Dry Stone Wall, Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Road cnr Swamp Road
Swamp Road & Geelong Bacchus Marsh Road BALLIANG, MOORABOOL SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
Drystone fences, probably part of the boundary between the squatter pastoralists Thomas Chirnside (Werribee Estate ) and Simon Staughton (Staughton Vale Estate), built c l870, with post and wire added after 1908.
They are of local historical significance as early surviving examples of drystone fences and as evidence of the boundary between the early pastoral runs, indicating the earliest local settlement pattern.
They are also of local architectural significance, in demonstrating the skilled craftsmanship and techniques of the stone-waller's trade, including their use of the knapping hammer.
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Dry Stone Wall, Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Road cnr Swamp Road - Physical Description 1
The group of drystone walls at the junction of Ripley, Swamp and the Bacchus Marsh - Geelong Roads demonstrate a variety of construction styles.
The largest section of a continuous style is that along the south side of Ripley Road. It is a drystone wall between whole log posts, with two strands of heavy gauge black wire. The wall is built of battered boulders forming rubble fill, and topped and capped with wide flat boulders. It is located on the south side of Swamp Road and Riplay Road and on both sides of the Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Road. The south-east corner forms the boundary of Spring Park and the south-west corner has remnant vegetation. This wall is 1.15 metres high with a regular cope of large flat stones set on their edges. The faces of the wall are smoothly finished, with considerable use of the knapping hammer to shape the stones to fit. Small broken pieces have been used to plug gaps. The wall has few through-stones and coursing is irregular or absent. The wall west of the Geelong Ballarat Road is similar, is probably contemporary, and may have been erected by the same waller. There is some variation to the western end where large flat stones have been sued as through-stones about halfway up the wall. These project from both sides of the wall and are at one to two metre intervals.
Another fence ison the north side of Swamp Road and the east side of the Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Road. At the base of the fence is a line of boulders. This is a split timber post and wire fence, with 5 strands of heavy gauge black wire and a top strand of barbed wire.
Dry Stone Wall, Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Road cnr Swamp Road - Intactness
Very good, On the south boundary of Riplay Road, the black wire has been replaced with barbed wire.
Dry Stone Wall, Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Road cnr Swamp Road - Physical Conditions
Very good. Swamp Road is a dirt track. Riplay Road is an unformed fire access road only, un-named on site.
Dry Stone Wall, Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Road cnr Swamp Road - Historical Australian Themes
Pastoralism
Dry Stone Wall, Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Road cnr Swamp Road - Usage/Former Usage
USE: Drystone fences.
Heritage Study and Grading
Moorabool - Bacchus Marsh Heritage Study 1995
Author: Richard Peterson and Daniel Catrice
Year: 1995
Grading:
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Dry Stone Wall, Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Road cnr Swamp RoadMoorabool Shire
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