RESIDENCE
202-206 CLARENDON STREET EAST MELBOURNE, MELBOURNE CITY
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Statement of Significance
The residence at 206 Clarendon Street was erected by R. Jones for J. Gray in 1856. The architect was Osgood Pritchard. The original two storeyed building comprised twelve rooms and was valued at £400. Some demolition and rebuilding was undertaken by the subsequent owners W.H.Hart in 1859 and Gray in 1862. From 1861 the building was tenanted by Louis Viesseux who operated a Ladies College. Later a Chinese importer and Tea Merchant, Lowe Kong Meng, was in residence until 1875. At this time the building was described as a brick house with fifteen rooms, laundry, stable and coach house, valued at £230. Redmond Barry later tenanted and owned these premises, where he died in 1880. From 1890 until the late 1940s the house was owned and occupied by three different medical men. The two-storey residence is designed in the Victorian Free Classical style. It is constructed of brick with stucco facing. The ground floor facade includes Doric pilasters and Ionic columns to the porch. A parapet with a decorative cornice surmounts the residence. The central grand entrance hall with square columns and double staircase dominates the interior.
How is it significant?
The residence at 206 Clarendon Street is of architectural, social and historical significance to the State of Victoria.
Why is it significant?
The residence at 206 Clarendon Street is of architectural importance for its unusual composition with corner pavilions and fine detailing to the facades. The combination of Doric pilasters and ionic columns, the fine front door and window mouldings are all notable elements. The interior is important for its grand entrance hall, staircase, marble fireplace, balcony, and remnant plasterwork and timber details. The residence is an important work of the architect Osgood Pritchard, who also designed Clarendon Terrace next door.
The residence at 206 Clarendon Street is of historical and social significance for its associations with Sir Redmond Barry, Supreme Court Judge, and first Chancellor of the University of Melbourne who tenanted the 15-roomed house with his family, and became owner/occupier in 1879. Sir Redmond Barry died in November 1880, only twelve days after the execution of Ned Kelly, over whose trial he presided. This house has also been the residence of other important citizens, including Lowe Kong Meng, a prominent importer and tea merchant. The residence is of historical importance as one of East Melbourne's earliest buildings.
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RESIDENCE - History
Contextual History:
History of Place:
The original two storeyed building was erected in 1857 for James Gray and comprised twelve rooms and was valued at 400 pounds. Some demolition and rebuilding was undertaken by the subsequent owners W.H.Hart in 1859 and Gray in 1862. From 1861 to 1865 the building was tenanted by Louis Viesseux who operated a Ladies College. Later a Chinese importer and Tea Merchant, Lowe Kong Meng, was in residence until 1875. At this time the building was described as a brick house with fifteen rooms, laundry, stable and coach house, valued at 230 pounds.
In 1878 Sir Redmond Barry, Supreme Court Judge, first Chancellor of the University of Melbourne tenanted the 15 roomed house with his family, and became owner/occupier in 1879. Sir Redmond Barry died in November 1880, only twelve days after the execution of Ned Kelly, over whose trial he presided. Hon GP Smith, Hon CJ Jenner.
From 1890 until the late 1940s the house was owned and occupied by three different medical men. During the 1950s the building was owned by the Country Fire Authority who purchased the property for £25 000 it was later sold to investors.
In June 1968 the building was converted into a residence at a cost of $77 000 and was later occupied by the Australian Conservation Foundation. The Australian Red Cross purchased the building in 1977 for its National Headquarters.
The adjoining flats located behind the site were demolished in 1978 and a three-storey building constructed in its place.
Associated People: Tenants: LOUIS VIEUSSEUX, LOWE KONG MENG, REDMOND BARRYRESIDENCE - Assessment Against Criteria
Criterion A
The historical importance, association with or relationship to Victoria's history of the place or object.
This house is one of East Melbourne's earliest buildings.Criterion B
The importance of a place or object in demonstrating rarity or uniqueness.Criterion C
The place or object's potential to educate, illustrate or provide further scientific investigation in relation to Victoria's cultural heritage.Criterion D
The importance of a place or object in exhibiting the principal characteristics or the representative nature of a place or object as part of a class or type of places or objects.Criterion E
The importance of the place or object in exhibiting good design or aesthetic characteristics and/or in exhibiting a richness, diversity or unusual integration of features.
