Former Literary and Scientific Institute, 54 Longfield Street, STAWELL
54 Longfield Street STAWELL, NORTHERN GRAMPIANS SHIRE
-
Add to tour
You must log in to do that.
-
Share
-
Shortlist place
You must log in to do that.
- Download report
Statement of Significance
The Literary and Scientific Institute, 54 Longfield Street, Stawell, forms part of a coherent group of government, civic and community buildings that have a high level of significance for their close associations with the foundation of the town. Constructed in 1868, the Literary and Scientific Institute has significance for its rare Victorian Regency design in form and detail for an Institute building, which is still relatively intact.
The Literary and Scientific Institute is architecturally significant at a NATIONAL level. It demonstrates original design qualities of a Victorian Regency style in which was rare for Institute buildings. These original or appropriate qualities include the hipped roof form clad in slates, and the encircling verandah (which may not be original). Other intact qualities include the symmetrical configuration of the recessed bays and slighting projecting pilasters, timber framed, double hung, four paned windows, central doorway, square timber verandah columns with decorative timber brackets, narrow eaves, voussoirs forming the shallow arches to the windows, general internal structure and configuration and small staircase internally. T
he Literary and Scientific Institute is historically significant at a NATIONAL level. It is associated with the early infrastructure development of the Stawell township, having been located on crown land reserved for government buildings as early as 1860, part of which was separately reserved for a Mechanics Institute in 1866. The Institute building is associated with the short-lived development of a Literary and Scientific Institute in the original Township of Stawell at Pleasant Creek (Stawell West) between 1868 and 1876.
Overall, the Literary and Scientific Institute is of NATIONAL significance.
-
-
Former Literary and Scientific Institute, 54 Longfield Street, STAWELL - Physical Description 1
The Literary and Scientific Institute forms part of a significant group of Government, civic and community buildings located in Longfield, Leslie and Griffith Streets. The Institute building is set on a large site with a wide side setback to one side, and front setback of approximately 4 metres. The site is bound by an timber picket fence approximately 1500 mm high.
The two storey, unpainted brick, Victorian Regency Literary and Scientific Institute building is characterised by a hipped roof form clad in slates, and the encircling verandah (which may not be original). The symmetry of the design is enhanced by the configuration of the recessed bays and slighting projecting pilasters, as well as the flanking windows on the first floor level. All the windows appear to be timber framed, double hung, four paned and early, while the early central doorway has a timber door. The verandah is clad in galvanised corrugated iron painted in stripes, and is supported by square timber columns with decorative timber brackets - all of which appear to be introduced but appropriate. Narrow overhangs are a feature of the eaves. Other features of the design include the voussoirs forming the shallow arches to the windows. There is evidence of repairs to the brickwork about the first floor windows, and of rising damp along the lower reaches, causing the breakdown of mortar and the soft bricks.
The Statement of Significance by Heritage Victoria states that 'Originally the front rooms on both floors were the full width of the facade. They have since been divided by light timber partitions. Presumably these date from about 1876 when the building became a residence. A small staircase leads to the upper floor. There are two smaller rooms at the rear one of which was used as a kitchen and the other as a bathroom. A timber skillion has been added at the rear.'
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: State
-
-
-
-
-
FORMER LITERARY & SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTEVictorian Heritage Register H0531
-
FORMER POLICE SUPERINTENDENT'S RESIDENCEVictorian Heritage Register H0986
-
FORMER PLEASANT CREEK COURT HOUSEVictorian Heritage Register H0998
-
-