Johnstone Park Buildings & Objects - Bandstand, George King Stone, Hitchcock Memorial Gates, King George V Statue, Medici Urns, Stitt Jenkins Memorial Fountain, 24 Gheringhap Street
24 Gheringhap Street, GEELONG VIC 3220 - Property No 299927
Civic Centre Heritage Area
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Statement of Significance
A Listed - State Significance
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE - GRC - HISTORIC PLACES DOCUMENTATION SHEET NO. 230
STITT JENKINS MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
The Barrabool stone components of the William Stitt Jenkins Dog Fountain are the surviving remnants of a once elaborate drinking fountain built in 1860 and specifically for the use of animals. Originally located at the intersection of Railway Terrace and Mercer Street, and subsequently moved to the Market Square in 1879, this fountain was erected under the auspices of prominent Geelong settler and businessman, William Stitt Jenkins. Jenkins was the founder of a local movement to provide drinking fountains and water troughs' at strategic location in Geelong for the use of quadrupeds. The fountain of a semi-circular troughs', is modeled on Classical prototypes by the Architects Backhouse & Reynolds.
RECOMMENDATIONS: PROTECTIVE MEASURES
Geelong Regional Commission Register.
REFERENCES
For brief details of Eilliam Stitt Jenkins see
Brownhill, W. R. - A History of Geelong and Corio Bay, Wilke & Co., Melbourne, 1955, pp. 208, 219, 245-247, 392, 414, 594, 452 photographs.
William Stitt Jenkins died on 1 August, 1878, and is buried in the Eastern Cemetery. He was born in England on 30 June, 1812, and came to Victoria in the early 1850's. Jenkins established a reputation as a local poet and contributed regularly to the Geelong Advertiser. His Last Will and Testament was written in verse.
A search of Minute books and records of the City of Greater Geelong, and a detailed examination of the Geelong Advertiser for 1860 may unearth further information concerning the dedication of the fountain and the monumental mason responsible for the execution of this once finely detailed drinking fountain
Geelong Advertiser - 31 December 1859: 'Tenders to stonemasons for erection of a public drinking fountain corner Moorabool and Malop Streets. Backhouse and Reynolds Architects.
"A History of Johnstone Park and Its Buildings"
P Mills, R Geisberg, B Sharp: Unpublished Report, Architectural Department, University of Melbourne.
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE - GRC - HISTORIC PLACES DOCUMENTATION SHEET NO. 228
KING GEORGE V STATUE
The bronze statue of King George V which stands on a granite base in front of the Art Gallery and facing Johnstone Park was unveiled by the Governor of Victoria on 26 October, 1938, as a tribute from the people of Geelong and District to their late king. The bronze figure was canst in 1937 at the Fonderie Chivrazzi in Naples, Italy, to design by the Sculptor, Wallace Anderson. The statue is a fine example of commemorative statuary in Australia and witness to the strong patriotic spirit in the Geelong region.
RECOMMENDATIONS: PROTECTIVE MEASURES
Geelong Regional Commission Register.
REFERENCES
The unveiling ceremony on 26 October 1938 is recorded in the files of the Geelong Advertiser and in Geelong 1938 Centenary Illustrated Geelong Advertiser 1938. p. 7.
Geelong advertiser - 27 October, 1938, p. 1. description of ceremony.
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE - GRC - HISTORIC PLACES DOCUMENTATION SHEET NO. 226
G. R. KING MEMORIAL STONE
The King Monument at western boundary of Johnstone park, and close to the Gordon technical College (established 1887) commemorates the contribution of noted architect, administrator and educationalist, George R King to the cultural and educationalist, George R. King to the cultural and educational life of Geelong.
From 1898 to 1934, King served the Gordon technical Colleges Secretary, and later, Principal with great distinction. The granite boulder from the Dog Rocks at Batesford was erected in 1959 by ex-students of the Geelong Technical College, symbolising King;s love of the area and the dramatic Dog Rocks formation.
RECOMMENDATIONS: PROTECTIVE MEASURES
Geelong Regional Commission Register.
REFERENCES
Mills p., Geisberg R., and Sharp, B, - "A History of Johnstone Park and its Buildings' History IV thesis, Department of Architecture, University of Melbourne, 1965.
