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OSBORNE HOUSE
51 SWINBURNE STREET NORTH GEELONG, GREATER GEELONG CITY

All information on this page is maintained by Heritage Victoria. Click below for their website and contact details.

Victorian Heritage Register

OSBORNE HOUSE SOHE 2008

1 osborne house geelong front view of house apr1997

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Statement of Significance
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Statement of Significance

What is significant?

Osborne House, stables and courtyard were designed by leading Melbourne architects Webb and Taylor, and erected in 1858 for pastoralist Robert Muirhead, a former overseer with the Clyde Company. Originally built as a two storey bluestone structure with Barrabool sandstone dressings and single storey Doric colonnaded verandah in the Victorian Italianate style, it was extended in 1910, and in 1967.

How is it significant?

Osborne House is of architectural and historic significance to the state of Victoria.

Why is it significant?

Osborne House is characteristic of the work of Webb and Taylor, and a notable example of the partnership's conservative classical architecture. Osborne House, with the large stables building constructed around an open brick-paved courtyard, is among Geelong's finest early mansion houses and represents the way of life of the prominent Geelong pastoralists. Osborne House has notable historic associations, firstly with distinguished pioneer squatter Robert Muirhead, then as a townhouse of Western District pastoralist J C Currie.

Osborne House has also played a significant role in the history of the Royal Australian Navy, being the original home of the Royal Australian Naval College from 1913 to 1915. It was also used as the Shire of Corio offices for many years until the recent council amalgamation.

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- OSBORNE HOUSE - Victorian Heritage Inventory
- Osborne House - National Trust
- Permit Exemptions
  
  OSBORNE HOUSE - Permit Exemptions
  
  General Exemptions:
  General exemptions apply to all places and objects included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). General exemptions have been designed to allow everyday activities, maintenance and changes to your property, which don’t harm its cultural heritage significance, to proceed without the need to obtain approvals under the Heritage Act 2017.
  Specific exemptions may also apply to your registered place or object. If applicable, these are listed below. Specific exemptions are tailored to the conservation and management needs of an individual registered place or object and set out works and activities that are exempt from the requirements of a permit. Specific exemptions prevail if they conflict with general exemptions.
  
  Find out more about heritage permit exemptions here.
- Show:
- FORMER FEDERAL WOOLLEN MILLS
  
  Victorian Heritage Register H1938
- OSBORNE HOUSE
  
  Victorian Heritage Inventory
- OSBORNE HOUSE JETTY AND BOAT SHED / SWINBURNE BATHS
  
  Victorian Heritage Inventory
- "1890"
  
  Yarra City
- "AMF Officers" Shed
  
  Moorabool Shire
- "AQUA PROFONDA" SIGN, FITZROY POOL
  
  Victorian Heritage Register H1687

All information on this page is maintained by Heritage Victoria. Click below for their website and contact details.

Victorian Heritage Register

Record Details

Place ID
4789
Location
51 SWINBURNE STREET NORTH GEELONG, GREATER GEELONG CITY
Municipality
GREATER GEELONG CITY
Heritage Listing
Victorian Heritage Register
Level of significance
Registered
Victorian Heritage Register (VHR) Number
H1101

Heritage Overlay Numbers
HO207
Extent of Registration

Under Section14 of the Historic Buildings Act 1981 the Governor in Council amends the Register by adding Historic Building No. 1101:

Osborne House, Swinburne Street, North Geelong, City of Greater Geelong.

Extent:

1. All of the buildings known as Osborne House, comprising Osborne House marked B-1 and the stables marked B-2, on Plan 605315A, endorsed by the Chair, Historic Buildings Council and held by the Director, Historic Buildings Council.

2. All the land described in Certificates of Title Volume 6400 Folio 850 and Volume 7327 Folio 230 marked L-1 on Plan No. 305315A, endorsed by the Chair, Historic Buildings Council and held by the Director, Historic Buildings Council.

Dated 12 September 1995

Responsible Minister
ROBERT MACLELLAN
Minister for Planning and
Local Government

KATHY WILSON
Clerk of the Executive Council

[Victoria Government Gazette G36 14 September 1995 2536]
Year Construction Started
1857
VHR Registration
September 14, 1995
Architectural Style
Victorian Period (1851-1901) Renaissance Revival
Architect
Webb & Taylor
Heritage Act Categories
Registered place
Category

Government and Administration

Residential buildings (private)

Education