The residence at 206 Clarendon Street is of architectural importance for its unusual pavilion composition and fine detailing. This house is an important work of the architect Osgood Pritchard. The combination of Doric pilasters and ionic columns, the fine front door and window mouldings are notable. The interior is important for its grand entrance hall and staircase.Criterion F
The importance of the place or object in demonstrating or being associated with scientific or technical innovations or achievements.Criterion G
The importance of the place or object in demonstrating social or cultural associations.
The residence is of social significance for its associations with Sir Redmond Barry, Supreme Court Judge, and first Chancellor of the University of Melbourne tenanted the 15 roomed house with his family, and became owner/occupier in 1879. Sir Redmond Barry died in November 1880, only twelve days after the execution of Ned Kelly, over whose trial he presided. It has also been the residence of other important citizens, including Lowe Kong Meng, a prominent tea merchant.Criterion H
Any other matter which the Council considers relevant to the determination of cultural heritage significanceRESIDENCE - Permit Exemptions
General Exemptions:General exemptions apply to all places and objects included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). General exemptions have been designed to allow everyday activities, maintenance and changes to your property, which don’t harm its cultural heritage significance, to proceed without the need to obtain approvals under the Heritage Act 2017.Places of worship: In some circumstances, you can alter a place of worship to accommodate religious practices without a permit, but you must notify the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria before you start the works or activities at least 20 business days before the works or activities are to commence.Subdivision/consolidation: Permit exemptions exist for some subdivisions and consolidations. If the subdivision or consolidation is in accordance with a planning permit granted under Part 4 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the application for the planning permit was referred to the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria as a determining referral authority, a permit is not required.Specific exemptions may also apply to your registered place or object. If applicable, these are listed below. Specific exemptions are tailored to the conservation and management needs of an individual registered place or object and set out works and activities that are exempt from the requirements of a permit. Specific exemptions prevail if they conflict with general exemptions. Find out more about heritage permit exemptions here.Specific Exemptions:General Conditions:
1. All exempted alterations are to be planned and carried out in a manner which prevents damage to the fabric of the registered place or object.
2. Should it become apparent during further inspection or the carrying out of alterations that original or previously hidden or inaccessible details of the place or object are revealed which relate to the significance of the place or object, then the exemption covering such alteration shall cease and the Executive Director shall be notified as soon as possible.
3. If there is a conservation policy and plan approved by the Executive Director, all works shall be in accordance with it.
4. Nothing in this declaration prevents the Executive Director from amending or rescinding all or any of the permit exemptions.
5. Nothing in this declaration exempts owners or their agents from the responsibility to seek relevant planning or building permits from the responsible authority where applicable.
Exterior
* Minor repairs and maintenance which replace like with like.
* Removal of any extraneous items such as air conditioners, pipe work, ducting, wiring, antennae, aerials etc, and making good.
* Installation or repair of damp-proofing by either injection method or grouted pocket method.
* Regular garden maintenance.
Interior
* Painting of previously painted walls and ceilings provided that preparation or painting does not remove evidence of the original paint or other decorative scheme.
* Removal of paint from originally unpainted or oiled joinery, doors, architraves, skirtings and decorative strapping.
* Installation, removal or replacement of carpets and/or flexible floor coverings.
* Installation, removal or replacement of curtain track, rods, blinds and other window dressings.
* Installation, removal or replacement of hooks, nails and other devices for the hanging of mirrors, paintings and other wall mounted artworks.
* Refurbishment of bathrooms, toilets including removal, installation or replacement of sanitary fixtures and associated piping, mirrors, wall and floor coverings.
* Installation, removal or replacement of kitchen benches and fixtures including sinks, stoves, ovens, refrigerators, dishwashers etc and associated plumbing and wiring.
* Installation, removal or replacement of ducted, hydronic or concealed radiant type heating provided that the installation does not damage existing skirtings and architraves and provided that the location of the heating unit is concealed from view.
* Installation, removal or replacement of electrical wiring provided that all new wiring is fully concealed and any original light switches, pull cords, push buttons or power outlets are retained in-situ. Note: if wiring original to the place was carried in timber conduits then the conduits should remain in-situ.
* Installation, removal or replacement of bulk insulation in the roof space.
* Installation, removal or replacement of smoke detectors.RESIDENCE - Permit Exemption Policy
The main importance of this residence lies in its stucco decorated facade and unusual pavilion form. The interior floor plan is relatively intact and should be protected. Restoration or reinstatement of missing decorative elements should be encouraged. Of particular note is the grand entrance hall with semi circular entry, square columns and staircase behind.
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