Richmond Rifles Volunteer Orderly Room and Drill Hall
24 Gipps Street, RICHMOND VIC 3121 - Property No 290560
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Statement of Significance
This property is on the Victorian Heritage register. For more information on this property, refer to the Victorian Heritage Register information.
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Richmond Rifles Volunteer Orderly Room and Drill Hall - Physical Description 2
part 24-28; Victorian Heritage Register; see Building Identification Form for 106 Gipps; converted to apartments; corner site; MMBW Detail Plan shows as Orderly Room
Richmond Rifles Volunteer Orderly Room and Drill Hall - Integrity
Good
Veterans Description for Public
Richmond Rifles Volunteer Orderly Room and Drill Hall - Veterans Description for Public
The Richmond Rifles Volunteer Orderly Room was constructed in timber in 1867 with donations from members of the Richmond company of the Volunteer Rifle Corps. With the disbandment of the volunteer system in 1884 the Richmond building was one of the few orderly rooms substantial enough to be taken over by the new Victorian Department of Defence. The building was altered and extended in 1891 mainly by the addition of offices along the Gipps Street frontage and an attached Sergeant Major's residence on the Dickmann Street frontage to the design of Public Works Department Architect Samuel Bindley thereby giving the orderly room a superficial resemblance to other timber orderly rooms of the 1880s. The building was transferred to Commonwealth ownership after Federation in 1901 and was used for various Militia, Citizens Military Forces or Army Reserve units until the late 1980s.
The Richmond Rifle Corps was established during this period, and numbered seventy men, led by David S. Campbell (local Parliamentarian). The Richmond volunteers, were enthusiastic for their defence duties, at one stage remaining on permanent alert for six months. The Richmond corps were continuously called out from midnight to early morning for impromptu drilling, and night route marches. In 1861, the Richmond Corps were presented with colours, made by the women of Richmond. The Richmond Drill Hall was commenced in 1860, with members' donations and public subscriptions.Early drill halls became obsolete by the 1880's, as more extensive and complex facilities were required. In 1884 the Government took over ownership and management of existing facilities and the Public Works Department became responsible for the construction function. A programme of alterations and additions and new buildings for military units commenced in 1884. By 1886, plans were drawn up for proposed alterations and additions to the Richmond Drill Hall. Architect for these works was most probably S.E. Bindley. These plans however were not executed until 1891.
In 1896, the Melbourne and Metropolitan Boards of Works plan shows the enlarged timber Drill Hall in Gipps Street extended between Docker Street and Little Docker Street (now Dickman Street). The Drill Hall is constructed to a rectangular plan, and was executed in timber with a corrugated iron roof. The building is utilitarian in style to house its functions. The external appearance of the building was originally highlighted by decorative barge boards, collar ties and finials. The building is substantially intact and is repainted in an appropriate early colour scheme.
The Richmond Rifles Volunteer Orderly Room is one of only two surviving timber orderly rooms from the volunteer era of Victorian colonial defences, the other being the Collingwood Rifles orderly room in Powlett Street East Melbourne. Its continual use for defence training purposes over 120 years adds to its significance.Heritage Study and Grading
Yarra - Richmond Conservation Study
Author: John & Thurley O'Connor, Ros Coleman & Heather Wright
Year: 1985
Grading: B3Yarra - City of Yarra Heritage Review
Author: Allom Lovell & Associates
Year: 1998
Grading:Yarra - City of Yarra Review of Heritage Overlay Areas
Author: Graeme Butler & Associates
Year: 2007
Grading: State
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