NORMANBY AVENUE GATEHOUSE
39 SHAFTSBURY PARADE, THORNBURY VIC 3071
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Statement of Significance
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NORMANBY AVENUE GATEHOUSE - History
The 1909 MMBW plan (no. 2090) details the section of the South Morang rail corridor within which the proposed site is situated (Figure 2). The plan map shows a structure within the proposed site extent area that is labelled ‘Gatehouse No. 17’, and displays the primary structure, as well as a porch attached to the structure’s north-east and a tank (likely either a water tank or septic tank) attached to the building’s south (Figure 3). A structure the same size and shape and in a location that corresponds to the MMBW plan can be seen in an image of the Normanby Avenue level crossing dated to August 1967 (Figure 4). Based on the location and the nature of the structural features identified during CSR works (Figure 5, Figure 6), it is likely that they represent the small, wooden structure that is visible within the outlined area of the 1967 image.The South Morang rail line, originally known as the Whittlesea rail line, was opened in 1889 (Lovell Chen 2020). Based on the 1909 MMBW plan of the area, it is likely that the gatehouse visible in this plan represents the original gatehouse for the Normanby Avenue crossing of the rail line.
Aerial imagery of the rail line shows that the surrounding area had been heavily developed by 1945, predominantly for residential purposes (Figure 7). A structure within the area containing the gatehouse is visible, however the image quality does not allow for individual features of the structure to be differentiated from one another.NORMANBY AVENUE GATEHOUSE - Interpretation of Site
The structural features uncovered are highly likely to represent a portion of the former Normanby Avenue / South Morang railway gatehouse and, based on the use of timber and bluestone as components of these structural features, may represent the original gatehouse constructed as part of the larger South Morang railway line in 1889. The size, shape and materials observed in the structural features identified so far indicate that this may represent the wooden structure depicted in Figure 4. Based on the structural features uncovered so far, it is likely that additional features are located to the west and east of the current findspot. However, if the structural features uncovered so far are indeed associated with the wooden structure depicted in Figure 4, it appears that features associated with the primary gatehouse structure may have been mostly removed.
Heritage Inventory Description
NORMANBY AVENUE GATEHOUSE - Heritage Inventory Description
The Normanby Avenue Gatehouse comprises a number of structural features, including a bluestone floor foundation and in situ wooden beams that are likely to represent the footings of the structure’s former walls. The archaeological features were encountered unexpectedly during Combined Services Route (CSR) works in the area associated with the Preston Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP). The site is situated within the South Morang railway corridor and partially underneath a pedestrian footpath running between Normanby Avenue and Shaftesbury Parade, Thornbury VIC. The perimeter of the gatehouse foundations that were exposed during the initial discovery and assessment of the find measured 1680 mm by 530 mm. In addition to the structural features, small quantities of artefactual material associated with the gatehouse, including glass, metal, and faunal bone were also identified within the footprint of the proposed site extent (Figure 1). The proposed site extent includes all areas containing the gatehouse structure, as well as areas suspected to contain further structural features or artefactual material, based on the initial field assessment of the site and on a Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works (MMBW) plan of the area dated to 1909 (plan no. 2090; Figure 2).
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NORTH MELBOURNE POTTERYVictorian Heritage Inventory
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STONY CREEK SLIPWAYVictorian Heritage Inventory
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SEASONING WORKS SITE AND TERRACOTTA LUMBERWALLVictorian Heritage Inventory
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