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WYCHEPROOF COURT HOUSE
38 HIGH STREET WYCHEPROOF, BULOKE SHIRE
WYCHEPROOF COURT HOUSE
38 HIGH STREET WYCHEPROOF, BULOKE SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
What is significant?
The Wycheproof Court House, constructed in 1889 and designed by architect Samuel Edward Bindley of the Public Works Department (PWD) in a classical revival style, and eight items of original court furniture being:
- Judges bench
- Clerk of court desk
- Witness stand
- Prisoners dock
- Lawyers table
- Table with drawers #1 (originally in northeast room)
- Table with drawers #2 (originally in southeast room)
- Public seating bench
How is it significant?
The Wycheproof Court House is of architectural significance to the State of Victoria. It satisfies the following criterion for inclusion in the Victorian Heritage Register:
Criterion D
Importance in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of cultural places and objects.
Why is it significant?
The Wycheproof Court House is architecturally significant as a notable court house constructed by the Public Works Department (PWD) to a design common to six court houses in northwest Victoria. Of these, the Wycheproof Court House is a fine and highly intact example, retaining many of its original features, such as the external holding cell, exposed timber trusses and high ceiling. Much of the original court furniture survives, including the judge’s bench, lawyers table and the hexagonal witness stand. [Criterion D]
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WYCHEPROOF COURT HOUSE - History
Wycheproof is a rural town 120 km northwest of Bendigo on the edge of the Mallee region. It was named after the Wycheproof pastoral run (also known as the Avoca pastoral run) taken up in 1846. Farm selections were taken up in the district from 1873, and the Mount Wycheproof Hotel was opened in 1874. During the 1880s the population grew, and a number of civic buildings were constructed including a railway station. In 1889 a brick court house was built to the designs of architect Samuel Edward Bindley of the Public Works Department, Victoria. In 1890, it opened as a court of petty sessions in which minor criminal cases, such as theft, were heard by a magistrate.During that era, six court houses in this region were designed and built to similar plans, including the Warracknabeal Court House (1890), Boort Court House (1890) and Natimuk Court House (1891). The design illustrates the simple, classical revival court house forms developed by the Public Works Department during the nineteenth century. Unlike many nineteenth-century courthouses in Victoria, the Wycheproof Court House retains much of its original purpose-built furniture (including the judge’s bench, lawyers table and hexagonal witness stand) as well as the original exposed timber trusses and high ceiling. The holding cell on the north side of the building also survives. This allowed the prisoner to enter and exit the dock from a separate exterior entrance without interacting with members of the public.
The Wycheproof Court House ceased operating as a court in the early 1980s. It is now the home of the Wycheproof and District Historical Society, housing many items of significance to the local community including honour rolls. The court house is also a 'Place of Deposit' (POD) auspiced by the Public Record Office Victoria. PODs are appointed to hold original, public records from local state government agencies, in this case court records, which are on open access to the public. The Buloke Shire Council oversees the maintenance of the building.
Consultation and interviewsThe Executive Director thanks Alan Milburn, President, Wycheproof and District Historical Society and other members of the society for facilitating a site visit and generously sharing the history of the place with the Heritage Victoria assessor.WYCHEPROOF COURT HOUSE - Assessment Against Criteria
The Wycheproof Court House is of architectural significance to the State of Victoria. It satisfies the following criterion for inclusion in the Victorian Heritage Register:
Criterion DImportance in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of cultural places and objectsWYCHEPROOF COURT HOUSE - Permit Exemptions
General Exemptions:General exemptions apply to all places and objects included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). General exemptions have been designed to allow everyday activities, maintenance and changes to your property, which don’t harm its cultural heritage significance, to proceed without the need to obtain approvals under the Heritage Act 2017.Places of worship: In some circumstances, you can alter a place of worship to accommodate religious practices without a permit, but you must notify the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria before you start the works or activities at least 20 business days before the works or activities are to commence.Subdivision/consolidation: Permit exemptions exist for some subdivisions and consolidations. If the subdivision or consolidation is in accordance with a planning permit granted under Part 4 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the application for the planning permit was referred to the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria as a determining referral authority, a permit is not required.Specific exemptions may also apply to your registered place or object. If applicable, these are listed below. Specific exemptions are tailored to the conservation and management needs of an individual registered place or object and set out works and activities that are exempt from the requirements of a permit. Specific exemptions prevail if they conflict with general exemptions. Find out more about heritage permit exemptions here.Specific Exemptions:Specific ExemptionsExempt works and activities
The works and activities listed here are not considered to cause harm to the cultural heritage significance of the Wycheproof Court House subject to the guidelines and conditions below:Modern shed at the rear of the Court House- Exterior maintenance and repair
- All interior works
- Removal.
