House and outbuildings
431 Somerset Park Road, STRATHFIELDSAYE VIC 3551 - Property No 220517
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Statement of Significance
431 Somerset Park Road, Strathfieldsaye including the brick two storey house built c.1900, and the outbuildings including the blacksmith's shop, worker's hut, machinery shed, dairy and milking shed are significant.
How is it significant?431 Somerset Park Road is of historic and architectural significance to the City of Greater Bendigo.
Why is it significant?431 Somerset Park Road is historically significant for its association with Thomas Somerville who established an orchard on the property in 1907. Prior to his ownership the property was held by Bendigo butcher Charles Read from 1887, and it was probably in Thomas Clancy's ownership prior to this date, when a number of the outbuildings were constructed. It has not been established whether the house dates from the Read or Clancy period of ownership, however from photographic evidence it can be assumed that it was prior to 1896. Criterion A
The outbuildings are significant for their demonstration of the evolution of a substantial farming property close to the urban edge of Bendigo. The well watered land by nearby Axe Creek allowed an agricultural industry to develop that required several early outbuildings probably dating from Clancy's ownership (including the dairy, milking shed and blacksmiths workshop), and the workers hut probably dating from Somerville's ownership when the property was used for an orchard.
The house is significant for its flamboyant Queen Anne design displaying many architectural brickwork details found in urban buildings in Bendigo. This is reportedly a design of architect Mr Ovey. The arched detail on the chimneys is unusual, and the house exhibits tile patterning, diaper brickwork, elaborate bargeboards and festoon decoration. The verandah has been built in with a timber and glazed wall, although the cast iron verandah is apparently still intact. Criterion E
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House and outbuildings - Physical Description 1
Strathfieldsaye is formerly an agricultural area but is rapidly developing as a new suburb of Bendigo and the remnants of farms co-exist with new suburban developments. 431 Somerset Park Road is an unusual farm complex comprising a substantial allotment adjacent to a creek frontage with a several outbuildings and a large house built in the domestic Queen Anne style of house of flamboyant design. The outbuildings belong to an earlier era of development and there was apparently an earlier farm house on the property closer to the creek, although this has been demolished.[1]
The house has stylistic similarities to a number of properties in Bendigo and is reportedly designed by architect Mr Ovey [2]. The design is unique in the study area and is an unusual design for a country house. Of particular interest is the use of patterned brickwork in courses, and the window surrounds to the front elevation that are set out from the face in cream brick. Festoon decoration is used beneath the sill of the upper floor central window. The gable end has decorative timber bargeboards and brackets. The chimneys are highly unusual in that they incorporate an open arch between the two flues. The arch motif is repeated in debased form on a secondary chimney. There is extensive use of brickwork techniques involving dog-tooth dentils, polychrome brickwork in brown, red and cream bricks, diaper patterning, red and cream tilework to the top of walls. The verandah has been built in with timber cladding and louvre windows, although apparently the verandah detailing is behind this and all intact. The house is highly intact to the interior and apart from the verandah has undergone no major changes to the exterior.
[1] Information from the current owner Mr Colin Jack , October 2008
[2] Information supplied by Mike Butcher, National Trust, Bendigo Branch, 2009
House and outbuildings - Physical Conditions
Good
House and outbuildings - Integrity
Altered
House and outbuildings - Historical Australian Themes
4 Transforming the land
4.4 Farming
Heritage Study and Grading
Greater Bendigo - Former Shires of McIvor and Strathfieldsaye Heritage Study
Author: Context P/L
Year: 2008
Grading: Local
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