Valley Worsted Mills
221 Swanston Street, GEELONG EAST VIC 3219 - Property No 232820
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Statement of Significance
B Listed - Regional Significance
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
Historically, a link with Geelong's major industrial base and the introduction to Australia of large secondary industry complexes after World War One in this case by British interests.
Architecturally, because it was built as one concept, it possesses a high visual coherence for an industrial complex. It also achieves both stylistic sophistication in its administration block and stylistic sparse but picturesque appearance in the mill and ancillary wings. Also, it, relates closely to the adjoining Hirst complex.
EXTENRAL INTEGRITY:
Generally original but detailed analysis required.
STREETSCAPE:
Visually, a companion complex to Hirst mills on the south and, in turn, linked historically to the earlier fellmongering buildings along the Barwon River, east of Swanston Street.
REFERENCES:
Corio Parish plan
RB1923,450 NAV ₤400; RB1924, 470 NAV ₤1200; RB1927, 478 NAV ₤4000; INV 1983 p. 42.
GA 14.6.22/3
Ibid
GA 17.5.24/3
GA 28.3.25/9
See Geelong Wool Museaum photographs
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Valley Worsted Mills - Physical Description 1
DESCRIPTION:
Comprised of a multiplicity of forms and volumes, this complex nevertheless is a visual coherence arising from the short construction of the complex. Similarly much of the complex is altered in detail only and valuable parts of the original setting (fences, garden layout and planting) survive, resembling in its total concept other model industrial complexes of the era built up on the model line ie. Bryant & May match factory, Richmond.
Conceived in a similar manner to some of the large contemporary industrial complexes which arose after the First War, it has familiar components such as administration, boiler houses and chimney mill or factory rooms, all on a much larger scale that the limited manufacturing structures of the 19th and early 20th century. The next comparison realm lies with warehouse or wool store complexes which possess a similar spatial allocation but symbolize vastly different activities.
Baroque revival cement details on fences and ground-level openings mark the administration block while the factory wings rely on bold repetition of simple elements or unusual forms for the visual character. Elements such as the numerous roof vents or the monitor roof-end-walls, when seen from the east, because of their repetition are visually distinctive.
An encircling flood control wall marks the problems experienced by all occupiers of the Barwon banks.
Heritage Study and Grading
Greater Geelong - Geelong City Urban Conservation Study, Volumes 2-5
Author: Graeme Butler
Year: 1991
Grading:
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AUSTIN HALL AND TERRACE COMPLEXVictorian Heritage Register H0841
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ResidenceGreater Geelong City
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ResidenceGreater Geelong City
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