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AJ THOMAS MOTOR GARAGE
100-102 MANIFOLD STREET CAMPERDOWN, CORANGAMITE SHIRE

All information on this page is maintained by Heritage Victoria. Click below for their website and contact details.
Victorian Heritage Register
AJ THOMAS MOTOR GARAGE SOHE 2008
AJ THOMAS MOTOR GARAGE SOHE 2008
AJ THOMAS MOTOR GARAGE SOHE 2008
AJ THOMAS MOTOR GARAGE SOHE 2008
1 a j thomas motor garage camperdown front view sep1997
a j thomas's motor garage plan
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Statement of Significance

What is significant?
AJ Thomas's Motor Garage consists of a complex of buildings dating from c.1912 and the 1920s unified by major alterations and a new rendered brick facade in Inter-war Mediterranean style dating from 1932. The 1932 design is attributed to prominent Camperdown architect, WP (Perry) Knights, and was one of his last recorded works in the district. The earlier portions of the building are in timber and once housed Thomas's earlier carriage building works. Knights's design, which included a sheltered drive-through service corner (with pumps) and a spacious showroom with large windows fronting on to Manifold Street, was in response to the needs of the automobile trade. The first Shell Company petrol pump in Australia was reputedly located here, while the signs 'Garage' and 'Duco' have survived on the east elevation.

The Mediterranean style, with its fusion of Renaissance Revival and Mediterranean domestic elements, became popular in Australia in the 1920s. The incorporation of these elements in the garage, including a square cantilevered corner turret with a tiled terra-cotta roof, cement render, etched and patterned glass, double pilasters and Roman frieze mouldings, represents a very unusual application of the style.

How is it significant?
The AJ Thomas's Motor Garage is historically and architecturally important to the State of Victoria.

Why is it significant?
The AJ Thomas's Motor Garage is historically important as a substantially intact, purpose-built, inter-war motor garage that dates from the period when automobile ownership and recreational car touring were increasing. Its exuberant architecture celebrated the growing prominence of the car in society, and helped to draw the attention of passing motor traffic on the busy Princes Highway. It is also one of the largest of the early garages in Victoria.

The AJ Thomas's Motor Garage is architecturally significant as an extremely unusual adaptation of the Inter-war Mediterranean style for a commercial motor garage. Its sheltered drive-through service corner, office and showroom were designed in response to the needs of motorists and the automobile trade. The small cantilevered tower, which was a common feature in inter-war garages in the United States, was rarely used in local designs. The retention of the signs and other original details, both internally and externally, also enhance the building's significance. The Motor Garage makes a strong and distinctive contribution to the commercial architecture of Manifold Street, and to the Princes Highway in Western Victoria generally.

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    • Permit Exemptions

      AJ THOMAS MOTOR GARAGE - 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:

      EXEMPTIONS FROM PERMITS:
      (Classes of works or activities which may be undertaken without a permit under
      Part 4 of the Heritage Act 1995)

      Policy:
      The important facets of this place are those which concern its architectural
      and historical importance as a motor garage, office and showroom in the
      Inter-war Mediterranean style. The parts of the building which relate to its
      use in carriage manufacture are of local significance. The main focus for
      permit activity should be on the rendered brick facade, the signage, and the
      plaster and timber detailing of the office, showroom and rest room.

      General Conditions:
      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.
      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.
      If there is a conservation policy and plan approved by the Executive Director,
      all works shall be in accordance with it.
      Nothing in this declaration prevents the Executive Director from amending or
      rescinding all or any of the permit exemptions.
      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
      Repairs and maintenance which replace like with like.
      Demolition or removal of outbuildings and sheds.
      Repair, removal or replacement of fences and gates.
      Erection or installation of small outbuildings or sheds provided that the
      floor area does not exceed 25 square metres or the height 3 metres.
      All works to the timber former workshop parts of the building except
      demolition.
      Removal of extraneous items such as air conditioners, pipe work, ducting,
      wiring, antennae, aerials etc, and making good.
      Painting over of modern advertising signs to match the colour scheme in force
      at the time of registration.
      Laying or removal of concrete or bitumen paving.
      Installation or repair of damp-proofing by either injection method or grouted
      pocket method.

      Interior
      Painting of previously painted walls and ceilings provided that preparation or
      painting does not remove evidence of the original paint or other decorative
      scheme.
      Removal of paint from originally unpainted or oiled joinery, doors,
      architraves, skirtings and decorative strapping.
      Patching or repair of plaster provided that new work matches good adjacent
      work in style, detail and finish.
      Installation, removal or replacement of carpets, tiles and/or flexible 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 bathrooms or toilets including removal, installation or
      replacement of sanitary fixtures and associated piping, mirrors, wall and
      floor coverings.
      Installation, removal or replacement of kitchen benches and fixtures including
      sinks, stoves, ovens, refrigerators, dishwashers etc and associated plumbing
      and wiring.
      Removal of existing laundromat equipment and making good.
      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 from 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 the roof space.
      Installation, removal or replacement of smoke detectors.

Public contributions

Note: Developments may span multiple time periods
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