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Coal Creek Heritage Park
12 SILKSTONE ROAD, KORUMBURRA, SOUTH GIPPSLAND SHIRE

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South Gippsland Shire

34770 Jeetho State School No

34770 Leongatha Bowling Club Member s Pavilion

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Statement of Significance
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Statement of Significance

What is significant?
Coal Creek Community Park and Museum at 12 Silkstone Road, Korumburra was officially opened by R.J. Hamer, then Victorian Premier in 1974, although buildings had begun to be relocated there from 1971, a practice that continued until the late 1990s. It now houses a collection of original and newly constructed buildings that illustrate various aspects of the historic development of the South Gippsland region since settlement by Europeans in the mid-nineteenth century. The following buildings contribute to the significance of Coal Creek and are also of individual local significance to South Gippsland Shire:

- Cream Room
- Jeetho State School No. 2690
- Korumburra Lands office
- Kilcunda Road State School No. 3337**
- Korumburra Court house**
- Krowera Presbyterian Church
- Leongatha Bowling Club Members Pavilion
- Leongatha Lands Office
- Miners Cottage, Silkstone
- Stony Creek Stationmaster's Cottage (Caretaker's cottage)
- Western's Cottage
- Wattle and Daub cottage**
- Woodleigh Vale Railway Station Building, goods shed & portables

**Refer to the Statement of Significance in the individual citation.

The following buildings within Coal Creek are of Contributory significance:

- Kardella South Mechanics' Institute
- Kardella State School No. 3196,
- Kardella Public Hall
- Radovick Street shop
- Poowong National Bank of Australasia

How is it significant?
Coal Creek Heritage Village is of local historical significance to South Gippsland Shire.

Why is it significant?
Coal Creek Heritage Village is of local historical significance as an illustration of a well intentioned, if no longer appropriate approach to heritage conservation during the early 1970s. It is probable that many of the buildings relocated to Coal Creek would not have survived on their original site, and although their significance has been diminished by removal it has at least ensured that they can still illustrate aspects of the history of the Shire that may have otherwise been lost. (AHC Criteria A.4 and D.2)

Cream Room
The Cream Room, formerly situated on the Blogg property south of Bena, is of local historic significance as a very rare example of an early farm building, which is notable for its construction technique and materials. (AHC Criteria A.4, B.2, D.2 and F.1)

Jeetho State School No. 2690
The Jeetho State School is of local historical significance as a representative example of a one room school. It's significance is enhanced by the early school furniture, which contributes to the interpretation of the place. (AHC criteria A.4 and D.2)

Kilcunda Road State School No. 3337
Refer to the Statement of Significance in the individual citation in this Study.

Korumburra Lands Office
The former Korumburra Lands Office is of local historical significance as a representative example of an early public building that played an important role in the settlement and development of the study area. Along with the Leongatha office, also held at Coal Creek, it is one of two such examples. (AHC Criteria A.4, B.2 and D.2)

Korumburra Court house
Refer to the Statement of Significance in the individual citation in this Study.

Krowera Presbyterian Church
The Krowera Presbyterian Church is of local historical significance as a representative example of an early church that illustrates the important role of these buildings as community meeting places. It is one of the only early twentieth century public buildings from Krowera to survive. (AHC criteria A.4, and D.2)

Leongatha Bowling Club Members Pavilion
Although alterations have diminished its integrity, the former Leongatha Bowling Club Members Pavilion, constructed in 1908, is of local historical significance as a representative example of an early sporting building that illustrates the development of recreational associations within the Shire. It is thought to be the oldest extant sporting building in the Shire. (AHC Criteria A.4, B.2 and D.2)

Leongatha Lands Office
The former Leongatha Lands Office is of local historical significance as a representative example of an early public building that played an important role in the settlement and development of the study area. Along with the Korumburra office, also held at Coal Creek, it is one of two such examples. (AHC Criteria A.4, B.2 and D.2)

Miners Cottage, Silkstone
This cottage, constructed c.1900, is of local historical significance as a representative example of an early miner's cottage. (AHC Criteria A.4, B.2 and D.2)

Stony Creek Stationmaster's Cottage (Caretaker's cottage)
The Stony Creek Stationmaster's Cottage is of local historical significance as a representative example of an early twentieth century railway employees house. Its intactness and siting within the park near to related railway buildings enhances its interpretation and significance. (AHC Criteria A.4, and D.2)

Wattle and Daub cottage
Refer to the Statement of Significance in the individual citation in this Study.

Western's Cottage
This cottage, constructed c.1880 for the Western family on their property 'Devonscot', is of local historical significance as a now rare representative example of an early farming house that illustrates the early settlement and development in the selection era. (AHC Criteria A.4, B.2 and D.2)

Woodleigh Vale Railway Station Building, goods shed & portables.
The Woodleigh Vale Railway Station building, constructed in 1910, is of local historical significance as a representative example of a small weatherboard railway station. The station is complemented by the Goods shed and portable buildings, which also date from the early twentieth century and demonstrate an early station layout and function. (AHC Criteria A.4, and D.2)

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- Physical Description 1
  
  Coal Creek Heritage Park - Physical Description 1
  
  Coal Creek Heritage Village is designed as a recreation of a late nineteenth century mining village. It comprises heritage buildings and objects that have been relocated to the site from elsewhere, as well as new buildings that have been constructed in a complementary 'historic' style. Some of the new buildings are reconstructions of heritage places that are known to have existed based on photographic and other documentary evidence. Entrance to the site is via a purpose built timber building in a sympathetic contemporary style. A mine has been recreated, along with a narrow gauge railway. The appearance of the site has been enhanced by the planting of many trees, including locally indigenous species.
  