Brownhill, W. R. - A History of Geelong and Corio Bay, Wilke & Co., Melbourne, 1955, pp. 253-254.
Aitken, Richard - "Edwardian Geelong: An Architectural Introduction", Deakin University, 1979, for details of the architectural practice of Seeley, King and Everett.
Sillcock, Ken M - 'The Gordon of Geelong: A History of the Gordon Institute of technology 1887-1980'. Unpublished manuscript copy at the Gordon Technical College, Geelong.
Inscription on the monument reads:
'George R King, O.B.E., F.R.A.I.A., 1872-1950 A Great Educationalist'
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE - GRC - HISTORIC PLACES DOCUMENTATION SHEET NO. 227
HITCHCOCK MEMORIAL GATEWAY
The Hitchock Memorial gateway to the northern approach of the Johnstone Park was erected in 1925 as a tribute to noted civic leader, the hon. Howard Hitchcock, Mayor of Geelong in 1917-1922. the conservative classical design by architects Laird and Buchan is derived from the architecture of the English Renaissance and is located on the axis of the Peace Memorial building and the central bandstand to for an impressive entrance to the spacious Jonhston Park gardens.
RECOMMENDATIONS: PROTECTIVE MEASURES
Geelong Regional Commission Register.
REFERENCES
Mills, P - Geisebers R and Sharp, b. - 'A history of Johnstone Park and Its Buildings, History Research Essay, Department of Architecture, university of Melbourne, 1965.
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE - GRC - HISTORIC PLACES DOCUMENTATION SHEET NO. 229
DE MEDICI URNS
The 'De Medici' Urns in Johnstone Park were presented to the Corporation of the City of Geelong by Mrs John bell in October 1873. These two cast iron urns, modelled on urns from the period of the Florentine Italian Renaissance were made at the Derby Works of enterprising and accomplished iron founders, Andrew Handyside & Co. This firm was known for their superior castings of fine vases, fountains and ornamental castings and these two urns together with four others at Corio Villa are exquisite examples of Handyside craft. The urns have historical associations with the foundation of Johnstone Park and are of great technical and aesthetic interest.
RECOMMENDATIONS: PROTECTIVE MEASURES
Geelong Regional Commission Register.
Historic Buildings Council Register
National Trust of Australia (Victoria) Register.
Australian Heritage Commission Register of the National Estate
REFERENCES
For details of the work of Andrew Handyside and Company see
Gilbert , Herbert - Pioneers of Prefabrication: The British Contribution in the Nineteenth Century, Baltimore, 1976.
Andrew Handyside and Company - Works in Iron, Spon, London 1868.
Malcom Higgs - The Exported Iron Buildings of Andrew Handyside and Company of Derby in Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, XXIV, May, 1970. pp. 175-180
For details of the gift of the 'De Medici' Urns by Mrs John Bell see: Geelong Advertiser - 24 October, 1873 P. 2, 5 November, 1873 p.2, 6 November, 1873, p.2.
For special general history of the development of Johnstone park see: P Mills, R Geisbers and B Sharp - 'A History of Johnstone Park and Its Buildings' Department of Architecture, University of Melbourne 1965.
HISTORY - City of Geelong West - Urban Conservation Study - Building Identification Form 225
BANDSTAND
The Bandstand in Johnston Park was erected in 1919 in a Beaux Arts Style design by distinguished Geelong architect Percy Everett, and in memory of the mother of Howard Hitchcock, Mayor of Geelong and endower of the structure - Located on the axis of the Peace Memorial building adjacent, this exquisitely detailed bandstand from the council focus of the Johnston Park gardens. The Bandstand with the elaborate pavilion roof and ornamented platform is one of the finest structures of this type in Victoria and a significant early work of Everett, later chief architect of the Public Works Department.
RECOMMENDATIONS: PROTECTIVE MEASURES
Geelong Regional Commission Register.
Historic Buildings Council Register.
REFERENCES
Mills, P , Giesbers R & Sharp B., 'History of Johnston Park and its Buildings', History research Essay, Department of Architecture, University of Melbourne, 1965.
