ROYAL TERRACE
50-68 NICHOLSON STREET FITZROY, YARRA CITY
WORLD HERITAGE ENVIRONS AREA
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Statement of Significance
WHEA AREA OF GREATER SIGNIFICANCE
What is significant?
Royal Terrace, 50-68 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy, is a row of ten, three-storey residences in a restrained Regency style. The terrace was built for John Bryant, a timber merchant and builder, who lived in the terrace until his death in 1891. The entire terrace remained in Bryant family ownership until 1955.
Construction began in late 1854 and may have been completed by late 1856. The location took advantage of the recently reserved Carlton Gardens on the opposite side of Nicholson Street. Building work was undertaken in two stages beginning at the northern end of the site. Four residences were built during the first phase, nos. 62-68, and six shortly later, nos. 50-60. It has not been determined whether an architect was responsible for the design, although it is likely that an architect was involved and that he may have been John Gill.
The terrace is built of fine ashlar bluestone with sandstone dressings and stuccoed ground floor walls. The end residences of the terrace project slightly forward to Nicholson Street, and a continuous sandstone parapet, with centrally placed name plate, hides the roof. Urns and rosettes were added to the parapet in c1880. The continuous verandah on timber columns has a concave roof over a floor of slate and white marble tiles laid in diamond pattern. In most cases the original two storey and single storey rear wings survive. The original blustone stables survive at the rear of six of the residences, and the party wall between stables survives at the other four. The stables are not located along the rear boundary as was typical, rather they are set back from it.
The pavement to Nicholson Street is probably contemporary to the terrace. Remnant original red sansdstone paving is possibly from Arbroath, Scotland and the grey sandstone from Caithness. The cast iron fence along the front property boundaries was also probably imported.
Amongst prominent Melbournians to have taken up residence for short periods in the terrace include John O?Shanassy (whilst Premier), and artist Nicholas Chevalier.
How is it significant?
Royal Terrace is of architectural and historical significance to the State of Victoria.
Why is it significant?
Royal Terrace is of architectural significance as the largest early terrace building surviving in Melbourne, and is unrivalled amongst the early terraces for its elegance. The simple composition and austere decoration makes it a notable example, albeit a sober one, of the comparatively rare Regency style in Victoria. It has no comparison in terms of scale or quality of stonework to any other extant, early terrace building in the other major urban areas of Australia. It is remarkably intact, most notably the unified facade. The combination of stone and stucco is also particularly unusual. The ability to appreciate much of the original 19th century fabric and the hierarchy of the forms including remnant stables is of particular significance as a valuable record of early residential architecture.
Royal Terrace is architecturally significant not only as a prominent landmark but also as an integral part of the remaining Victorian era streetscape of Nicholson Street. The early flagstone pavement is unusual in Melbourne. In conjunction with the Exhibition Buildings opposite, the terrace is a potent reminder of the dramatic development and resultant social changes occurring in Melbourne during the second half of the nineteenth century as the city gained international prominence.
Royal Terrace is of historical significance for its association with a number of important Victorian identities, particularly John O?Shanassy and Nicholas Chevalier. The array of distinguished occupants demonstrates the prestigious location and setting, close to Parliament and Eastern Hill, and opposite the Carlton Gardens and
Exhibition Buildings.
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ROYAL TERRACE - History
Associated People: Tenant N CHEVALIER, HON. JOHN O'SHANNASSY, PROF. G ALFORD; Assoc.People REV. HAMILTONROYAL TERRACE - 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.Places of worship: In some circumstances, you can alter a place of worship to accommodate religious practices without a permit, but you must notify the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria before you start the works or activities at least 20 business days before the works or activities are to commence.Subdivision/consolidation: Permit exemptions exist for some subdivisions and consolidations. If the subdivision or consolidation is in accordance with a planning permit granted under Part 4 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the application for the planning permit was referred to the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria as a determining referral authority, a permit is not required.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.Specific Exemptions:General Conditions:
1. All exempted alterations are to be planned and carried out in a manner which prevents damage to the fabric of the registered place or object.
