Mechanics Institute, 7 Inkerman Street, ST ARNAUD
7 Inkerman Street ST ARNAUD, NORTHERN GRAMPIANS SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
The Mechanics Institute building,7 Inkerman Street, St. Arnaud, is significant as a relatively intact example of a Victorian and Romanesque styled Mechanic Institute in rural Victoria. Constructed in 1880-82, the building is a legacy of the literary and cultural centre that developed in St. Arnaud from that time.
The Mechanics Institute building is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level. It demonstrates original design qualities of a Victorian Romanesque style. These qualities include the central gable and the two flanking domestically scaled gabled wings that have projecting concave verandahs. Other intact qualities include the single storey scale, unpainted brick wall construction, unpainted and lapped galvanised corrugated iron roof cladding, modest eaves, unpainted and corbelled brick chimney, unpainted brick vestigial pilaster supported the projecting gable, simple brick stringcourse, oculus ventilator, round arched window and door openings (including the vertical boarded doors with fanlight above), timber framed two paned double hung windows, panelled timber doors, and the cast iron verandah valances and brackets.The verandah columns appear to be introduced but appropriate.
The Mechanics Institute building and site are historically significant at a LOCAL level. They are associated with the development of the St. Arnaud Mechanics Institute for over 100 years from 1867, and particularly from this building and site from 1880-82 until the 1980s.
The Mechanics Institute building is socially significant at a LOCAL level. Although no longer functioning as a Mechanics Institute, it is still recognised for its past purpose as a literary and cultural centre in the St. Arnaud township.
Overall, the Mechanics Institute building,7 Inkerman Street, St. Arnaud, is of LOCAL significance.
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Mechanics Institute, 7 Inkerman Street, ST ARNAUD - Physical Description 1
The brick Mechanics Institute building, which abuts the perimeter frontages, dominates the site at7 Inkerman Street, St. Arnaud.
The single storey, unpainted red brick, relatively intact, Victorian styled building is characterised by a central Romanesque gable, together with two flanking domestically-scaledgabled wings which have projecting concave verandahs. At least one early unpainted brick chimney with a multi-corbelled top adorns the roofline. The roof forms are clad in unpainted and lapped galvanised corrugated iron. Modest overhangs are a feature of the eaves.
The central gable is a feature of the design. It is supported by unpainted brick vestigial pilasters and is decorated with a simple brick stringcourse, oculus ventilator, and round arched openings (a central double vertical boarded door opening with fanlight and flanking windows).
Other early features of the design include the timber framed, double hung, two paned windows, panelled timber doors, and the cast iron verandah valances and column brackets. A timber picket fence forms a balustrade about one of the verandahs.
Heritage Study and Grading
Northern Grampians - Shire of Northern Grampians - Stage 2 Heritage Study
Author: Wendy Jacobs, Vicki Johnson, David Rowe, Phil Taylor
Year: 2004
Grading: Local
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CROWN LAND OFFICEVictorian Heritage Register H1530
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ST ARNAUD RAILWAY STATIONVictorian Heritage Register H1594
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LORD NELSON TAILINGS DUMPVictorian Heritage Inventory
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