"Merchiston Hall", house including interior
2a Garden Street, GEELONG VIC 3220 - Property No 213657
City East Heritage Area
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Statement of Significance
Significant
A Listed - State Significance
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
'Merchiston Hall', an eight room two storey stone mansion with outbuildings was erected by James Leggatt in 1856 for James Cowie. 'Merchiston Hall', which was originally built to command views over Corio Bay and the infant Botanical Gardens, is perhaps the finest classical style mansion in Geelong and a most distinguished work of the accomplished architectural firm of Backhouse and Reynolds. The disciplined axial composition is sensitively detailed and an examplar of classical architecture of the mid-nineteenth century in Victoria. James Cowie was a significant pioneer resident and later M.L.C. for Geelong. George Frederick Belcher, a prominent Geelong businessman and mayor owned the property from 1872 til 1909.
REFERENCES
"Building Progress in Geelong', The Australian Builder and Practical Mechanic, No.26, Melbourne, 28th August 1856, p.208.
Geelong Advertiser, 25th April 1856, tender notice 1st February 1865, Advertisement, to sell or let. 1st September 1868 - tender . 2nd April 1870 - to let notice. 7th August 1876 - birth notice, son of G.F Belcher at Merchiston Hall.
National Trust of Australia (Victoria), File No. 256. Survey and Identification Data form, 1959.
Investigator, Wynd I. (Ed), Magazine of Geelong Historical Society. May 1967, Vol. 2 No. 2 pp.87-90.
Saunders, David, (ed), Historical Buildings of Victoria, jacaranda Press, Melbourne, 1966, p. 168.
Robertson, E. Graeme, Victorian Heritage, Georgian House, Melbourne, 1974, pp. 135, 138, 139.
Australian Dictionary of Biography, 6 Volumes, Pike Douglas, (Ed), Melbourne University Press, 1969, p. 473. Biography of James Cowie.
Smith, James, (Ed) The Cyclopedia of Victoria, 3 Volumes, The Cyclopedia Co., Melbourne, 1904, Volume 2, pp 435-436 - Biography of George F. Belcher.
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"Merchiston Hall", house including interior - Physical Description 1
Two storey, rendered with basalt plinth, hipped roof clad in slate, modillion brackets to eaves, quoining, large rendered chimneys with projecting capping. Verandah & upper level balcony with cast iron balustrade to north side, multi-pane timber sash windows, recessed entry with paired doors & arched highlight. The two levels are separated by an entablature and there are pilasters to the ground level facade with guilloche pattern to upper level windows & frieze. Front fence with cast iron palisading.
Heritage Study and Grading
Greater Geelong - Geelong Region Historic Buildings and Objects Study Volume 2
Author: Allan Willingham
Year: 1986
Grading: AGreater Geelong - Geelong City Urban Conservation Study, Volumes 2-5
Author: Graeme Butler
Year: 1991
Grading: AGreater Geelong - Geelong City Urban Conservation Study Volume 1
Author: Graeme Butler
Year: 1993
Grading: AGreater Geelong - Geelong City Urban Conservation Study, Volume 4(a)
Author: Helen Lardner
Year: 1995
Grading: AGeelong 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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