First Customs House Also See Botanic Gardens
1 Garden Street, GEELONG EAST VIC 3219 - Property No 241992
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Statement of Significance
A Listed - State Significance
The first Customs House, a square plain timber structure built of timber studs clad with quirk bead, weatherboards and a thatch roof, was reputedly prefabricated in Sydney c. 1838 and shipped to Geelong. The first Customs House now located in the Botanic Gardens in East Geelong, is claimed to be the oldest authenticated building still extant in Victoria. This picturesque gothic pavilion dates from the first four years of settlement at Port Phillip and is of paramount importance to the history of the foundation of Port Phillip settlement and the development of customs and tariff protection in the infant colony. When the first permanent stone customs house was built in 1845, the timber pavilion was used for a short time as the Telegraph Office.
References
National Trust of Australia (Victoria), File No. 2538 'Research into Customs House (First), Nursery Section, Botanic Gardens, Geelong 'August 1977.
Sub Collector of Customs Records and Other Colonial Administration Documents: Public Records Office, Laverton, Victoria.
Brownhill, W. R. History of Geelong and Corio Bay, Wilke and Co. Ltd., Melbourne, 1955, p.582.
Stekelenburg, I.J., 'H.M. Customs House, Geelong'. History Research Essay, Department of Architecture, University of Melbourne.
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First Customs House Also See Botanic Gardens - Physical Description 1
SUBSEQUENT SIGNIFICANT OWNERS/OCCUPANTS
Used for a short time a a Telegraph Office after a stone Customs House was built on the same side near the old Queens wharf at the northern end of Moorabool Stree in 1845.
OTHER NOTES
Later shifted to its present site in the Botanical Gardens, East Geelong.
Heritage Study and Grading
Greater Geelong - Geelong Region Historic Buildings and Objects Study Volume 2
Author: Allan Willingham
Year: 1986
Grading:
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FIRST CUSTOMS HOUSEVictorian Heritage Register H0185
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CORIO VILLAVictorian Heritage Register H0193
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MERCHISTON HALLVictorian Heritage Register H0192
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