Objects integral- Temporary relocation or movement of the moveable Registered Objects Integral to the Registered Place within the court house building.?
- Temporary external movement, relocation or loan of the moveable Registered Objects Integral to the Registered Place to Australian or Victorian government cultural institutions which have materials conservation departments, where the activity is undertaken or supervised by qualified conservators, and performed in accordance with the accepted standards, policies and procedures of the borrowing organisation concerned. The Executive Director must be notified of all such activities and the before and after loan reports prepared by the materials conservation department of the government cultural institution must be forwarded to the Executive Director.?
Guidelines and ConditionsGuidelines- Where there is an inconsistency between permit exemptions specific to the registered place or object (‘specific exemptions’) established in accordance with either section 49(3) or section 92(3) of the Act and general exemptions established in accordance with section 92(1) of the Act, specific exemptions will prevail to the extent of any inconsistency.
- In specific exemptions, words have the same meaning as in the Act , unless otherwise indicated. Where there is an inconsistency between specific exemptions and the Act, the Act will prevail to the extent of any inconsistency.
- Nothing in specific exemptions obviates the responsibility of a proponent to obtain the consent of the owner of the registered place or object, or if the registered place or object is situated on Crown Land the land manager as defined in the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978, prior to undertaking works or activities in accordance with specific exemptions.
- If a Cultural Heritage Management Plan in accordance with the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 is required for works covered by specific exemptions, specific exemptions will apply only if the Cultural Heritage Management Plan has been approved prior to works or activities commencing. Where there is an inconsistency between specific exemptions and a Cultural Heritage Management Plan for the relevant works and activities, Heritage Victoria must be contacted for advice on the appropriate approval pathway.
- Specific exemptions do not constitute approvals, authorisations or exemptions under any other legislation, Local Government, State Government or Commonwealth Government requirements, including but not limited to the Planning and Environment Act 1987, the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006, and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth). Nothing in this declaration exempts owners or their agents from the responsibility to obtain relevant planning, building or environmental approvals from the responsible authority where applicable.
- Care should be taken when working with heritage buildings and objects, as historic fabric may contain dangerous and poisonous materials (for example lead paint and asbestos). Appropriate personal protective equipment should be worn at all times. If you are unsure, seek advice from a qualified heritage architect, heritage consultant or local Council heritage advisor.
- The presence of unsafe materials (for example asbestos, lead paint etc) at a registered place or object does not automatically exempt remedial works or activities in accordance with this category. Approvals under Part 5 of the Act must be obtained to undertake works or activities that are not expressly exempted by the below specific exemptions.
- All works should be informed by a Conservation Management Plan prepared for the place or object. The Executive Director is not bound by any Conservation Management Plan, and permits still must be obtained for works suggested in any Conservation Management Plan.
Conditions- All works or activities permitted under specific exemptions must be planned and carried out in a manner which prevents harm to the registered place or object.?Harm includes moving, removing or damaging any part of the registered place or object that contributes to its cultural heritage significance.
- If during the carrying out of works or activities in accordance with specific exemptions original or previously hidden or inaccessible details of the registered place are revealed relating to its cultural heritage significance, including but not limited to historical archaeological remains, such as features, deposits or artefacts, then works must cease and Heritage Victoria notified as soon as possible.
- If during the carrying out of works or activities in accordance with specific exemptions any Aboriginal cultural heritage is discovered or exposed at any time, all works must cease and the Secretary (as defined in the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006) must be contacted immediately to ascertain requirements under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006.
- If during the carrying out of works or activities in accordance with specific exemptions any munitions or other potentially explosive artefacts are discovered, Victoria Police is to be immediately alerted and the site is to be immediately cleared of all personnel.
- If during the carrying out of works or activities in accordance with specific exemptions any suspected human remains are found the works or activities must cease. The remains must be left in place and protected from harm or damage. Victoria Police and the State Coroner’s Office must be notified immediately. If there are reasonable grounds to believe that the remains are Aboriginal, the State Emergency Control Centre must be immediately notified on 1300 888 544, and, as required under s.17(3)(b) of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006, all details about the location and nature of the human remains must be provided to the Secretary (as defined in the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006.
WYCHEPROOF COURT HOUSE - Permit Exemption Policy
It is recommended that a Conservation Management Plan is utilised to manage the place and objects integral in a manner which respects its cultural heritage significance.
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