Aitken, Richard - "Edwardian Geelong: An Architectural Introduction", History Research Essay Department of Architecture, Deakin University, Geelong, 1979.
Note: A copy of Mills, Giesbers & Sharp Essay is available at the Geelong Historical Records Centre, Lt. Malop Street.
HISTORY - City of Geelong West - Urban Conservation Study - Building Identification Form 230
STITT JENKINS MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN
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HISTORY - City of Geelong West - Urban Conservation Study - Building Identification Form 228
KING GEORGE V STATUE
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HISTORY - City of Geelong West - Urban Conservation Study - Building Identification Form 226
G. R. KING MEMORIAL STONE
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HISTORY - City of Geelong West - Urban Conservation Study - Building Identification Form 227
HITCHCOCK MEMORIAL GATEWAY
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HISTORY - City of Geelong West - Urban Conservation Study - Building Identification Form 229
DE MEDICI URNS
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Johnstone Park Buildings & Objects - Bandstand, George King Stone, Hitchcock Memorial Gates, King George V Statue, Medici Urns, Stitt Jenkins Memorial Fountain, 24 Gheringhap Street - Physical Description 1
Princes Boulevard that forms the east-west axis to the park. The memorial foyer has visual connections with the Hitchcock Memorial Bandstand to the north and the flanking parkland. Behind the Memorial to the south and southeast are the Geelong Town Hall, Art Gallery and Regional Library buildings. The symmetrical, imposing two storey, stuccoed brick, late Edwardian Baroque styled Peace Memorial building is characterised by a giant portico supported by paired, blocked Ionic columns on massive granite tablets and smooth surfaced bluestone pedestals. The portico is crowned by a broken entablature and dentillated cornice having a decorative rectilinear and broken parapet above. Flanking the portico on the east and west sides are two vertically proportioned pavilions at the front that form apsidal alcoves within. The pavilions have semicircular porticos supported by Ionic columns on smooth finished base walls and crowning curved and moulded parapets. The pavilions also have lofty parapets with rusticated arches and building corners, and widely projecting cornices. There are more rudimentary parapetted wall planes on the side elevations. Two flights of smoothly finished bluestone steps lead to the upper land of the central portico which has a terrazzo floor. The large timber and glazed screen doors and highlights of the central foyer beyond are constructed of polished maple and have concentric diamond-shaped windows. Internally, the central foyer is planned over a square area with a terrazzo floor and large arched openings at the east and west ends to the alcoves. These alcoves have elaborate coffered semi-domes with radial ribs that converge towards the central Australian Crest, over each tablet to the fallen. The southern screen walls in the alcoves have staircases beyond, while the northern screens are punctuated by niches. Other comparative Edwardian Baroque buildings Commonwealth Offices building, Melbourne, 1910-11 Victoria Memorial Hall, Singapore, 1901-06 Durban City Hall, South Africa, 1903-10 Government Offices, London, 1898-1912 Lands and Survey Building, Brisbane, 18
Heritage Study and Grading
Greater Geelong - Geelong City Urban Conservation Study, Volumes 2-5
Author: Graeme Butler
Year: 1991
Grading: AGreater Geelong - Geelong City Urban Conservation Study Volume 1
Author: Graeme Butler
Year: 1993
Grading: AGreater Geelong - Geelong City 'C' Citations Study
Author: Dr David Rowe
Year: 2002
Grading:
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City of Greater Geelong sourced pre 2007 heritage study citation (ex DataWorks system)
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GRC Historic Places Documentation Sheet no. 230
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GRC Historic Places Documentation Sheet no. 229
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GRC Historic Places Documentation Sheet no. 227
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GRC Historic Places Documentation Sheet no. 226
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GRC Historic Places Documentation Sheet no. 225
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GRC Historic Places Documentation Sheet no. 228
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City of Greater Geelong sourced pre 2007 heritage study citation (ex DataWorks system)
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FORMER GEELONG WOOL EXCHANGEVictorian Heritage Register H0622
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FORMER SCOTTISH CHIEFS HOTELVictorian Heritage Register H0662
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GEELONG TOWN HALLVictorian Heritage Register H0184
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