Ryder's House and Barton Hill Complex
75 Running Creek Rd ARTHURS CREEK, NILLUMBIK SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
SIGNIFICANCE ASSESSMENT
What is significant?
Fabric &trees associated with:
- the Victorian & Edwardian-eras
- John Ryder, and Charles Draper tenure
How is it significant?
Ryders former house is historically and architecturally significant to the Nillumbik Shire and Arthurs Creek:
Why is it significant?
Ryders former house is significant:
- for its long association with local pioneering families such as Ryder and Draper, as underscored by the act of conservation of the building on a new site by the Draper family (Criterion A4)
- for the rarity of the combination of its age and vertical split slab construction, being one of a small number of surviving dwellings using a construction type more commonly seen in Victorian-era sheds and outbuildings (Criterion B2)
- as a good expression of the availability of cheap local timber in the early settlement period of Victoria and this district and the skill needed to utilise it (Criterion A4);
The Barton Hill complex is locally significant historically:
- for the long association with the pioneering Draper family
- as an illustration of orchard farming in the early 20th century within the Shire, as illustrated by the stone outbuilding, the Edwardian-era timber farm house, and Ryders hut (rebuilt as its detached kitchen) (Criterion A4)
- for the house design, as one of the most recently built houses designed with a free standing kitchen in Victoria (Criterion B2)
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Ryder's House and Barton Hill Complex - Historical Australian Themes
Orchard Industry
Ryder's House and Barton Hill Complex - Physical Description 1
Slab hut, stone outbuilding, weatherboard house
Ryder's House and Barton Hill Complex - Integrity
Good
Integrity
See above
Ryder's House and Barton Hill Complex - Physical Conditions
Good
Ryder's House and Barton Hill Complex - Physical Description 2
Meredith Gould, Conservation Consultants. Inspection 1990:
' Although now relocated from its original position Ryder's slab dwelling appears remarkably intact. The slabs vary in size from 200 to 300mm approximately. Their surface is relatively smooth and although some adze-like make are visible, the slabs appear to have been sawn. Cover straps of variable size are fitted over the joints. An ochre wash can be seen in patched over the whole of the walls. The construction system could not be inspected. The slabs sit in the ground and terminate under the eaves. The 6 pane per sash double hung windows appear to be part of the 1860's structure.
Few vertical slab dwellings survive. Notable examples are at Gulf Station from the 1850s and at Moranghurk in Lethbtidge from the late 1840s. Gulf Station is much more extensive than this single building and Moranghunk is a large elaborate residence representing a completely different housing type. More extensive examples of similar sca1e horizontal drop slab dwellings survive e.g. Mt. Elgin homestead at Nhill.mot dated) and Coonarnga at Strathmerton 1866. These buildings represent a' similar basic material but a quite different utilization. Ryders Hut appears to utilize the system more commonly used for sheds and outbuildings. Its sophisticated utilization here on a dwelling makes it one of the rare survivors from the reputably numerous examples to capitalize on cheap local timber in the early settlement period of Victoria.
This property also includes a stone outbuilding of brick and timber (see Figure
56) and a timber house. The design of the house is consistent with the 1900 acquisition (sic) of the property by Draper. This house has always utilized the slab but for the kitchen. This must be one of the latest houses designed with a free standing kitchen in Victoria, the practice having lost favour in country areas from the 1860s on. The stone out building is more difficult to date and three buildings together illustrate orchard farming in the early 20th century.' Examination of aerial photographs from the 1980s to the present day indicate little if any change to the complex described by Gould in 1990-1. An early weatherboard house, with corrugated iron roofing and brick chimneys, is visible from the roadway, as are pole-framed sheds and yards. The farm complex also includes an orchard, hedges and mature trees around the house. yard, including Monterey pines, cypress specimens and silky oaks.
Heritage Study and Grading
Nillumbik - Whittlesea Heritage Study
Author: M Gould
Year: 1991
Grading: ANillumbik - Shire of Nillumbik Planning Scheme Amendment C13 Part 1
Author: Graeme Butler & Assoc.
Year: 2006
Grading: Local
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Ryder's House and Barton Hill ComplexNillumbik Shire
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Hazel Glen HomesteadNational Trust
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