2. Should it become apparent during further inspection or the carrying out of alterations that original or previously hidden or inaccessible details of the place or object are revealed which relate to the significance of the place or object, then the exemption covering such alteration shall cease and the Executive Director shall be notified as soon as possible.
3. If there is a conservation policy and plan approved by the Executive Director, all works shall be in accordance with it.
4. Nothing in this declaration prevents the Executive Director from amending or rescinding all or any of the permit exemptions.
5. Nothing in this declaration exempts owners or their agents from the responsibility to seek relevant planning or building permits from the responsible authority where applicable.
Exterior
* Minor repairs and maintenance which replace like with like.
* Removal of extraneous items such as air conditioners, pipe work, ducting, wiring, signage, antennae, aerials etc, and making good.
Interior
* Painting or wallpapering of previously painted walls and ceilings provided that preparation or painting does not remove evidence of the original paint or other decorative schemes.
* Removal of paint from originally unpainted or oiled joinery, doors, architraves, skirtings and decorative strapping.
* Installation, removal or replacement of carpets and/or floor coverings.
* Installation, removal or replacement of curtain track, rods, blinds and other window dressings.
* Installation, removal or replacement of hooks, nails and other devices for the hanging of mirrors, paintings and other wall mounted artworks.
* Refurbishment of existing bathrooms, including removal, installation or replacement of sanitary fixtures and associated piping, mirrors, wall and floor coverings.
* Installation, removal or replacement of kitchen fixtures including sinks, stoves, ovens, refrigerators, dishwashers etc and associated plumbing and wiring.
* Installation, removal or replacement of ducted, hydronic or concealed radiant type heating provided that the installation does not damage existing skirtings and architraves and provided that the location of the heating unit is concealed form view.
* Installation, removal or replacement of electrical wiring provided that all new wiring is fully concealed and any original light switches, pull cords, push buttons or power outlets are retained in-situ. Note: if wiring original to the place was carried in timber conduits then the conduits should remain in-situ.
* Installation, removal or replacement of bulk insulation in roof space.
* Installation, removal or replacement of smoke detectors.
ROYAL TERRACE - Permit Exemption Policy
Policy
It is the purpose of the permit exemptions to protect the heritage significance of the place. The Royal Terrace Conservation Management Plan (RBA Architects, November 2003) should guide permit policy. The permit exemptions suggested on p 58 are adopted as permit exemptions for all the residences with the exception of the permit exemption described by RBA as ?Exterior ? conservation works that comply with those outlined in the CMP? which refers to section 8.3 Conservation Works, pp.75-77. Whilst it is agreed that these works that are identified as essential or are recommended by RBA are indeed necessary and desirable, owners must check with Heritage Victoria before undertaking these works, some of which may be technical in nature, to verify what documentation or permits may be required.
Permits are required for disturbing, removing paving slabs or otherwise altering the pavement to Nicholson Street.
The registered place is located within the declared World Heritage Environs Area for the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens. In accordance with the permit considerations set out in the Heritage Act 1995, proposed works to the registered place must consider:
- the effect of the works on the World Heritage values of the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens; and
- the approved "World Heritage Environs Area Strategy Plan: Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens" (Department of Planning and Community Development, 2009).
The Commonwealth's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000, as they relate to actions that may impact on World Heritage values, must also be considered.
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ROSAVILLEVictorian Heritage Register H0408
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"AMF Officers" ShedMoorabool Shire
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"AQUA PROFONDA" SIGN, FITZROY POOLVictorian Heritage Register H1687
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1 Alfred CrescentYarra City
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1 Barkly StreetYarra City
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Tours involving this place See all tours
13/09/16
Old Melbourne Gaol - Magistrates Court - Drummond Terrace - Medley Hall - Royal Exhibition Building And Carlton Gardens (world Heritage Place) - Royal Terrace
Public contributions
Tours involving this place See all tours
13/09/16
Old Melbourne Gaol - Magistrates Court - Drummond Terrace - Medley Hall - Royal Exhibition Building And Carlton Gardens (world Heritage Place) - Royal Terrace