The Ridge, 68 Mercer Street, Queenscliff
68 Mercer Street QUEENSCLIFF, QUEENSCLIFFE BOROUGH
The Botanic Gardens Precinct
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Statement of Significance
Statement of Significance as recorded under the Queenscliff Heritage Study 2009
The Ridge is of historical and architectural significance to the Borough of Queenscliffe. It is of historical significance due to its association with the earliest phase of development at Queenscliff; it was also the first two-storey masonry residence built in the township, prominently sited on elevated land, and strategically placed with views to the Rip. The association with successful early Melbourne businessman and merchant Edward Wight is also important, as was his long ownership of the property and subsequently that of his descendants until after World War II. Architecturally, The Ridge is significant as an early, imposing and substantially intact two-storey masonry residence, with a handsome and generously proportioned two-storey return verandah.
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The Ridge, 68 Mercer Street, Queenscliff - Physical Description 1
The Ridge is a two-level, stuccoed brick house, with a M-hip roof and a two level, return verandah. The verandah posts, capitals and balustrading are of timber, the balustrade panels being composed from superimposed geometric patterns repeated trice within the panel.
The Ridge, 68 Mercer Street, Queenscliff - Physical Description 2
The interior is appointed with white marble and black slate mantles, plaster cornices and a timber staircase, whilst there is an arched window with coloured and incised border glazing in the stair hall. Alterations include the replacement af the picket fence, the conversion of an upper level window to a door, and the sheeting of the upper verandah floor with asbestos cement. The timber balustrading is in the course of restoration.(10)
The Ridge, 68 Mercer Street, Queenscliff - Physical Description 3
The Ridge is a visually prominent building in the town, the siting having eminated from the emphasis given to this port of the town by the establishment of both the entrance road and the telegraph line, down King Street and the desire of residents to view the Rip for incoming and outgoing shipping. The Ridge is also one of a minority of two-level masonry houses built during the 1860's, being the first in Queenscliff and the most intact
The Ridge, 68 Mercer Street, Queenscliff - Physical Description 4
Extract from the 2009 study
(Note: An internal inspection of the property was not carried out for Stage 1 of the Heritage Study. References to the interior and internal features in the following description derive from the 1984 study.)
The Ridge is an imposing two-storey, rendered brick house, with an 'M'-shaped hipped roof and a two level skillion-roofed and generously proportioned return verandah. The roof is punctuated by two rendered chimneys with moulded cornices. Pairs of verandah posts with capitals and the frieze to the ground floor verandah are of timber and are not original. The balustrade panels (restored in the 1980s) are composed of superimposed geometric patterns repeated trice within the panel. The entrance door is placed to the side of the front facade; there is an arched window with coloured and incised border glazing in the stair hall. A single-storey hipped roof rear extension also has a wrap-around verandah.
The interior is appointed with white marble and black slate mantels, plaster cornices and a timber staircase.
Alterations include the reinstatement of the picket fence which was replaced by a brick wall; and the sheeting of the upper verandah floor with asbestos cement. An upper level door opening has been restored back to a window.
The Ridge, 68 Mercer Street, Queenscliff - Intactness
GOOD
Heritage Study and Grading
Queenscliffe - Queenscliffe Urban Conservation Study
Author: Allom Lovell & Associates P/L, Architects
Year: 1982
Grading:Queenscliffe - Queenscliffe Heritage Study
Author: Lovell Chen
Year: 2009
Grading:
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LATHAMSTOWEVictorian Heritage Register H1052
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PILOTS COTTAGESVictorian Heritage Register H1618
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ROSENFELDVictorian Heritage Register H1134
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