front gardens at 299, 303, 307, 311, and 315 are also early.Building Fabric
Dwellings
The West Melbourne Road Heritage Precinct is defined by three Federation era dwellings and nine interwar era dwellings that are mostly single storey, having hipped and/or gabled roof forms, timber weatherboard or face brick wall construction, tiled or corrugated sheet metal roof cladding, broad eaves, brick chimneys, timber framed windows and front verandahs or porches. There are variations in the scale and elaboration of the dwellings given the diversity in socio-economic backgrounds of the original owners. All of the Federation and interwar era dwellings are good examples of their design type. There is one introduced (c.1950s) dwelling in the area.
Federation era dwellings
There are three contextually substantial Federation dwellings in the precinct, all having different compositions. At 303 Shannon Avenue, 'Comara' is an unusual example of the Federation type, with its elongated footprint, broad principal hipped roof, stepped minor hipped roofs to the south, projecting gabled wing to the Shannon Avenue frontage and the projecting attic gabled wing to Nantes Street. A return verandah supported by brick pedestals and slender round concrete Doric columns links the gabled wings. The face red brick dwelling also addresses its corner location with a broad bowed corner bay window under the verandah. It has timber framed casement windows with decorative leadlighted highlights. Similar windows defined the faceted bay under the front gabled window. The terra cotta tiled roof cladding may have replaced original tiles of similar construction and design.At 311 Shannon Avenue, 'Retford House' is another distinctive example of the Federation style. This face brick dwelling has picturesque, complex roof forms clad in slate. It is especially defined by its broad hipped roofs at the rear from which project gabled wings at the front and side, and attics as particularly shown in the projecting angled attic at the front that terminates with a faceted balcony bay with a hipped roof. This bay has original roughcast wall balustrade construction (the timber framed windows above having been introduced). The projecting gabled wings have flat-roofed rectangular bay windows with timber framed casements and highlights above. The other windows are also original, with paired casements and highlights. Other original features include the broad eaves with exposed timber rafters, terra cotta roof ridge decoration and finials, ventilators in the gable ends, and the brick verandah pedestals and slender, tapered Doric verandah columns arranged in pairs and in three at the corner.
The third Federation era dwelling in the precinct, 'Derreweit' at 305 Shannon Avenue, is a representative example of the type, with its main hipped roof and projecting gabled wings connected by a return post-supported verandah. Constructed of timber weatherboard wall cladding with a corrugated sheet metal roof, it has unusual square timber verandah posts with elongated timber brackets.
Interwar Era Dwellings
The majority of dwellings in the West Melbourne Road Heritage Precinct are interwar Bungalows. Four of the dwellings were built in the 1920s, with three having similar gabled compositions with front gabled verandahs. They are located at 301, 307 and 317 Shannon Avenue. They share similar details, including bay windows, timber framed double hung windows (with leadlighted highlights), broad eaves, decorative gable infill (shingling and/or timber ventilators), and brick or roughcast chimneys. There are variations in the construction and designs of the verandah details, the dwelling at 301 Shannon Avenue having face brick piers with concrete cappings and similar brick balustrades with concrete cappings. At 307 and 317 Shannon Avenue, the verandahs are supported by brick piers with squat, square timber posts above. The dwelling at 307 Shannon Avenue, 'Banchory', is a particularly distinctive example, having simple, geometric timber ties to the paired posts, rendered piers and solid rendered balustrade. Under the verandah is also a circular leadlight window with broad, plain rendered architraves. The dwellings at 301 and 317 Shannon Avenue are of timber weatherboard wall cladding with corrugated sheet metal roofs, while 'Banchory' has a tiled roof and face brick wall construction and timber weatherboard gable infill.The fourth dwelling at 299 Shannon Avenue has a different composition but similar detailing to the other Bungalows. There is a main hipped roof, together with projecting minor gabled wings at the front and south side, and the hipped post-supported front and side verandahs. Under the front gable is a faceted flat-roofed bay window. The gable infill has bellcast shingling and brackets.
