Former Duck Ponds Parsonage & School
25 Branch Road, LITTLE RIVER VIC 3211 - Property No 284119
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Statement of Significance
LOCAL SIGNIFICANCE
What is Significant?
The former parsonage and school building, 25 Branch Road, Little River, has significance as an historical legacy of Anglican faith and secular education to the north of Lara from as early as 1864, when it was built as a Church of England Parsonage to a design by the Corio Shire Engineer, D.K. Goodall. It served as as the Flinders Peak State School No. 2107 from 1878 until its closure in 1911. Throughout the 20th century, the building has been the location for park rangers and in more recent times, community education. Although much altered, the composition and massing, bluestone construction and window and door openings are an embodiment of the historical values of the place.
How it is Significant?
The former parsonage and school building, 25 Branch Road, Little River, is historically significant at a LOCAL level.
Why is it Significant?
The former parsonage and school building, 25 Branch Road, Little River, has historical significance for its associations with the very early development of the Church of England in Lara. Built in 1864 to a design by the Corio Shire Engineer, D.K. Goodall, the building originally served as a Church of England Parsonage for the Duck Ponds and Little River Reader's District. The northern location provides an appreciation of early development near the You Yangs. Equally importantly, the former parsonage has served as the Flinders State School No. 2107 from 1878 until 1911. It is an historical marker in relation to the importance placed on free and secular education by the local community, a consequence of the new Education Act of 1873 and a public meeting held at the parsonage at this time with the quest of providing education for school age children. Throughout the 20th century, the building has been a residence for park rangers and in more recent times, the location of community education. The historical significance of the place is embodied in the existing physical fabric.
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Former Duck Ponds Parsonage & School - Physical Description 1
DESCRIPTION:
The former Duck Ponds parsonage and school building at 25 Branch Road, Little River, is set on elevated rural land and is surrounded by open grassed areas and eucalypts. Vehicular access is from Turntable Drive, to the west, with a gravel driveway and parking area (now grassed over) at the rear of the building. Previous garden borders at the rear are marked by bluestone blocks.
The single storey, asymmetrical, unpainted bluestone, altered Victorian Picturesque Gothic styled former parsonage and school building is characterised by a broad interwar era gable roof form that traverses the site, together with minor gabled wings that project at the front and side. These roof forms are clad in introduced corrugated sheet metal. An interwar era shallow skillion verandah is a feature at the front and it is supported by timber posts with introduced timber lattice valance and timber balustrade. Altered rendered chimneys project from the roofline. Broad overhangs are features of the eaves. The front minor gable has timber lattice and weatherboard infill. There is an introduced timber and glazed door under the front verandah. The side gables have a rendered finish above the original eaves line and there is an introduced rendered wall finish on the rear (north) wall. The west elevation has an original round-arched bluestone opening and original window openings (the windows appear to have been introduced in the 20th century). On the east side, the projecting early gable roofed wing has rendered north and east walls and timber lattice infill in the gable end. The timber weatherboard addition has a similar but smaller gabled roof form with small windows on the north elevation. To the east of the addition is a round water tank set on a bluestone base.
The original Victorian Picturesque Gothic design of the building is discernible in the building envelope and in the composition of the building massing, bluestone construction and front and side window openings with bluestone lintels and sills.
Heritage Study and Grading
Greater Geelong - Lara Heritage Review Phase 2
Author: D. Rowe & W. Jacobs
Year: 2013
Grading:
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Former Duck Ponds Parsonage & SchoolGreater Geelong City
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