AIRLIE, SOUTH YARRA
254-260 DOMAIN ROAD SOUTH YARRA, MELBOURNE CITY
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Statement of Significance
What is significant?
Airlie was built c. 1873 for David and Elizabeth Ogilvy. David Ogilvy had originally obtained the land in 1846. The architect for the house is unknown, but the builder was believed to have been Joseph Dean. The house is a two storey mansion with ruled ashlar blockwork and rendered walls. It has a hipped slate roof. A coach house and stables complex, designed by Willian Salway, was built in 1890. Substantial additions were made in 1924, including the front portico, surrounding veranda and the balcony on the first floor. Further alterations were made in 1957 when the building was converted to a police college.
How is it significant?
Airlie is of historical and architectural significance to the State of Victoria.
Why is it significant?
Airlie is of historical significance as a remnant of the early development south of the Yarra River, and because of the important and interesting uses to which the building has been put. David Ogilvy purchased the land on which Airlie was later built in one of the earliest land sales south of the Yarra, in 1846. While Airlie appears to be Ogilvy's second house on his property, and while the property's curtilage has been substantially reduced over the years, the house remains as a reminder of the large estates that characterised the early development of South Yarra. For its first seventy years Airlie functioned as a residence, owned by a number of prominent Victorians, including George Chirnside of Werribee. But its subsequent uses are historically most significant. In 1942 and 1943 Airlie was Headquarters for Special Operations Australia, also known as ?Z? Special Unit, which organised coastwatchers and intelligence missions into Japanese occupied territory by allied servicemen. The house reverted to private ownership after the war, but was acquired by the Health Department in 1950 and converted to a Tuberculosis clinic, for which purpose it was used until being given to the Police Department in 1957 for a training college. Airlie has thus played a substantial role in Victoria's wartime, health and police history.
Airlie is of architectural significance as an example of a relatively early South Yarra mansion. Although it has been altered over the years, its character as a substantial mansion house remains, providing an idea of the lifestyle of Melbourne's 19th and early 20th century elites.
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AIRLIE, SOUTH YARRA - History
Contextual History:History of Place:
The land on which Airlie is sited was originally obtained as a ten acre grant in 1846 by David Ogilvy. Ogilvy first built a house called Airlie Bank on his land (where Witchwood Close is today) in 1847. Airlie was built c. 1873 for Ogilvy and his wife, Elizabeth. It had a number of subsequent owners, including George Chirnside (of Werribee), and Robert Chirnside. During WW2 it was used by military intelligence and in the 1950s served as a TB clinic before being converted to a police college in 1957.
Associated People: David and Elizabeth Ogilvy
George and Robert ChirnsideAIRLIE, SOUTH YARRA - 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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FORMER BRYANT & MAY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEXVictorian Heritage Register H0626
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PRIMARY SCHOOL NO. 2084Victorian Heritage Register H1634
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FORMER RICHMOND POWER STATIONVictorian Heritage Register H1055
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