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CLUANIE
390-440 KOONWARRA-INVERLOCH ROAD, LEONGATHA SOUTH, SOUTH GIPPSLAND SHIRE

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South Gippsland Shire
Cluanie
Cluanie
Cluanie
Cluanie
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Statement of Significance

What is significant?
The homestead 'Cluanie', constructed c.1894, at 440 Koonwarra-Inverloch Road, Leongatha South. It is a single storey weather board double fronted hip and valley late Victorian villa. Unusually, it has the main entry to the side (north) with only French doors of the two front rooms to the front elevation. It has perhaps the only example in the Shire of a wide ogee (bellcast) verandah to three sides, while the south side has had an added hipped wing against the side and extending beyond the rear wall of the original house. A straight roof verandah covers the rear wall of this projecting wing. The rear section of the main verandah on the north side is built in. 
Other notable elements include: 
  • Chimneys with rendered finish and mouldings. 
  • Strongly decorated eaves frieze with paired brackets and alternating "cricket bat" and diamond plaques. 
  • False ashlar (blocked boards) with large plinth on three sides. 
  • Wide main panelled door with sidelights. 
  • Margined double hung windows. 
  • Diagonal panelled mini-orb galvanised iron ceilings. 
  • Moulded dentils supporting the verandah gutter board. 
  • Square stop chamfered posts with double neck moulds. The probable cast iron frieze has been removed. 

How is it significant?
The homestead 'Cluanie' is of local historic and aesthetic significance to South Gippsland Shire.
Why is it significant?
Historically, it is believed to be one of the oldest homesteads in the Shire and is one of a relatively small number of rural buildings, which demonstrate the important phase of settlement and development that occurred prior to the disastrous bushfires of 1898. It is also important for its associations with the locally important Thomas and Macdonald family. (AHC criteria - A.4, D.2 and G.1) 
Aesthetically, it is a notable example in the Shire of a substantial elaborate late Victorian villa, which is distinguished by its range of detail, which includes what is believed to be the only example of a lavish ogee verandah in the Shire. (AHC criteria - B.2 and E.1)
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    • Physical Description 1

      CLUANIE - Physical Description 1

      "Cluanie" is sited on a hill top at the end of a long driveway. It is a single storey weather board double fronted hip and valley late Victorian villa. Unusually, it has the main entry to the side (north) with only French doors of the two front rooms to the front elevation. It has perhaps the only example in the Shire of a wide ogee (bellcast) verandah to three sides, while the south side has had an added hipped wing against the side and extending beyond the rear wall of the original house. A straight roof verandah covers the rear wall of this projecting wing. The rear section of the main verandah on the north side is built in.
      Other notable elements include:

      - Chimneys with rendered finish and mouldings.
      - Strongly decorated eaves frieze with paired brackets and alternating "cricket bat" and diamond plaques.
      - False ashlar (blocked boards ) with large plinth on three sides.
      - Wide main panelled door with sidelights.
      - Margined double hung windows.
      - Diagonal panelled mini-orb galvanised iron ceilings.
      - Moulded dentils supporting the verandah gutter board.
      - Square stop chamfered posts with double neck moulds. The probable cast iron frieze has been removed.

      There is an in ground circular brick tank in the rear court, but no sign of substantial outbuildings. The present owners advise that the house was originally much larger: part of it was removed to create another house in the district during the interwar period. This may partly explain the apparently unusual location of the entry.

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Heritage Study and Grading

      South Gippsland - South Gippsland Heritage Study

      Author: David Helms with Trevor Westmore
      Year: 2004
      Grading:

  • Notes See all notes

    A new life

    Matthew Henry • 22/06/17

    I thought you might be interested to know that Cluanie has been substantially renovated is now surrounded by a significant garden that has been open as part of the Victorian Open Garden Scheme: http://www.opengardensvictoria.org.au/companies/21/62/Cluanie-Anne-Vale-and-Mike-Sidell-s-Garden

Public contributions

Notes See all notes

A new life

Matthew Henry • 22/06/17

I thought you might be interested to know that Cluanie has been substantially renovated is now surrounded by a significant garden that has been open as part of the Victorian Open Garden Scheme: http://www.opengardensvictoria.org.au/companies/21/62/Cluanie-Anne-Vale-and-Mike-Sidell-s-Garden

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