Former Free Library & Mechanics Institute, 168-172 Main Street, STAWELL
168-172 Main Street STAWELL, NORTHERN GRAMPIANS SHIRE
Stawell Main Street Precinct
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Statement of Significance
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Former Free Library & Mechanics Institute, 168-172 Main Street, STAWELL - Physical Description 1
The former Mechanics Institute building at 168-172 Main Street, Stawell, contributes to the architectural and visual amenity of the predominantly Victorian and interwar streetscape.
The symmetrical, three storey (including basement), unpainted brick and rendered Victorian Italianate styled Mechanics Institute is characterised by a crowning rectangular parapet having a central pediment with "Free Library" incised in the title panel and a broadly projecting moulded and dentillated stringcourse below. Under the parapet is also an early entablature with incised signage that reads: "Mechanics 1875 Institute". The upper floor is characterised by a three-bayed composition having a narrow and slightly projecting central bay and two flanking wider bays. The bays are separated by early square, rendered pilasters with stylised capitals (with patera) and incised panels, with a projecting rendered stringcourse interrupted by the window heads that spring above into blind arches having moulded architraves, punctuating keystones and decorative motifs. Above the central bay is additional decorative work. The flanking six paned windows are early and have timber frames. The central bay has an early recessive doorway, with timber and glazed doors and a shallow balconette. Below the windows and pilasters are rendered pedestals, stringcourses and incised panels and bands.
Separating the first and ground floors is an introduced cantilevering canopy. Under the canopy the ground floor openings has been altered, with introduced shopfronts and central doorway.
Beyond the main facade are early hipped roof forms clad in galvanised corrugated steel, together with early rendered and face brick chimneys, face brick wall construction and side parapets. There are also early timber framed double hung windows, shallow-arched basement openings, Stawell stone plinth, and red brick window and basement opening voussoirs. The rendered wall band under the springing of the roof appears to have been introduced.
Heritage Study and Grading
Northern Grampians - Shire of Northern Grampians - Stage 2 Heritage Study
Author: Wendy Jacobs, Vicki Johnson, David Rowe, Phil Taylor
Year: 2004
Grading: LocalStawell Main Street Precinct peer review
Author: Landmark Heritage PL
Year: 2024
Grading:
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HILL PIPE ORGAN - ST PETER'S LUTHERAN CHURCHVictorian Heritage Register H2177
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CENTRAL PARKVictorian Heritage Register H2284
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COMMONWEALTH MEMORIALVictorian Heritage Register H1943
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