HO19 - Cornwall Park Stud
2389-2485 Diggers Rest-Coimadai Road DIGGERS REST, Melton Shire
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Statement of Significance
Cornwall Park Stud, 2389-2485 Diggers Rest-Coimadai Road, Diggers Rest, is significant as a moderately intact example of an unusual Federation styled main house and former coach house buildings associated with the turn of the century break-up of the Melton Park estate. Although the interwar Bungalow styled cottage appears to have been relocated to this site, it now contributes to the setting of the place. One of the prime pastoral and farming properties in the district, the (former) Gnotuk Park property became more prominent when its main homestead was adapted for use as a guest house in the early twentieth century.
The main house at Cornwall Park Stud, Diggers Rest-Coimadai Road, is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level (AHC D.2). It demonstrates original design qualities of an
unusual Federation style. These qualities include the prominent, elongated gable roof form that traverses the site, together with the substantial gable that projects towards the rear, the minor verandah gable that projects towards the front and continues along the side and towards the rear and the front verandah formed as an extension of the main roof. Other intact or appropriate qualities include the asymmetrical composition, single storey height, surviving slate tile roof cladding with terra cotta ridge decoration (verandah gable), hipped roofed wing (possibly representing a significant early addition), two prominent face red brick, strapped and corbelled chimneys, modest eaves, timber verandah posts with projecting capitals and decorative solid curved timber brackets, open timber lattice fretwork valances between the corner verandah posts, rectangular bay window with timber framed casements and highlights, paired timber framed double hung windows, turned timber finials on the gable ends, timber ventilators in the gable ends, stuccoed gable ends, and the terra cotta ridge decoration on the gabled verandah.
The former coach house/stables at Cornwall Park Stud, 2389-2485 Diggers Rest-Coimadai Road, is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level (AHC D.2). Although altered and converted into a residence, it still demonstrates original design qualities of the Federation era. These qualities include the elevated gable roof form (with attic space) and the side single storey hipped roofed wing. Other intact or appropriate qualities include the asymmetrical composition, horizontal timber weatherboard wall cladding, face brick and multi-corbelled chimney, modest eaves, timber framed multi-paned windows, and the timber framed single door opening on the hipped wing.
The nearby interwar Bungalow styled cottage, although possibly relocated to the site, also contributes to the significance of the setting of the place.
Cornwall Park Stud, at 2389-2485 Diggers Rest-Coimadai Road, is historically significant at a LOCAL level (AHC A4, B2). Known as 'Gnotuk Park' for most of its history, it is one of the best-known of the Melton farm properties established in the historic break-up of the large pastoral estates at the turn of the twentieth century. The property had been part of the well-known Greenhills and Melton Park estates, at various times associated with Victorian identities Sir Samuel Gillot, the Hoadley family, and Denis Gowering. During the ownership of Robert Ennis the property became a local centre for innovation in agricultural machinery, with various patented devices trialled on the property. The large homestead, built for grazier J Black in 1897, was used by the Swan family as a guest house for holiday-makers in the 1930s and 40s, further adding to the local prominence of the property. Its late twentieth century conversion into a horse stud, and its community use as part of the Djerriwarrh Festival under the present Trescowthick ownership, continue the historical prominence of the property within the local community.
The homestead and coachhouse complex is of social and aesthetic significance at a LOCAL level (AHC E1). 'Gnotuk Park', as it is still known by many locals, was identified as being a place valued by the community at a heritage study forum.
Overall, Cornwall Park Stud, Diggers Rest-Coimadai Road, is of LOCAL significance.-
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HO19 - Cornwall Park Stud - Physical Description 1
Physical Description -
Cornwall Park Stud, at 2389-2485 Diggers Rest-Coimadai Road, Diggers Rest, overlooking the Djerriwarrh Creek, has a landscaped setting with open grassed areas, several mature and substantial exotic and native trees and perimeter garden beds, and consists of a main house, converted coach house/stables and an interwar Bungalow cottage.