The other five interwar Bungalows were built in the 1930s. The dwellings at 293 and 297 Shannon Avenue have very similar compositions with main hipped roofs and minor front hipped wings comprising arcaded porches. They were both built by M.J. Denno. At 293 Shannon Avenue, the porch is centrally located while at 297 Shannon Avenue it is situated at the side. The dwellings are constructed with tiled roof cladding and brick construction - the dwelling at 297 Shannon Avenue being roughcast. There are timber framed double hung windows, broad eaves and brick chimneys. Another interwar Bungalow of the 1930s is at 295 Shannon Avenue. It has main gabled roof forms and a projecting flat-roofed return verandah supported by brick piers.
Further south at 315 Shannon Avenue is a face brick late interwar Old English styled dwelling. It has tiled hipped and gabled roof forms, the front gabled wing extends to form a porch with round-arched entrance. Other early features include the brick chimneys, elongated brick detailing on the chimney and gable ends, timber framed double hung windows and broad eaves. The flat-roofed wings at the front and rear have been introduced. At the rear are substantial additions not visible from Shannon Avenue.
Nearby at 319 Shannon Avenue is the original residence of H.R. Leach. It has a main hipped roof form with projecting minor hipped wings at the front, rear and side, and a cantilevering, curved front entrance porch. There is also an early curved parapeted wing on the north side. The house has tiled roof cladding and clinker brick wall construction, broad eaves, brick chimneys, and timber framed double hung windows. There are additions at the front and fronting Aphrasia Street.
Later Dwellings
The dwelling at 313 Shannon Avenue has replaced the Late Victorian styled 'Neath Villa' (or represents a substantial alteration and addition), possibly in 1948.Garages and Carports
Garaging is principally at the rear of the properties, accessed by side concrete driveways. For the corner properties including 301, 303, 311, 313 and 319 Shannon Avenue, garaging is located near the secondary street boundaries. These outbuildings are largely modest in scale, with either gabled, hipped or flat-roofed forms.Front Fencing
The majority of the front fencing has been introduced, being tall and solid (a consequence of Shannon Avenue being a key traffic thoroughfare). Most of the fencing is of timber or corrugated sheet metal construction. There are some fences with brick piers and plinths.Three front fences original to the construction of the dwellings survive. At 303 Shannon Avenue, there is an original fence (possibly built 1910-11) with expressed timber posts (capped with timber orbs) having ripple iron bays and timber fretwork cappings. The fence rakes down at the north-east corner at the pedestrian gate entry. The timber gate with rustic fretwork cappings is original. The southern-most portion of the fence fronting Shannon Avenue may have been introduced (to reflect the original fence), while on the northern boundary, the capped timber paling fence with slender expressed posts appears to have been introduced as a contemporary interpretation of the original design.
The two other original fences are reflective of the eras and designs of the 1930s dwellings. At 315 Shannon Avenue, the low fence is defined by clinker brick piers and bays with a hollow steel rail above the bays. There is also an early metal pedestrian gate. At 319 Shannon Avenue is an early, low fence on the Shannon Avenue frontage, with clinker brick piers and plinths and bays of open curvilinear metal bays. The fence has been removed on the return (south side) and there is a tall, introduced horizontally-oriented fence on the Aphrasia Street boundary screening private open space.
Street Infrastructure & Landscaping
The west side of Shannon Avenue has concrete kerb and channeling, with concrete footpaths and cross overs. There are narrow grassed nature strips with Queensland Brush Box (Lophostemon confertus) trees. These trees have been pollarded due to overhead power cables. The trees seem to have been planted in the second half of the twentieth century.Integrity
The West Melbourne Road Heritage Precinct is substantially intact, with 12 of the 13 properties contributing to the historical and architectural/aesthetic heritage values of the area. Individually, the dwellings are either predominantly or moderately intact, with most changes (such as additions) being recessive and largely located at the rear.Heritage Study and Grading
Greater Geelong - Newtown West Heritage Review 2016
Author: D. Rowe & W. Jacobs
Year: 2016
Grading:
-
-
-
-
-
THE HEIGHTSVictorian Heritage Register H0429
-
FORMER SHEARERS ARMS HOTELVictorian Heritage Register H0661
-
ARMYTAGE HOUSEVictorian Heritage Register H0405
-
-