Sturt Street Precinct
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Statement of Significance
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Sturt Street Precinct - Physical Description 1
The Sturt Street Precinct is characterised by a combination of substantially intact residential buildings constructed generally from the 1870s to the 1940s, and by a notable collection of civic and religious buildings constructed from the 1860s onwards. The precinct is also characterised by the formal layout and mature tree plantings of Sturt Street.
The Sturt Street precinct includes the roadway and all properties fronting Sturt Street between Pleasant and Dawson Streets. Developments associated with St. Patrick's Cathedral complex (Hall and Presbytery), St. Andrew's Uniting Church (hall and gardens) and the Ballarat Base Hospital are also included.
The Sturt Street precinct extends from Dawson Street to Pleasant Street and includes the roadway and all the properties fronting Sturt Street.
Sturt Street was known as Raglan Road and was primarily part of the three chain stock route between Geelong and Adelaide. Development commenced in the precinct after the first survey undertaken in 1852, which laid out Sturt Street as a cross over street. It is possible that the street was named after Evelyn Pitfield Shirley Sturt, brother of Charles Sturt.
By the end of the 1850's Sturt Street began to compete with Main Road for business importance and work began to improve the visual state of the streetscape. A dual roadway was developed with a central mudbank. The mudbank was planted with Tasmanian Bluegums grown from seed given to the City by Baron von Mueller. However, after complaints from shopkeepers that the trees shaded their shops in winter, the gums were replanted with elms and oaks. The median strip continues to feature mature trees and landscaping and is still used for recreation and commemorative events.
The precinct shows the consolidation of the township from the centre of the city towards west Ballarat and the important role Sturt street played in the commercial, civic, medical, religious and cultural life of Ballarat.
The precinct is architecturally important as it contains many original Victorian and Federation civic, commercial and residential buildings. These include the key landmark buildings such as the St Patrick's and St Andrew's Cathedrals and their associated buildings, Ballarat Fire Station, Ballarat Base Hospital and three doctors residences at 704, 708 and 802 Sturt Street. Other visual features are the gracious boulevard form of Sturt Street with its landscaped gardens and mature trees, the memorials and sculptures and the unobstructed views between the street and the abutting buildings.
The precinct also retains the early bluestone gutters and kerbing.
Typically, buildings are generally two storey, although some residences are 1 - 1 ½ story, are either brick or horizontal weatherboard, with verandahs or articulated facades, hipped and /or gabled roofs. Buildings also show substantial architectural decorative detailing and the commercial and some residential buildings are built onto the street frontage.
Heritage Study and Grading
Ballarat - Ballarat Heritage Precincts Study
Author: Dr David Rowe and Wendy Jacobs
Year: 2006
Grading:
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MITRE TAVERNVictorian Heritage Register H0464
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MELBOURNE SAVAGE CLUBVictorian Heritage Register H0025
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FORMER LONDON CHARTERED BANKVictorian Heritage Register H0022
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