Victorian Woollen & Cloth Co. Mills
231 Swanston Street SOUTH GEELONG - Property Number 218307, GREATER GEELONG CITY
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Statement of Significance
B Listed - Regional Significance
STATEMENT OF SIGNFICANCEHistorically, the site of and part of one of Geelongs and the States earliest woollen mills and earliest secondary industries. It is in part one ofthe States oldest factories. Architecturally, the red brick parts of the complex relate closely to the Valley Mills Mills on the north and parts of the complex possess notable forms and elements or represent early use of natural lighting techniques saw tooth on the bluestone wing.
Conservation analysis required.
Streetscape - Related closely to the former Barwon and Valley Mills complex in form and material, and the older fellmongeries by it's siting and general form.
External Integrity - The early twentieth century elements remain generally original but the earlier stages have been modified in detail, more so on the Swanston Street site than in Factories Road (more detailed appraisal needed). The chimney stack is gone and an unrelated addition made to the Godfrey Hirst & Co. building, at Barwon Terrace.
Reference
1. Riggs, INV. Vo.25, No.1, p.17f cites Victorian Parlt. Votes amp Proceedings 18645, Vol.1
2. Riggs, loc. cit. see Prospectus GA 16.2.65,25.1.1868
3. Alsop et. al. Council for the Historic Environment Engineering Structures of Geelong
4. GA 17.10.65
5. GA 15.9.66
6. Riggs, loc. cit.
7. GA21.7.69
8. GEHp.lOf
9. Riggs, lococit.
10. RBI869.70, 176 RB 18678, 160
11. GA. 21.12.70
12. GA 6.3.71
13. GA. 12.12.72
14. GA 15.8.73
15. GA. 30.1.76
16. GA 14.5.74
17. GA. 5.3.74
18. GA. 25.1.77, 7.2.77, 26.8.78
19. ibid.
20. 13.8.74
21. MUAI cites Argus 7.6.823
22. see memorial plaque at mill
23. GTPp.4lf
24. Riggs.loc.cit
18. NOW 21.3.23, 28.14.12: Council for the Historic Environment Engineering Structures of Geelong
19. NOW 11.7.0, 26.9.07, 1.10.08, 27.6.07 41
20. NOW 16.6.10: GHRC L&B Contract Book
21. GW&ST Field Books 1912
22. Reid, p.49
23. Riggs in the INV. On 98 p18.
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Victorian Woollen & Cloth Co. Mills - Physical Description 1
DESCRIPTION:
Refer above, detailed conservation analysis required) Once two separate mill complexes (this one and the Factories Road mill) and now united under Godfrey Hirst and Co., PIL., there is still a visual similarity between the brick sections of the two complexes and, to a lesser extent, other Geelong mills such as Collins Union Woollen Mill 1874.
The Swanston Street complex consists of at least three major stages, one of which has Victorian era two colour brickwork as in Factories Road, the others being of single colour red brickwork Edwardian with articulation introduced by patterned brickwork or, in the later work, cement detailing. The Barwon Terrace comer represents the most recent of the three with Bungalow form and Greek revival stylism evident after 1912. More prosaic and recent structures have been added between the older brick sections but even within these older areas, functions have changed or building stages overlap.
Inside the mill, a stone section appears to be the 1865 (1867-8?) structure while the encircling brick sections date from the mid 1870s and 1880s onwards. Of note is the saw-tooth roof on the old stone section which could predate that of the Dennys Lascelles wool store, remnant curved brickwork and a coloured glass almost domestic window within the factory. A wing with arched iron truss roof forms with oculi within the end walls matches what was illustrated as the original tower design truncated although located on the west side not the south as shown in the etching (two towers).
A timber managers or caretakers residence in Factories Road is presumably part of the Edwardian expansion era although a similarly planned cottage was surveyed in 1912 as next to the Barwon River, facing Factories Road, and may have been moved since.
Heritage Study and Grading
Greater Geelong - Geelong City Urban Conservation Study, Volumes 2-5
Author: Graeme Butler
Year: 1991
Grading:
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