Residence
36 Alexandra Ave, GEELONG VIC 3220 - Property No 211785
City East Heritage Area
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Statement of Significance
Significant
Previously C Listed - Local Significance
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
The semi-detached house at 36 Alexandra Avenue, Geelong, has significance as a reasonably intact and unusual example of the Victorian Italianate style. Built in 1886 for William Bell and Sons to a design by the Geelong architect Joseph Watts (as part of a duplex of semi-detached houses), the building appears to be in good condition when viewed from the street.The semi-detached house at 36 Alexandra Avenue is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level. It demonstrates original design qualities of the Victorian Italianate style. These qualities include the hipped roof form that traverses the site, together with the projecting bay window at the front with a conical roof, and the front verandah form. Other intact or appropriate qualities include the single storey height, asymmetrical composition (or symmetrical composition as part of the duplex), horizontal weatherboard wall cladding, galvanised corrugated steel roof cladding, two rendered brick chimneys with projecting cornices, rendered party wall that rises above the main roof, narrow eaves with worked timber brackets, arched timber framed double hung windows with decoratively moulded architraves having moulded capitals at the springing of the arches, punctuating keystones in the arched window heads, timber framed double hung window under the front verandah, and the timber framed doorway with a four panelled timber door and sidelights and highlights. The front cast iron palisade fence with a bluestone plinth also contributes to the significance of the place. The architectural significance of the semi-detached house at 36 Alexandra Avenue also relies on the retention of the neighbouring house at 38 Alexandra Avenue.The semi-detached house at 36 Alexandra Avenue is historically significant at a LOCAL level. It is associated with residential developments in Geelong in the second half of the 19th century. In particular, this house has associations with William Bell and Sons who instigated construction in 1886. This house and the neighbouring semi-detached house were designed by the Geelong architect Joseph Watts.Overall, the semi-detached house at 36 Alexandra Avenue is of LOCAL significance.
REFERENCES
Reports and Drainage Plans, Barwon Water profis system, 1921, 1961, 1962, 1983.
Voters' Roll, Bellerine Ward, 1992, Geelong Historical Records Centre.
Electoral Roll, Division Corio, Subdivision Geelong, 1984, Geelong Historical Records Centre.
Sands & McDougall's Directory of Geelong, 1972, Geelong Historical Records Centre.
Sands & McDougall "Invicta" Geelong Directory, 1968, Geelong Historical Records Centre.
Geelong City Council Rate Books (Bellerine Ward), 1881-1960.
Geelong Town Plan 1881, Geelong Historical Records Centre.
Morrow, W.J., Index to the Geelong Advertiser, 1886, Geelong Historical Records Centre.
Copy of Land Titles Search with associated documents, H. Buxton.
Rowe, D., 'Architecture of Geelong 1860-1900', B. Arch Thesis, Deakin University, 1991.
R. Hill, 'Joseph Watts', Geelong Biographical Register in the Investigator, vol.25, no. 1, 1990.
HLA-Envirosciences Pty Ltd, 'Conservation Plan - Limeburners Point, Geelong', April 1996, pp.3-4.
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Residence - Physical Description 1
The semi-detached house at 36 Alexandra Avenue, Geelong, forms part of an unusual residential duplex on an irregularly-sized allotment. Both houses have a modest front setback characterised by paved areas and garden beds. The front is bound by an early cast iron palisade fence with a smooth-finished bluestone plinth, the whole being approximately 1300 mm high. The single storey, asymmetrical (or symmetrical as a duplex), horizontal weatherboard, Victorian Italianate styled semi-detached house is characterised by a hipped roof form that traverses the site, together with a projecting bay window at the front with a conical roof, a front skillion verandah and a rear introduced hipped roof form that projects at the side. These roof forms are clad in galvanised corrugated steel. Two early rendered brick chimneys with projecting cornices adorn the roofline, which is also punctuated by the early rendered party wall that rises above the main roof. Narrow overhangs with worked timber brackets are features of the eaves. An early feature of the design is the projecting bay. It has early arched timber framed double hung windows with early decoratively moulded architraves with moulded capitals at the springing of the arches, and punctuating keystones in the arched heads. The other timber framed double hung window under the front verandah also appears to be early, as is the timber framed doorway with a four panelled timber door and sidelights and highlights.The front skillion verandah has been altered, and is now comprised of recent exposed timber rafters and a simple solid timber brackets.
Residence - Physical Description 2
Mostly intact, timber, unusual mirrored pair. Hipped roof clad in corrugated metal sheeting with metal finial to no. 38, rendered party wall, timber brackets & string moulding to eaves, rendered chimneys with projecting moulding. Central verandah with non-original timber brackets and shingles, timber deck to no. 36, later concrete deck to no. 38. Faceted bays with rebated boards beneath windows. Timber sash windows, including arched windows to bays with keystones to arch & capitals to springing point. Panelled timber doors with leadlight to upper part & highlight & sidelights. Original cast iron palisade fence with basalt plinth. Late 20th century addition to side of no. 36
Heritage Study and Grading
Greater Geelong - Geelong City Urban Conservation Study, Volumes 2-5
Author: Graeme Butler
Year: 1991
Grading: CGreater Geelong - Geelong City Urban Conservation Study Volume 1
Author: Graeme Butler
Year: 1993
Grading: CGreater Geelong - Geelong City 'C' Citations Study
Author: Dr David Rowe
Year: 2002
Grading:Geelong City Fringe Heritage Area Review
Author: RBA Architects + Conservation Consultants
Year: 2018
Grading:
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FIRST CUSTOMS HOUSEVictorian Heritage Register H0185
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FORMER SCOTTISH CHIEFS HOTELVictorian Heritage Register H0662
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CORIO VILLAVictorian Heritage Register H0193
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