  The heritage buildings that have been moved to the Village from elsewhere in the Shire include (note: The original name is given followed in brackets by the current name used by Coal Creek):
  
  Leongatha Bowling clubhouse (Biggs skin store)
  This is a small weatherboard buildings with a gabled roof with a gablet in the side placed (slightly off-side) over the entrance door. The windows are small four pane. The landing and double doors at one end are alterations carried out after removal to Coal Creek.
  
  Korumburra Lands office (Lands office)
  This is a simple, weatherboard cottage with a gable roof that extends to incorporate the front verandah, which is supported on timber posts with simple brackets. Windows are six pane double hung sashes. There is a re-constructed chimney at one end.
  
  Leongatha Lands Office (Bush Tramway office)
  This is a simple gabled weatherboard cottage. It has a return verandah supported on timber posts with no brackets, which may not be original. There is a tin chimney with a brick insert.
  
  Poowong National Bank of Australasia (Auction room)
  This is a simple weatherboard building with a hip iron. It has two large double hung sash windows flanking the central doorway. The verandah is a later addition and there is a reconstructed chimney at one end. This building compares with more intact examples of early twentieth century weatherboard banks at Stony Creek, Fish Creek, Mirboo North and Toora.
  
  Korumburra Court House
  Refer to individual citation in this Study.
  
  Radovick Street shop (Wrench's boot makers)
  This is a simple weatherboard Victorian shop with an original shopfront. The verandah has been reconstructed, but it is not known whether this was on the basis of historic evidence. The front parapet may also have been reconstructed and a sign dating from c.1945 is reputedly stored on site.
  
  Krowera Presbyterian Church
  This a simple Carpenter Gothic weatherboard church. A new vestry was added to the building after its move to Coal Creek. This simple design is typical of early twentieth century churches found throughout the Shire.
  
  Jeetho State School No. 2690
  This a Federation weatherboard one room school with a half-hipped corrugated iron gabled roof that incorporates a porch at one corner over the entrance. There are a bank of multi-paned windows with hoppers above at one end and small highlight windows in the other end elevation in the porch. There is also a tall multi-paned window adjacent to the entrance. It is identical in design to the school at Ruby.
  
  Kardella State School No. 3196, Kardella Public Hall (Pig & Whistle Hotel)
  This was originally a gabled weatherboard school with a small gabled porch at one end. Windows are six pane double hung sash including one each end elevation and originally about three in the side elevation. The roof retains early Health Department vents along the ridge line. Major alterations have been made to one side elevation including the construction of a verandah and new entrance as part of its conversion to the 'Pig & Whistle' Hotel. A new kitchen has also been added at the rear.
  
  Kilcunda Road State School No. 3337
  Refer to individual citation in this Study.
  
  Western's Cottage
  This is a simple gabled weatherboard cottage. The walls are constructed of hand split timber - interior with hessian and newspapers. This comprises the original two rooms, which were only partly reconstructed at Coal Creek - later additions were left behind.
  
  Wattle and Daub cottage
  Refer to individual citation in this Study.
  
  Miners Cottage, Silkstone
  This is a simple gabled weatherboard cottage with a rear skillion. The centrally located front door is flanked by double hung sash windows. There is a front verandah and a reconstructed side chimney. Reputedly, it is situated not far from its present location near the site of the present Coal Creek farm house. Few examples of this simple type of cottage have survived in the Shire. One example has been identified at Silkstone and some in Korumburra.
  
  Kardella South Mechanics' Institute
  This is a simple weatherboard gabled hall with a small gabled porch at one end and a supper room contained in a skillion extension at the other. A verandah over the entrance is not original. There are tall multi-paned windows in the side elevations. This building is of a simple design that is typical of other halls found throughout the Shire.
  Stony Creek Stationmaster's Cottage (Caretaker's cottage)
  This is a gabled roof weatherboard cottage with a projecting central gable of a standard early twentieth century Victorian Railways design. Windows are six pane double hung sashes. The colour scheme is sympathetic and the corrugated iron roof appears to be new.
  This is the most intact of the 'T' design residences still found in the Shire. The example at Bena is still on its original site, but the front window has been altered. The other examples at Bennison and Meeniyan have been moved from their original sites and have been altered in detail (windows replaced).
  
  Woodleigh Vale Railway Station Building, goods shed & portables.
  This is a small weatherboard railway station with a gabled iron roof. The verandahs have been reconstructed. The portable building was originally a single gabled weatherboard structure, which has been extended by the addition of two gabled sections. This station compares to the stations at Mirboo North and Nyora, both constructed in 1915.
  
  Cream Room
  This is an early Vernacular gabled roof building. The walls are constructed of split timber placed horizontally up to eave level and vertically in the gable ends. Doors are centrally located at either end are flanked by pairs of small four-paned windows. There are few buildings of this type of construction remaining within the Shire - the other examples are slab shearing sheds at Dumbalk East and Berry's Creek.
  
  Heritage Study and Grading
  
  Heritage Study and Grading
  
  South Gippsland - South Gippsland Heritage Study
  
  Author: David Helms with Trevor Westmore
  Year: 2004
  Grading: Local
- Show:
- KORUMBURRA RAILWAY STATION COMPLEX
  
  Victorian Heritage Register H1571
- JACK RUDD'S GRAVE & JEETHO MINE
  
  Victorian Heritage Inventory
- COAL CREEK, KORUMBURRA
  
  Victorian Heritage Inventory
- 1 Barkly Avenue
  
  Yarra City
- 1 Clifton Street
  
  Yarra City
- 1 Laura Place
  
  Yarra City