371 CHURCH STREET RICHMOND
371 CHURCH STREET, RICHMOND VIC 3121
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Statement of Significance
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371 CHURCH STREET RICHMOND - History
A land use history review indicates that the property has likely been occupied and had substantial structures present within it since the early 1850s. It is considered likely that the study area formed part of the early estate of Joseph Kelso, a ‘pioneer’ of the Richmond locality who arrived in the colony in 1851. Mapping dating to c. 1855 indicates the presence of a house, fences, outbuildings and gardens in the study area by this time. Later mapping c. 1896 indicates that while some of these early structures had likely been demolished in the course of further subdivision and re-sale of the property, others were likely incorporated into the main house structure that remains on the property today. The property appears to have been put to residential use for the majority of the historical period (to c. 1942), and that it is known to have been numbered variously 371, 203 and 157 Church Street at different times.
See attachment C for a more detailed land use history of the property.371 CHURCH STREET RICHMOND - Interpretation of Site
The brief land use history presented above indicates that the post-contact history of the site can be divided into three broad categories: Phase 1: The occupation and use of the property by the Kelso family from the early 1850s potentially until c. 1873, when the lot was subdivided for sale. A c. 1855 plan indicates the presence of what is likely a house and gardens in the western part of the property, with a fenced rear yard and outbuildings present in the east. To the east of the current property boundary and extending all the way to Mary Street were gardens, possibly of a farmlet type, that appear to have formed part of the allotment. A c. 1873 plan shows this allotment subdivided into a number of smaller lots, and the Church-Street fronting property is referred to on this plan as ‘Kelso House’. Phase 2: Occupation and use of the property most likely primarily as a residential home c. 1873-1942. This phase of occupation saw the original Kelso allotment subdivided and at some stage prior to 1896, a new residence constructed. It appears that this new building, which is present on the property today, likely incorporated parts of some of the previous buildings present on the lot, but that other buildings and ancillary structures were demolished. It is not known to what extent previous structures were incorporated into the new structures, nor exactly when this occurred. The main residential building on the property today, however, was present in approximately the same layout by at least c. 1896. Phase 3: Modern use of the property c. 1943-2021. In terms of known structural change that may have affected the historical fabric (archaeological and built) of the property, aerial photography indicates the presence of new and changed paths at the front and side of the main building, possible extensions to the south of the main structure, and the absence of buildings once present at the rear of the property. Otherwise, the main house structure and front entrance / garden area appear much as described on a c. 1896 MMBW plan of the property. Currently, the archaeological potential of the site is unknown / unassessed, although Aboriginal archaeological testing undertaken as part of a recent CHMP, as well as geotechnical testing, does indicate the presence of historical archaeological material on the property. • Geotechnical boreholes at the rear (east) of the property, encountered ‘fill’ described as ‘clayey silt, silty clay, bricks and building rubble’ (Melbourne Geotechnics 2020: 17-22) beneath existing concrete paving, and other boreholes located in the general vicinity of historically mapped structures encountered the same material. It is considered possible that this ‘fill’ represents historical archaeological material relating to the historical use of the property. Boreholes excavated in garden areas returned results consistent with this use. The presence of fill and silt/silty clay in most boreholes indicates that widespread deep excavation and removal of soils (and therefore potentially historical archaeological material) has not taken place on the property to date. • Aboriginal archaeological subsurface testing involved the excavation of one 1x1m excavation pit and five shovel test pits in sections of the property which were not paved nor housed existing structures. The locations of these pits are shown in the figure provided in Attachment E. Historical artefacts were recovered from the 1x1m excavation pit and from shovel test pits 1, 2 and 5. Recovered artefacts included animal bone fragments (sheep, avian, cattle and unidentified mammal), slate fragments, terracotta, porcelain, salt glazed stoneware, earthenware of various types, a range of bottle, window and other glass, metal artefacts, unidentified building materials, bluestone and mortar fragments.
Heritage Inventory Description
371 CHURCH STREET RICHMOND - Heritage Inventory Description
The site consists of an approximately 0.12 ha inner-city urban lot located at 371 Church Street, Richmond. The property currently contains a single story rendered residential building and two smaller outbuildings including a weatherboard shed. Concrete paths extend along the front (western side) of the main building and extend out perpendicular to the west, forming a Church Street fronted pedestrian entrance to the property. Concrete paths also extend along the northern and southern sides of the building. A number of retaining walls are present at various locations across the property, constructed of a range of materials including concrete, timber and rock. Grass and garden areas are present to the west, north and south of the main building, and a trees/shrubs are present across the property. Vehicle access to the property is from a right -of-way in the north east corner, and this access way and parking area is paved with concrete. A field inspection carried out on 1 February 2021 identified the presence of raised garden areas in the western part of the property, as well as identifying a masonry retaining wall in the north west and line of low basalt (bluestone) boulders in the south. Raised, sloping garden areas were observed which indicated to the assessing archaeologist that subsurface garden design features may be preserved, and backyard paved areas were noted to have potential to have preserved underlying archaeological features. An historical cast iron fence was present along the Church St frontage of the property, in generally good condition. The existence of concrete paving and extant built structures on the site currently prevents an assessment of its subsurface archaeology. See attachment A – aerial photograph, existing conditions plan and representative photographs of the property.
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NORTH MELBOURNE POTTERYVictorian Heritage Inventory
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STONY CREEK SLIPWAYVictorian Heritage Inventory
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SEASONING WORKS SITE AND TERRACOTTA LUMBERWALLVictorian Heritage Inventory
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