HARTWELL PRIMARY SCHOOL
4 Merton Street CAMBERWELL, BOROONDARA CITY
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Statement of Significance
What is Significant?
Hartwell Primary School, 4 Merton Street Camberwell, built 1922 with major extension in 1928 is significant.
How is it significant?
Hartwell Primary School is of local historic and aesthetic significance to the City of Boroondara.
Why is it significant?
Hartwell Primary School is historically significant as a reflection of the rapid growth of the population of Boroondara and the subsequent increase in school enrolments in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Significant growth in the eastern part of the municipality in the early twentieth century provided ample numbers of children for which the establishment of several new schools was required, and the continual expansion of existing schools. Hartwell Primary School is historically significant as a reflection of the changing needs of the school community through expansion, firstly in 1928 (major extension to house 200 students), 1930 and 1942 (two further classrooms) followed by major upgrades in 1946 (school grounds), 1970 (library) 1997 (sports hall), and c.2010 major extensions), and in accommodating student numbers from over 600 in 1946 to 370 today. The school is an expression of the local community through their agitation for its initial construction following overcrowding at neighbouring schools; and its continual improvement, through to fundraising for the provision of new facilities. (Criterion A)
Hartwell Primary School is a fine example of the fine Interwar school buildings exemplified in the work of the Victorian Public Works department under Chief Architect Edwin Evan Smith. Smith's leadership of the Department from 1922-1928 corresponded with the construction of a number of fine schools that expressed contemporary ideas of civic beauty through the use of classical styles, an emphasis on axiality and at times, Palladian plans. These include several examples of State significance including University High School Parkville, Bendigo Senior Secondary College and Kyneton Secondary College. Hartwell Primary School is also one of several Interwar schools within Boroondara including Camberwell South, Ashburton, Chatham and Kew East. (Criterion D)
Hartwell Primary School is aesthetically significant for its use of classical elements to enrich the entrance through a rendered porch with pilasters, a shallow arched porch with corbels and dentillations. The building is distinguished through its use of face red brick with concrete sills and lintels around the regularly spaced multi-paned sash windows. Other elements of the style include the low pitched hipped roof and eaves with exposed rafters and face brick and rendered chimneys. Whilst some external changes have taken place to the main 1922 and 1928 wings (roof replacement, front door, major extensions), the school retains its Interwar character through the axial plan, hipped form and detailed elements evident in historic photos. (Criterion E)
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HARTWELL PRIMARY SCHOOL - Physical Description 1
The Hartwell School is situated on a large site surrounded by Oberwyl Road, Merton, and Milverton Streets. The site comprises a range of buildings and playing fields with the 1922 building located at the corner of Milverton Street and Oberwyl Road. The main Stripped Classical building was constructed in two stages, initially as a two storey 'T' shaped plan in 1922 followed by a large wing in matching design in 1928.
The 1922 design exemplifies E Evan Smith's design approach during his time as Chief Architect of the Public Works Department, which expressed contemporary ideas of civic beauty through the use of classical styles, an emphasis on axiality and respect for the surroundings (VHD). The simple, yet dignified appearance of the 1922 and 1928 wings is maintained through ornamentation of the entrance and the regularly placed multi-paned sash windows.
The 1922 features a rendered entrance with pilasters and an arched moulding forming an ornamented shallow porch. This is decorated with pairs of corbels and dentillation to the underside of the moulding. The remainder of the building is of red face brickwork with concrete lintels and sills to the window openings. The roof is a low pitched hip roofed form with small eaves and exposed rafter ends. The roof, formerly of terra cotta tile is now replaced with corrugated metal.
Windows appear to be original or exact replicas of the original and a timber framed with multi-paned sashes, some with top lights. The front door has been replaced within a contemporary glazed side and top light. The chimneys of plain red brick with rendered bands at the top are significant elements to the composition. Comparison with historic photos indicates that the 1922-28 building is largely intact externally, apart from replacement of the roof and the front door. The site has undergone development and features contemporary additions to the main building and a freestanding sports hall.
Heritage Study and Grading
Boroondara - Municipal-Wide Heritage Gap Study: Vol. 2 Camberwell
Author: Context
Year: 2018
Grading: Local
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