FORMER NEWSTEAD SHIRE CHAMBERS
116-118 MAIN ROAD CAMPBELLS CREEK, MOUNT ALEXANDER SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
STATEMENT OF CULTURAL HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE:
The former Newstead Shire Chambers on the Castlemaine-Guildford at Campbell's Creek was constructed in the 1860s as a toll house in the town. One of the issues about which the District Roads Board of Newstead which was concerned after their formation in 1861 was the provision of toll roads which was a major issue after a local road was designated a Common Toll Road. By 1867 there are records indicating that the toll gate be removed and that the tool house was shifted for Roads Board meetings. The building then became the Newstead Shire Council Chambers until about 1915 upon amalgamation of the shires. It is now owned by Mount Alexander Council and leased to various bodies as a meeting place. The building is a small timber framed and horizontal weatherboard clad structure with corrugated iron clad hipped roof with overhanging eaves lined with beaded board. A small entrance porch with gabled awning is at the southern end of the entrance facade.
The former Newstead Shire Chambers is of historical importance to the state of Victoria.
The building is a rare surviving toll house, associated with the development of local government and transport infrastructure in Victoria. There are three other toll houses known to survive.
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FORMER NEWSTEAD SHIRE CHAMBERS - History
Contextual History:History of Place:
The former Newstead Shire Hall at Campbell’s Creek was constructed as an early toll house in the 1860s, though it was used as a meeting room of the local shire from soon after its construction to 1915.
Newstead was proclaimed a District in 1860 and a local District Roads Board was formed in the following year. The Roads Board concerned itself with local issues including the laying of roads, provision of public buildings and construction of road infrastructure. One of the major issues of the 1860s was the provision of toll-gates on local roads.
It seems that the building was constructed as a toll house at a toll gates by 1864 in the local area. Debate surrounding the placement of the toll-gate makes clear identification of its original position difficult, but obviously it was on a main road through the town near the Five Flags Hotel (?), which had been designated a Common Toll Road. On 31 December 1867 the local Board was officially informed that the toll gate could be removed and apparently as a result the toll house was moved to another town site where it was used as a meeting room for the Roads Board. The building retained this function for many years.
District Boards in the Newstead area, Campbell’s Creek and Fryers Creek amalgamated to form the Mount Alexander Shire and Newstead was proclaimed a Shire on 7 March, 1865. These shires amalgamated on 1 October, 1915 and the new shire became known as the United Shire of Newstead and Mount Alexander, but this was shortened in 1949 to the Shire of Newstead. The sign on the building indicates the old toll house was used as a shire hall for the Shire of Mount Alexander from 1860, which may be incorrect, until 1915 when amalgamation caused the building to be surplus and the new shire offices were at Newstead.
The building is now owned by the Mount Alexander Shire Council who lease it to various
COMPARISON:
Muckleford Cemetery Lodge (former toll house)
The former toll house now at the Muckleford Cemetery is a less intact, although almost identical building which was constructed at about the same time by the Maldon Shire.
bodies for meeting room space.
COMPARISON:
Muckleford Cemetery Lodge (former toll house)
The former toll house now at the Muckleford Cemetery is a less intact, although almost identical building which was constructed at about the same time by the Maldon Shire.FORMER NEWSTEAD SHIRE CHAMBERS - 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:EXEMPTIONS FROM PERMITS:
(Classes of works or activities which may be undertaken without a permit under
Part 4 of the Heritage Act 1995)
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.
Interior
Interior painting provided the preparation work does not remove evidence of
the building's original paint or other decorative scheme.
Removal of existing carpets / flexible floor coverings eg vinyl.
Installation of carpets and flexible floor coverings
Installation of curtain tracks, rods, blinds and other window dressings.
Installation of hooks, nails and other devices for the hanging of paintings,
mirrors, and other wall-mounted works of art.
Refurbishment of existing bathroom /toilet / ensuites including removal of
existing sanitary fixtures and associated piping, mirrors, and wall and floor
coverings, and installation of new fixtures, and wall and floor coverings.
Removal of existing kitchen benches and fixtures (stoves, dishwashers etc.)
and floor coverings and installation of new kitchen benches and fixtures,
including associated plumbing and wiring.
Installation of hydronic, or concealed radiant (Ceiling Foil Radiant Heating
or under carpet heating) type heating, provided that the installation does not
damage existing skirtings, architraves and the location of the heating unit
(boiler etc) is concealed from view.
Installation of bulk insulation to the roof space.
Re-wiring provided that all new wiring is fully concealed and any original
light switches, pull cords, or GPO's are retained in-situ. Note : If wiring
is original to the building, timber conduits should be left in situ rather
than removed.
Installation of smoke detectors.
Exterior
Existing signage may be altered/replaced provided that the new sign is no
larger than the existing, is located in the same position and that no
internally illuminated signage is used.
Fencing and gates may be altered, extended or replaced provided the materials
remain the same.
Erection of small outbuildings including sheds, with the exception of "period
" style gazebos, at the rear of the registered building provided that the
outbuilding is no larger than 10 m2 in floor area and no higher than 2400mm
high.
Installation of garden watering systems.
Removal of air-conditioners / pipework / wiring / antennae / aerials / and
making good.
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