What is Significant? The original fabric of the c1865-66 rubble-stone hipped roof cottage known as Ellis Cottage and the surrounding site to the title boundaries.
How is it Significant? Ellis Cottage is historically and technically significant to the Shire of Nillumbik.
Why is it Significant? Ellis Cottage is historically significant for its association with the Ellis family, who were pioneers of the Diamond Creek district and the benefactors of the notable Nillumbik Cemetery gateway (Criterion H). It illustrates the development of farming in the area (Criterion A). Ellis Cottage is historically and technically significant for its rare use of uncut local stone for building purposes (Criteria B).
BUTLER STUDY, 2001
Although altered in detail, Ellis Cottage is of regional significance
- for its association with the Ellis family, pioneers of the Diamond Creek district and the benefactors of the notable Nillumbik cemetery gateway
- for its association with the development of farming in the district
- for its rare use of uncut local stone for building purposes in the district'
- for the two mature Italian cypress which relate to other early plantings in the Shire
This is a rubble-stone hipped roof (slated) cottage, with corbelled brick chimneys. The cottage is ,setin new subdivision with two Italian cypress in front and pepper trees and a large well at the rear (altered). Brick paving is used near the house and there is an added section at the rear. The house has been reputedly rebuilt in part but retains its original stonework, simple hipped form and the two mature trees. Italian cypress, paired at the entry to a house, have also been used in the Shire at Eltham in front of Shillinglaw Cottage and another cottage in Main Road. The trees at the first site of Shilling law Cottage have been verified as being there, in a mature form, early this century and thus before the 1920s Italianate garden fashion meant many of these trees were planted. This type of planting appears to be a signature of the area.