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SHENTON
41 KINKORA ROAD HAWTHORN, BOROONDARA CITY

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Victorian Heritage Register
SHENTON SOHE 2008
SHENTON SOHE 2008
SHENTON SOHE 2008
SHENTON SOHE 2008
1 immigration reception centre hawthorn front view jun1984
h00788 shenton kinkora rd hawthorn rear view
immigration reception centre hawthorn rear garden jun1984
immigration reception centre hawthorn side view
H0788 H0788 plan
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Statement of Significance

What is significant?

Shenton was built in 1890 for the coal, chaff and grain merchant John Shenton Gordon. The house was purchased in 1897 by George Swinburne, the prominent engineer, commercial entrepreneur, politician and member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly. Together with his wife Ethel, George Swinburne was an advocate of technical education in Victoria. Their support enabled the opening of the Eastern Suburbs Technical School in 1908 (later the Swinburne Institute of Technology) and in the 1916 the opening of the first technical school for girls in Australia as a branch of the school. The Swinburne family occupied the house until its sale in 1963 to the Immigration Department for use as an immigration reception centre. Shenton is a two-storey red brick building featuring an asymmetrical front facade, original internal features and garden landscape features created for George Swinburne.

How is it significant?

Shenton is of historic and architectural significance to the State of Victoria

Why is it significant?

Shenton is of historical importance because of its association with George and Ethel Swinburne. It is important in exhibiting the aesthetic characteristics of late nineteenth century house and garden design. It is important in demonstrating social and cultural associations with the Swinburne family who were prominent in Melbourne society and philanthropists of education. It is also important in demonstrating the status and lifestyle sought by nineteenth century families in their residences.

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    • History

      SHENTON - History

      Mile Lewis website Melbourne Mansions - http://fmpro.arbld.unimelb.edu.au/melbmansions/FMPro

      "Hawthorn Heritage Study Place Identification Form. 'Shenton', 41 Kinkora Road, a 2 st red brick with cream arches & string course, timber ver with turned posts, balus & timber fretwork brackets.Buit in 1890 for John Shenton Gordon, coal mechant. Owned c1893 to 1960s by George Swinburne, founder and patron of Swinburne College. Attributed on stylistic grounds to Reed, Smart and Tappin. ML note: Swinburne was a prominent engineer, founder of the Melbourne Hydrauilic Co &c. Age, 1 May 1999, p G17. For auction, 'Shenton', c 1890, 5 entertaining areas, billiards rm, 5 bedrs, study, &c, &c, nearly 1 acre of land, 60.3 x 62.8 m. TS Note: Possible tender notice is ABCN, 21 June 1890, p 1136. Reed, Smart & Tappin. Contract for erection of brick villa, Kinkora Rd."

      Permit Exemptions

      SHENTON - 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.

Public contributions

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