'Swanwater' Homestead & Cemetery, 1358 Sunraysia Highway, SWANWATER
1358 Sunraysia Highway SWANWATER, NORTHERN GRAMPIANS SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
Swanwater homestead and cemetery complex have significance as a moderately intact example of an unusual mid nineteenth century pastoral complex. The property was developed by Valentine Nott Mogg from 1856 until his death in 1883. The property has a main house and outbuildings plus an extensive array of cottages and farm buildings arranged around a large farm courtyard. Many of the outbuildings are of an unusual pebble wall construction which appears to derive from the flint wall construction found in southern England. The outbuildings appear to have been built after the construction of St. Peter's Carapooee, built in 1869, which also uses this type of wall construction. This may indicate the influence of the architect Leonard Terry or the local St. Arnaud brick layer Henry Edwards. Mogg was the president of the first Roads Board and Shire and has been described as the local squire for St. Arnaud. Mogg is buried in the private cemetery on the property. The main house suffered extensive fire damage in 1967 and the complex is in poor condition.
Swanwater homestead and cemetery complex is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level. Although partly ruined and in poor condition the homestead dwelling demonstrates design qualities of a mid Victorian style. These qualities include the single storey design, brick walls and remaining parts of the verandah. The outbuildings demonstrate original design qualities of a Victorian vernacular style. These qualities include the hipped and gabled roof forms clad in slate and galvanised corrugated iron, brick walls, highly unusual pebble wall construction with brick quoinwork and some remaining joinery and internal fittings. The garden walling, cemetery enclosure and memorials are also significant. The remnant early planting including the Canary island palms, peppercorns and pines and garden layout add to the significance of the place.
Swanwater homestead and cemetery complex is scientifically significant at a LOCAL level. The pebble wall construction is highly unusual in Victoria.
Swanwater homestead and cemetery complex is historically significant at a LOCAL level. Swanwater was settled in 1856 and was in the ownership of the Mogg family until at least 1883. Valentine Nott Mogg was instrumental in the development of many institutions in the St. Arnaud areas including local government.
Overall, Swanwater homestead and cemetery complex is of LOCAL significance.
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'Swanwater' Homestead & Cemetery, 1358 Sunraysia Highway, SWANWATER - Physical Description 1
Swanwater homestead and cemetery are situated on a rise in the property with extensive views of the gently sloping land in all directions. The Sunraysia highway takes a detour around the homestead area. The homestead has a modest gate onto the highway and is reached by a kilometre driveway between an avenue of trees. The driveway is not used and is covered with tree debris. The driveway leads to the brick garden wall to the house where it opened through a simple cast iron gate to the front of the house and main lawn and garden. The driveway continued along the side of the wall to the main large courtyard which resembles a village square with a number of outbuildings and cottages surrounding the square.
The building complex is now unoccupied and derelict. It appears to have been abandoned after the fire in 1967. The main homestead building is of red brick with a return verandah surviving partially intact. There is no roof or roof structure surviving. The verandah is supported by stop chamfered posts with moulded timber capitals. The verandah beam is decorated with timber fretwork shaped scallops. The brickwork retains the opening of the French doors which opened onto the verandah but no joinery remains. The floors have been removed from the structure. Much of the internal plaster work has deteriorated but there are some small patches of stencilled wall decoration remaining.
The house fronts a large gently sloping brick walled garden which opens to another small walled area which contains the cemetery. The cemetery wall is of the pebble construction with a brick capping. This contains the stone memorial to Valentine Nott Mogg and a small number of headstones of family members and workers on the property.
At the rear of the main house is a collection of buildings related to the homestead around an inner courtyard which links to the main large courtyard around which are cottages which appear to have housed employees and farm outbuildings. A number of these buildings are of the pebble stone walls with brick quoinwork. Most are now in an unmaintained condition and require substantial repair work to roofs, stormwater run off and cracking. Some retain window and door joinery and the stables retain some evidence of stalls and timber fittings.
There are some remaining original plantings including a Canary Island Palm, peppercorns and pine trees.
There was no evidence on the day of inspection of the pebble wall and brick quoined gatehouse shown in the photograph held by the St. Arnaud and District Historical Society which was described as a cottage near the entrance to Swanwater Estate.
The large number of buildings and the unusual form of construction requires a more detailed inspection and assessment than can be undertaken as part of this heritage study. The complex is highly unusual and has the capacity to add to the knowledge of a large and well built pastoral property.
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: Local
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'Swanwater' Homestead & Cemetery, 1358 Sunraysia Highway, SWANWATERNorthern Grampians Shire
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