Bendigo Racecourse
1-75 Racecourse Road, ASCOT VIC 3551 - Property No 209356
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Statement of Significance
What is significant?
The Bendigo Racecourse complex at 1-75 Racecourse Road, Ascot, including the Grandstand, Leinhop Lodge, Manfred Room, the course itself and associated landscaping, is of significance.
How is it significant?
The Bendigo Racecourse complex is of historical, aesthetic/architectural, social and associative significance.
Why is it significant?
The Bendigo Racecourse complex is of historical significance for its long and early association with the sport of horse racing in Victoria and Bendigo. Opened in 1864, the racecourse has been in operation for almost 150 years on this site. The site is also of interest for its use by the military as a training camp for recruits during both World War I and World War II.
The complex is a fine and representative example of a regional racecourse which includes all of the elements that would typically be found at such places, including the course itself, grandstand and other related buildings and structures.
The place as a whole is aesthetically significant for demonstrating the visual qualities associated with grassed horse racing tracks, including the numerous mature native and exotic trees in the landscaped setting.
The Bendigo Racecourse complex is of social significance. Horse racing is one of the oldest sports played in Greater Bendigo, with the first races on the Bendigo goldfields held in 1854. The Bendigo Cup remains a popular horse racing event; the Victorian public holiday for race day is observed locally for the Bendigo Cup Day, not the Melbourne Cup.
The 1902 grandstand is of individual historical and architectural significance as a large and substantially intact example of a Federation era grandstand which incorporates notable cast iron detailing. It is of interest for its association with local architect Ernest J. Keogh, who in partnership with Austin designed a number of hotels, shops, offices and a citizen club in the Bendigo area, and also worked for the Catholic Diocese in Bendigo. Ernest Keogh was later joined by his son and they continued to undertake work for the Catholic Diocese in Bendigo, and elsewhere, from the 1920s.
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Bendigo Racecourse - Physical Description 1
Description and integrity
The Bendigo Racecourse complex is located in a reserve in the Bendigo suburb of Ascot, bounded by Heinz Road to the south, Racecourse Road to the east, Golf Course Road to the north and Andrew Street to the west. The course is approached via a curving triple drive off Heinz Road, which leads to a cluster of administration buildings and public facilities, with the elliptical track to the north-east. Buildings include two main grandstands, Lienhop Lodge and the Manfred Room, as well as a number of auxiliary structures, most of which appear to date from the mid to late 20th century.
The 1902 grandstand is a substantial red brick structure constructed to a design by notable local architect Ernest J. Keogh. The grandstand has a raked form with service areas below the seating section. Double doors with arched highlight windows in the western and southern elevations provide access to the rooms below, while a brick toilet block has been built against the northern elevation. The elaborately hipped and gabled roof, clad with corrugated iron, is supported on iron trusses, while cast iron columns support the front of the roof. The front and open sides of the seating area have a balustrade of timber rail and cast iron lace. The seating comprises long timber benches. Three modern stair cases in front of the grandstand provide access from the lawn.
Lienhop Lodge, thought to have existed in its current form since 1899, is a single-storey painted weatherboard pavilion comprising a series of conjoined but distinct building forms. The southern section is a simple rectangular timber structure with a pitched roof and skillion verandahs to both the east and west elevations. Adjacent to the north elevation is a timber pavilion with a pyramid roof clad in corrugated iron, deep verandah and large windows to three sides; this may be the stewards' pavilion that was moved in 1899. An unusual room with a projecting bay and flat roof is located to its west, the upper walls of which are lined with timber shingles. The three structures are linked by a central square entry porch which opens to the west and is supported by heavy timber posts.
The Manfred Room is a single-storey Federation era building of painted weatherboard with a pitched roof clad in corrugated sheeting. The partially infilled flat-roofed verandah to the north-east and north-west elevations is supported by large square columns and appears to be a later addition.
There are areas of native vegetation to the north, south and east of the track, while the areas around the public facilities are landscaped with native and exotic trees. A row of eight palms lines the path to the west of Lienhop Lodge, with other single specimens nearby and extensive hedging and areas of lawn. Overall the site has a strong landscape quality which contributes to its character as a country racecourse.
Bendigo Racecourse - Intactness
Good
Heritage Study and Grading
Greater Bendigo - White Hills & East Bendigo Heritage Study 2014
Author: Lovell Chen
Year: 2015
Grading: Local
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