House, Millbank
37 - 41 Grant Street BACCHUS MARSH, MOORABOOL SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
An early stone and brick homestead complex built in 1855 by William Grant, with outbuildings, fences and garden, including important trees. One outbuilding contains some early rare wattle and daub construction and another, the "dairy" has early drop split slab construction. The property remained in the Grant family for 123 years.
The property is of state historical significance as a representative embodiment of a way of life, demonstrating the changing sequence of patterns of occupancy, over time. It demonstrates an association with an important Bacchus Marsh family. It is a pioneering homestead in Bacchus Marsh. It is of state architectural significance as a relatively intact example of an early homestead and garden and outbuildings, including rare surviving examples of early construction techniques.
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House, Millbank - Physical Conditions
Very Good. It is well maintained. The garden near the front street may be threatened with road widening or subdivisons.
House, Millbank - Intactness
Reasonable. The homestead appears to have been heavily restored.
Garden. The excision of the front flatter portion ofland along Grant Street as part of a former subdivision will unfortunately detract from the garden and the views to the house once development takes place. The current owners of Millbank appear keen to retain the property in its original "cottage form".
SIGNIFICANT INTACT ELEMENTS:
FORM. VERANDAH.
CHIMNEYS. MATERIALS
FENCES/GATES. OUTBUILDINGS
GARDEN. TREES.
House, Millbank - Physical Description 1
An early homestead complex consisting of house, early outbuilding, early "dairy", fence and gates, and garden remnant elements.
The homestead is masonry generally with hip roofs. The early (c 1855) section has stone walls, said to be locally quarried. This consists of two parallel roofs, the rear being L shaped. This was extended on both sides in polychromatic brickwork (c 1900) . There is a skillion verandah at front, returning at right, and another in the angle at the rear. Barges are loopy and at front are French windows. The outbuilding has a small section of internal partition in rare wattle and daub construction, however the wattles are not true basketweave configuration and the horizontal members are not grooved to receive them, as they should properly be. The "dairy" building has south and east walls of drop-slab construction, which is uncommon, but not rare.
The drive is approached from Grant Street through a fragment ofpicket fence, with triangular section rails. It has V-shaped and spearhead picket heads, which are arranged in a catenary curve. The substantial timber posts have moulded caps, and others have axed spearhead tops. There are also H.V. McKay Sunshine vehicular iron gates.
House, Millbank - Physical Description 2
Garden: The garden of Millbank slopes steeply to the front of the house with a curving gravel driveway to the north side of the property 6 The garden is dominated by two Bunya Bunya pines in the front garden which can be seen along Grant Street. The garden has an informal path leading to the front door, under a rose covered arch halfway up the slope.
Ageing fruit trees are planted as specimens in the lawns and cottage perennials and bush roses are currently being rearranged into stone edged garden beds. The rear garden is dominated by a magnificent Peppercorn tree of approximately eight metres diameter, with branches weeping down to the lawn below. A new orchard has been planted in the north west comer. Over the years storm damage has severely altered the shape of the two cypresses at the front entry gate.
Plant Species include: Araucaria bidwillii, Bunya Bunya Pine. Pinus pinea, Stone Pine. Cupressus macrocarpa, Monterey Cypress. Melia azaderach,White Cedar. Populus sp.,Poplar. Morus nigra, Mulberry. Madura pomifera, Osage Orange. Eriobo trya japonica, Loquart. Koelreuteria paniculata, Golden Rain Tree. Schinus molle, Peppercorn Tree. Grevillea robusta,Silky Oak. Cedrus deodara, Hymalayan Cedar. Vitis sp.,Grape Vines. Agapanthus orientalis, Agapanthus.
6 Inspection with permission of the owner, Mrs Annie Hudson, 24 January 1995.
House, Millbank - Historical Australian Themes
Pastoralism
Heritage Study and Grading
Moorabool - Bacchus Marsh Heritage Study 1995
Author: Richard Peterson and Daniel Catrice
Year: 1995
Grading:
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RESIDENCEVictorian Heritage Register H0503
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BACCHUS MARSH EXPRESS OFFICE AND PRINTING WORKSVictorian Heritage Register H0504
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FORMER CHRISTOPHER CRISP RESIDENCEVictorian Heritage Register H0505
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