Narbethong
242 Latrobe Terrace, GEELONG WEST VIC 3218 - Property No 202387
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Statement of Significance
C Citation - Local Significance
'Narbethong', 242 Latrobe Terrace, has significance as a locally unique, substantial and predominantly intact example of an interwar Old English style in Geelong West. Built in 1934 for Geelong Hospital's first and only Honorary Ear, Eye, Nose and Throat Specialist between 1925 and 1966, Dr Harold Rupert Hyett and his wife, Lois (whose training was in the visual arts), 'Narbethong' was designed by the well-known Melbourne architect, Marcus Barlow. The contextually unusual composition has French Provincial origins as outlined in other similar dwelling designs in The Australian Home Beautiful in the 1920s and 1930s, where a select number of dwellings were designed with L-shaped plans and round corner towers as part of an eclectic Old English design idiom. The emphasis on Arts and Crafts philosophy as part of this idiom is shown in the romantic and homely construction and detailing, including the clinker brick wall construction, glazed terra cotta tiled picturesque roof, medieval-like chimneys and corner tower with candle snuffer roof, entrance porch and projecting balcony. The rural-like setting afforded the suburban dwelling, as revealed in the gravelled drive and mature gum tree at the front, also contribute to the significance of the place, as does the front and side brick boundary fencing. 'Narbethong' was constructed by the successful local builder, George Neunhoffer, long-serving Geelong West Councillor
and Mayor between 1942 and 1944. The dwelling appears to be in good condition when viewed from the street.
'Narbethong', 242 Latrobe Terrace, is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level (AHC E.1, D.2). It demonstrates original design qualities of a French Provincial-inspired interwar Old English style, being a rare example in Geelong West and the Greater Geelong municipality. These qualities include the asymmetrical and picturesque two storey composition comprised of hipped roof forms (including the elongated wing that projects on the diagonal towards the Latrobe Terrace and Villamanta Street corner), and the round tower with candle snuffer roof that constitutes the main entrance porch. Other intact or appropriate qualities include the hipped roof single storey wing that projects at the front, rear flat roofed wing with deck above, unpainted clinker brick wall construction, glazed terra cotta tile roof cladding, medieval-like brick chimneys with terra cotta pots, broad eaves, rendered main entrance door surround with vestigial pilasters and a segmentally-arched opening, solid timber front door, bracketed lantern light over the front door, first floor projecting balcony and balustrade, glazed brick window surrounds and voussoirs with rendered keystones, projecting label moulds, timber framed double hung windows with eight-paned upper sashes and the two ground floor garage door openings on the north elevation. The gravelled driveway and mature gum tree at the front contribute to the rural-like character of the front yard within its greater suburban setting. Also contributing to the aesthetic significance of the place are the low brick fences on the Latrobe Terrace and Villamanta Street boundaries.
'Narbethong', 242 Latrobe Terrace, is historically significant at a LOCAL level (AHC A.4, H.1). It is associated with prestigious residential development in this part of Latrobe Terrace during the interwar period. In particular, 'Narbethong' has important historical associations with the original owners, Dr Harold Rupert Hyett and his wife, Lois, who had the dwelling constructed in 1934. Dr Hyett was the first and only Honorary Ear, Eye, Nose and Throat Specialist at the Geelong Hospital between 1925 and 1966, while Lois Hyett was trained in visual arts and contributed to local charities, including the Red Cross and Geelong Free Kindergarten. 'Narbethong' also has associations with the notable Melbourne architect, Marcus Barlow, and with the successful local builder, George Neunhoffer, long-time Geelong West Town Councillor and Mayor between 1942 and 1944.
Overall, 'Narbethong', 242 Latrobe Terrace, Geelong West, is of LOCAL significance
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Narbethong - Physical Description 1
Description
'Narbethong' at 242 Latrobe Terrace, Geelong West, is set on a contextually large allotment for the area, at the north-west corner of Latrobe Terrace and Villamanta Street. The building has a modest front setback comprising a curved gravelled driveway and perimeter garden beds. Different species of creeper cover portions of the main facades. A mature gum tree is situated at the front, with another tree near the north-east corner. The low solid brick fences along the Latrobe Terrace and Villamanta Street boundaries appear to be early. The rear boundary fencing fronting Villamanta Street, with its brick retaining wall and black painted metal palisade fence, appears to have been introduced. At the rear is a substantial open grassed yard.
The asymmetrical, two storey, clinker brick, interwar Old English styled dwelling is characterised by a picturesque composition of hipped roof forms, with an elongated wing that projects on the diagonal towards the Latrobe Terrace and Villamanta Street corner. At the junction of these main roofs (which form a stylised L plan when viewed from the front) is a round tower (with candle snuffer roof surmounted by a finial), comprising the main entrance porch. The picturesque composition at the front is further emphasised by the projecting single storey hipped wing to the south, while on the north side towards the rear is a projecting flat roof with open deck above. Flanking the early two storey hipped wing at the rear are two introduced flat roofed single storey wings. Apart from these flat roofed wings, the roof forms are clad in glazed terra cotta tiles. Several notable and elongated clinker brick medieval-like chimneys with terra cotta pots adorn the roofline. Broad overhangs are features of the eaves.The main entrance in the tower at the front is emphasised by rendered door surrounds having vestigial pilasters and a segmentally-arched opening. The solid timber door features eight incised octagonal panels. Above the door opening is a projecting lantern light. The corner tower is further accentuated by the projecting first floor balcony with a rendered balustrade.
Other early features of the design include the two round first floor windows at the southern end having glazed brick surrounds and rendered keystones, rectangular first floor window openings with glazed brick voussoirs and rendered keystones, projecting rendered ground floor label moulds supported by rendered keystones and the timber framed double hung windows with eight-paned upper sashes. On the north side the two garage door openings appear to be early, as are the window and door openings to the flat-roofed corner bay.
Heritage Study and Grading
Greater Geelong - Ashby Heritage Review
Author: D Rowe and W Jacobs
Year: 2010
Grading:
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FORMER GEELONG WOOL EXCHANGEVictorian Heritage Register H0622
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GEELONG TOWN HALLVictorian Heritage Register H0184
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IRON STOREVictorian Heritage Register H0742
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