The asymmetrical, single storey, horizontal timber weatherboard, unusual Federation styled house is characterised by a prominent, elongated gable roof form that traverses the site, together with a substantial gable that projects towards the rear and a minor verandah gable that projects towards the front and continues along the side and towards the rear. A minor hipped roof wing that also projects towards the front may have been introduced at an early period. A verandah is also situated at the front (between the gabled verandah and the hipped wing), formed as an extension of the main gable roof. Most of the roof forms are clad in introduced deep red corrugated Colorbond, although the gabled verandah that extends along the side and to the rear is clad in slate tiles, the original roof cladding for the entire house. Two prominent, face red brick, strapped and corbelled chimneys adorn the roofline. Modest overhangs are features of the eaves.
Early features of the design include the verandahs at the front and side. They are supported by early timber posts with projecting capitals and decorative solid timber curved brackets. The corner posts also feature open lattice timber fretwork valances.
Other early features of the design include the rectangular bay window with timber framed casements and highlights, paired timber framed double hung windows, turned timber finials on the gable ends, timber ventilators in the gable ends, stuccoed gable ends, and the terra cotta ridge decoration on the gabled verandah.
The gabled verandah is interrupted at the front by an introduced flat roofed walkway that extends along the side.
Nearby is the former coach house/stables building that has been converted into a residence. This building appears to also date from the Federation period and has an elevated gable roof form (with attic space) and a side single storey hipped roofed wing. These roof forms are clad in introduced tiles, which have replaced original galvanised corrugated steel cladding. An early face brick and multi-corbelled chimney adorns the roofline towards the rear. Modest overhangs are features of the eaves.
Other early features of the former coach house/stables are the horizontal timber weatherboard wall cladding, and the timber framed single door opening on the hipped wing. The large multi-paned window forming a gabled dormer, other multi-paned windows and the large ground floor window openings have been introduced/altered as part of the conversion of the building into a residence.
Near the south-western corner of the main house is a small cottage. This single storey, horizontal timber weatherboard, interwar Bungalow styled building has a gable roof form that traverses the site, together with a central verandah gable that projects towards the rear and another gable at the rear. These roof forms are clad in corrugated sheet metal. The lack of a front chimney and the elevated nature of the building suggest that it has been relocated to this site.
Other early features of the design include the timber framed double hung windows, timber framed front doorway, broad eaves, and the timber ventilator/s in the gable end/s.
The timber verandah posts and fretwork valance appear to have been introduced, replacing earlier timber posts.
The garden, thought to have been completely removed in the 1980s, does appear to retain some older trees. A row of mature trees, probably cypresses, has been removed from the creek side of the house. There is now an attractive and large Chilean or pencil willow (Salix humboldtiana)[1] in the garden, an unusual planting for the region but not old or significant. The golden cypress beside it is of modest size and not significant.
[1] Lord, E, Willis, J, Shrubs and Trees for Australian Gardens (Lothian, Melbourne, 1982) describe this species as 'stiffly upright, narrowly columnar of more recent introduction to Australian gardens.' (p.75)
HO19 - Cornwall Park Stud - Historical Australian Themes
Shire of Melton Historical Themes: 'Pastoralism'; 'Farming'; 'Horses, Hounds & Hares'; 'Other Industries'.
HO19 - Cornwall Park Stud - Integrity
Integrity - Moderately intact.
HO19 - Cornwall Park Stud - Physical Conditions
Physical Condition - Good
Heritage Study and Grading
Melton - Shire of Melton Heritage Study phase 2
Author: David Maloney, David Rowe, Pamela Jellie, Sera Jane Peters
Year: 2007
Grading:
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HO19 - Cornwall Park StudMelton City
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"AQUA PROFONDA" SIGN, FITZROY POOLVictorian Heritage Register H1687
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Notes See all notes
19/08/15
Former Coach House, mans room, stables, and milking shed with 16 bails. pounds 1,300. Contract awarded to Peter Rodger. "The Bacchus Marsh Express"; 10 April 1897 page 3.
Public contributions
Notes See all notes
19/08/15
Former Coach House, mans room, stables, and milking shed with 16 bails. pounds 1,300. Contract awarded to Peter Rodger. "The Bacchus Marsh Express"; 10 April 1897 page 3.