Former Police Station and Residence
42 Ferrars Street, ROKEWOOD VIC 3330 - Property No 53181385
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Statement of Significance
What is Significant?
The township of Rokewood developed during the gold-rush years as a civic and commercial centre, servicing both mining communities as well as surrounding pastoral properties. The township was positioned at the crossing of the Kuruc-a-ruc Creek and it became an important stop on the colonial trade routes that linked the port of Geelong to the Ballarat goldfields and further west into the interior of the Western District. Concern about the protection of miners, travellers and the general public led the colonial Government to establish a police presence in Rokewood from the mid 1850s. Mounted police were stationed at Rokewood from 1857, occupying land that was to be later developed for the Rokewood State School. In 1885, a permanent site for police purposes was reserved, comprising Allotment 1, Section 8, township of Rokewood. In 1886 combined police station and residence, comprising an asymmetrical timber building, T-shaped in plan was erected at a cost of £742. The surviving outbuildings and stables may also date from this period. By the late 1970s a new cream brick police station and detached residence were constructed on land previously reserved for the Church of England. The site of the former police station and residence was revoked in 1975 and the land sold. It is presently occupied as a private residence.
How is it Significant?
The former Police Station and Residence is of historical and architectural significance to the township of Rokewood and the Golden Plains Shire.
Why is it Significant?
The former Police Station and Residence is of historical significance as a surviving early police building established to provide a permanent police presence in the Rokewood district, following the discovery of gold and the resulting 'Rokewood rush'.
The former Police Station and Residence has architectural significance as a surviving example of rural police complex, constructed in late 19th century.
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Former Police Station and Residence - Physical Description 1
The former Police Station and Residence is situated on Allotment 1, Section 8, within the township of Rokewood. The allotment backs onto the meandering Kuruc-a-ruc Creek reserve and an extension of Gibbs Street, which has not been developed or graded. The building faces south, with a shallow set back from the Ferrars Street service road. The former station and residence comprises a single storey asymmetrical timber building, originally T-shaped in plan. It has three pressed red brick chimneys protruding from a corrugated iron roof with a simple timber skilllion verandah. The living quarters are situated at the western end of the building, with a recessed timber door adjacent to a projecting gable, which served as the formal entrance. The gable has a single double hung sash window with an elaborate architrave and a timber final at the apex of the gable. The former police station is situated at the eastern end of the building and is accessed through a separate recessed timber door. This portion of the building is the result of an extension in the early 20th century. The extension continues the line of the facade, although a joint is visible in the buildings fabric and the timber verandah terminates at this junction. Almost all of the windows are double-hung sashes with elaborate timber architraves. A timber wing, most likely containing the kitchen survives at the rear, with a red brick chimney incorporated into the exterior of the western elevation. Associated outbuildings survive at the rear of the allotment, including a small timber stable, with a double timber door, and a smaller attached shed with a steeply pitched hipped roof. The former Police Station and Residence is in good condition and retains a high degree of integrity.
Former Police Station and Residence - Physical Description 2
Extent of Registration: to the extent of the former Police station and attached residence (excluding the interiors), the stables and outbuildings dating from the 1880s and the whole of the land being Allotment 1, Section 8.
Former Police Station and Residence - Historical Australian Themes
The Australian Heritage Commission devised the Australian Historic Themes in 2001. The following themes have influenced the historical development of the former Rokewood Police Station and Residence.
7 Governing
7.6 Administering Australia
7.6.3 Policing Australia
7.6.4 Dispersing justice
8 Developing Australia's cultural life
8.12 Living in and around Australian homes
8.14 Living in the country and rural settlements
Heritage Study and Grading
Golden Plains - Golden Plains Shire Heritage Study Phase 2
Author: Heritage Matters P/L
Year: 2009
Grading: Local
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TRY AGAIN CO.Victorian Heritage Inventory
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UNNAMED MINESVictorian Heritage Inventory
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CARR & STANBROOKVictorian Heritage Inventory
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