Eltham South Preschool Centre
35 Fordhams Road ELTHAM, NILLUMBIK SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
ELTHAM STUDY STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE:
Crowned by its large and unique roof-top sculpture; this building is a good example of The Eltham idiom of design during the 1960's, 1970's. Features of the refined design include the triangular floor plan, quite steeply pitched slate roof, eaves, open eastern end, timber windows and the use of second-hand bricks.
REVISED STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE (with AHC criteria):
Eltham South Preschool Centre is significant to the Nillumbik Shire:
- as one of the best publicised examples of the Eltham Style as practiced by architects after WW2;
- as a good example of the Eltham Style, with its unusual plan and elevation, use of second hand materials, and integration of sculpture into the design;
- for its association with Charles Duncan a well known and prolific practitioner in the Frank Lloyd Wright architectural idiom;
- for its role as a public building over a long period, being one of the first of a group of organic styled post WW2 public and commercial buildings in the Nillumbik Shire.
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Eltham South Preschool Centre - Physical Description 1
ELTHAM STUDY DESCRIPTON:
Only building on the site - extensive native planting.
Style Eltham style.
Design unique.
Plan triangular.
Single storey.
Walls re-used Hawthorn type face bricks.
Roof pitched slate clad roof with wide eaves.
Features are the roof-top metal sculpture, open east end and corner brick details.REVISED OR EXTENDED DESCRIPTON:
(S.W. CNR. METERY & FORDHAMS ROADS) The prismatic form of the building preceded the organic forms of the Sapir House and the brick and timber character of the construction was in keeping with Duncan's other contemporary designs. More typically he followed the organic architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright but this example differs from the more rectilinear plans of his other work.
Crowned by its large roof-top sculpture, this building is a good example of the Eltham idiom of design during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Features of the design include the triangular floor plan, steeply pitched slate roof, deep eaves, open eastern end, timber windows and the use of second-hand bricks. The use of three-dimensional sculpture as part of the architecture was unusual at that time, Matcham Skipper being the best known practitioner of this type of work, often taking the form of mandalas placed against walls.Eltham South Preschool Centre - Integrity
Externally substantially intact/some intrusions
Eltham South Preschool Centre - Physical Conditions
Externally good (partially disturbed, well preserved)
Eltham South Preschool Centre - Historical Australian Themes
ELTHAM LIFESTYLE, SUBURBAN DEVELOPMENT
Heritage Study and Grading
Nillumbik - Nillumbik Shire Heritage Study 2001
Author: Graeme Butler & Assoc
Year: 2001
Grading:
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MONTSALVATVictorian Heritage Register H0716
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ELTHAM COURT HOUSEVictorian Heritage Register H0784
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FORMER POLICE QUARTERSVictorian Heritage Register H1539
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