Warringah (formerly EI Tambo), 80 Mercer Street, Queenscliff
80 Mercer Street QUEENSCLIFF, QUEENSCLIFFE BOROUGH
The Botanic Gardens Precinct
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Statement of Significance
Statement of Significance as recorded under the Queenscliff Heritage Study 2009
The following is the Heritage Victoria Statement of Significance (VHR 177):
What is significant?
Warringah (formerly El Tambo) was constructed c. 1860 for Thomas Howard Fellows, who had purchased the land in 1857. It is a single storey house of stuccoed sandstone with hipped slate roof extending over the timber framed and balustraded verandah which encircles the house. The stables are of face brickwork with a gabled loft.
How is it significant?
Warringah is of architectural and historic significance to the State of Victoria.
Why is it significant?
Warringah is important as an early and essentially intact example of a summer house complex, complete with stable and kitchen block. It is also an extraordinary example of the classic colonial bungalow form, incorporating verandahs on three sides set under the main roof. The form appears to derive from the Indian colonial bungalow, derivation it shares with early 19th century domestic architecture in NSW and Tasmania. This form is most unusual in Victoria.
Warringah (formerly El Tambo) is important for its association with Thomas Howard Fellows, politician and judge, who was active in law reform in Victoria in the nineteenth century. Warringah (formerly El Tambo) was constructed by Fellows as his summer house. Among the posts he held were attorney general and solicitor general, postmaster general (1863-64), Leader of the Opposition in Council (1864-68), Minister of Justice and Leader of the Government in Assembly (1868-), fifth judge of the Supreme Court, (1872-), Prahran Councillor (1861-64), Borough of Queenscliffe Councillor (1863-73), Mayor of Queenscliffe (1865)-
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Warringah (formerly EI Tambo), 80 Mercer Street, Queenscliff - Physical Description 1
Today, EI Tambo consists of nine main and two subsidiary rooms which lie within the original building which were perhaps an early addition on the north-west corner (maid's bedroom) and a formerly semi-detached kitchen at the north east corner. Part of the northern verandah has been lilbsorbed in these additions. The kitchen may have been a prefabricated structure, as evidenced by its trussed roof frame and the separate entrance on the east. The underside of the hipped roof is exposed and triangular ventilators have been placed at the hip-apex.
Extract from the 2009 study
Warringah is a large single-storey villa with French doors opening onto a generous verandah around all four sides of the building and interrupted only by an extension to the north-east corner. The verandah has cruciform bracing to the balustrading with an unusual solid fascia above. The original slate hipped roof with an internal valley is largely intact. The main walls are of stuccoed limestone with footings of face stonework.
The design of the dwelling has been noted (see Victorian Heritage Register citation) as appearing to derive from the Indian Colonial bungalow form, which is unusual in Victoria.
In 1984 Warringah consisted of nine main rooms, with two further rooms in what was perhaps an early addition on the north-west corner (maid's bedroom), and a formerly semi-detached kitchen in the north-east.
Subsequent to the construction of El Tambo, sliding hinged shutters were added to the verandah above the balustrade rail. The front door is six panelled with panelled side lights.
The garden is well established and retains its major planting including the Morton Bay Fig and Monterey Cypress. Other plants which contribute to the character include a Norfolk Island Pine, Lilac, Privat, Cotoneaster, Gelsemium and Oleander. The original fence has been replaced.
The original stables on the north side of the property are separated by a narrow passageway. The building is of exposed brick with a corrugated iron roof. The stables have been modified by the introduction of a later garage opening (possibly a new opening altogether) to the east facade onto Mercer Street.
The rear of the property has been subdivided off.
Warringah (formerly EI Tambo), 80 Mercer Street, Queenscliff - Physical Description 2
The main walls are of stuccoed limestone, the footings of face stonework and there are some framed timber internal partitions. There are timber marble and slate mantels and the main three rooms on the south side, open onto a timber framed and balustraded verandah, through four pairs af glazed doors. Like The Ridge, the balustrading is in three panels, each with crossing timber diagonals. Subsequent to the construction of EI Tambo, sliding hinged shutters have been added to the verandah above the balustrade rail. The front door is six panelled, with panelled side lights. The garden is original and well established. Plants which contribute ta the character include an outstanding Moreton Bay Fig, Norfolk Island Pine, Lilac, Privat, Cotoneaster, Gelsemium and Oleander. The fence has been replaced.
Warringah (formerly EI Tambo), 80 Mercer Street, Queenscliff - Physical Description 3
The stables are of face brick and contain a gable loft. They are original externally, with the exception of a new doorway on the east and enlarged windows to the loft. EI Tambo, with its garden stable and kitchen block intact, represents a complete early summerhouse complex. It was built at a relatively early date and like The Ridge, by a man of State historic importance. It is original externally and internally; retaining all of its original fittings.
Warringah (formerly EI Tambo), 80 Mercer Street, Queenscliff - Physical Description 4
An 1860s stuccoed brick and stone house with M-hip slate roof and a large brick stable and coach house on the north boundary. One of the most important residential buildings in Queenscliff. Basically intact internally and externally.
Warringah (formerly EI Tambo), 80 Mercer Street, Queenscliff - Intactness
GOOD
Heritage Study and Grading
Queenscliffe - Queenscliffe Urban Conservation Study
Author: Allom Lovell & Associates P/L, Architects
Year: 1982
Grading:Queenscliffe - Queenscliffe Heritage Study
Author: Lovell Chen
Year: 2009
Grading:
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LATHAMSTOWEVictorian Heritage Register H1052
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PILOTS COTTAGESVictorian Heritage Register H1618
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ROSENFELDVictorian Heritage Register H1134
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