Residence
1-3 The Avenue, OCEAN GROVE VIC 3226 - Property No 331688
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Statement of Significance
Statement of Cultural Significance
The property at 1-5 The Avenue has significance as a substantially intact interwar eclectic Georgian Revival styled house constructed of timber weatherboards with a terra cotta tile roof. The grand scale of the building, together with its eclectic Georgian Revival design with overtones of Mission and American Colonial Revival influences, and the surrounding garden with rock walls and mature plantings, is a legacy of the affluent lifestyle of the original owner, Miss (Margaret) Gladys Bell. Built in c.1933-34, it largely replaced a smaller Late Victorian/Edwardian styled single storey house that had been constructed for the former owner, Thomas Hawkes of Hawkes Bros. merchants, Geelong, in c.1894-95. Set on an elevated and large site with commanding views to the Barwon River estuary and Barwon Heads, the substantial interwar house and its design represents an intact and rare example of an upper-middle class property in regional Victoria of the 1930s. Furthermore, it represents one of the largest private homes in Ocean Grove of the interwar period.
The house at 1-5 The Avenue is architecturally significant at a REGIONAL level (AHC Criteria D.2, E.1). It demonstrates original design qualities of an intact interwar eclectic Georgian Revival style. These qualities include the two storey hipped roof forms, together with part of the rear single storey hipped wings. Other intact or appropriate qualities include the asymmetrical and picturesque composition, horizontal timber weatherboard wall cladding, terra cotta tile roof cladding, elongated and streamlined rendered brick chimneys, broad eaves with timber linings, timber framed double hung windows (both the small and large paned windows, and the slightly projecting boxed windows on the south facade of the southern single storey wing), vertical boarded timber shutters on the upper floor eastern windows, single storey hipped and gabled entrance porch supported by round and square Tuscan and Doric columns with a slightly projecting central gablet, decorative fretwork porch screens and purpose-built timber seating, square timber coffered porch ceiling, central timber framed entrance doorway and decorative sidelights, timber framed and glazed oval windows flanking the entrance, southern two storey verandah and balcony with square timber Tuscan pilasters forming three bays with multi-paned timber framed ground floor windows flanking a central timber and multi-paned double door opening, narrow sidelights between closely spaced pilasters at the corners, and the timber entablature adorned with a small dentillated band. Internally, the layout, timber detailing (roof, dados, fireplace surrounds, staircase, doors and architraves) contributes to the significance, of the place, as does the intact bathrooms with fittings and fixtures. The surrounding gardens, plantings and rock walls are other aesthetic characteristics that contribute to the significance of the place.
The house and site at 1-5 The Avenue are historically significant at a LOCAL level (AHC Criterion H.1). They are associated with the affluent and flamboyant lifestyle of the original owner, Miss (Margaret) Gladys Bell, who instigated construction in 1933-34 and named the property "Broome Cottage". Miss Bell belonged to the Bell and Russell families, graziers and pastoralists in the Leigh and Shelford areas. She donated generously to many community projects, including the Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club where she donated the first club boats named the "Gladys Bell" and the "Gladys Bell II". The original site is also historically significant for its associations with the original owner, Thomas Hawkes and family. With his brother Frederick, Thomas was owner of the well-established merchant business, Hawkes Bros. in Geelong. A well-known and prominent figure, Thomas Hawkes constructed a single storey house at 1-5 The Avenue in c.1894-95 (subsequently demolished). Named "Imbool", the property was the location for many Hawkes family picnics, and the tennis court (which no longer survives and the area has been subdivided) was frequently used by Jack Hawkes, Davis Cup tennis player between 1921 and 1925, as well as other national and international tennis players.
Overall, the property at 1-5 The Avenue is of REGIONAL significance.
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Residence - Physical Description 1
Description
The house at 1-5 The Avenue, Ocean Grove, is set on a contextually large and elevated site at the corner of The Avenue and Newcomb Street and has commanding views to the Barwon River estuary and Barwon Heads. There are surviving mature cypress trees to the west that appear to reflect part of the early landscaping, and some are in poor condition. The remaining grounds appear to reflect early developments, with open grassed areas, rock walls, other trees and planting, perimeter garden beds, paths and drive, and contribute to the character of the property.
The asymmetrical, horizontal timber weatherboard, interwar eclectic Georgian Revival styled house is characterised by projecting and receding early two storey hipped roof forms, together with rear single storey hipped and jerkin head wings. These roof forms are clad in terra cotta tiles, typical for interwar eclectic Georgian and Mission Revival styled and Bungalow designs. A number of early, elongated and streamlined rendered brick chimneys adorn the roofline. Broad overhangs with timber lining boards are a feature of the eaves. The timber framed double hung windows (both the small and large paned windows, and the slightly projecting boxed windows on the south facade of the southern single storey wing) are also early, and the vertical boarded timber shutters on the upper floor eastern windows (following a nautical theme with their incised central motifs) may also be early.
Other early features of the design include the projecting single storey hipped and gabled entrance porch to the east and the two storey verandah and balcony to the south. The east porch is supported by round and square Tuscan columns, and there is a slightly projecting central gablet. Together with the painted weatherboard construction, these features also have an affinity with American Colonial Revival design. The ends of the porch have early decorative fretwork screens and purpose-built timber seating. The square timber coffered porch ceiling is another early feature. Beyond the porch is the central early timber framed entrance doorway and decorative sidelights. The timber framed and glazed oval windows flanking the entrance are also early. The southern two storey verandah and balcony (possibly a sleep out originally) has been glazed in on the upper floor (prior to 1977), but the ground floor has early square timber Tuscan pilasters forming three bays with multi-paned timber framed windows flanking a central timber and multi-paned double door opening. Narrow sidelights between closely spaced pilasters accentuate the corners. Surmounting the verandah transom lights is a timber entablature-like section adorned with a small dentillated band.
Internally, the layout of the two storey section is also highly reflective of the 1930s design with its substantial central entrance and stair hall, with the living, dining and passages flowing from it. The layout of the upper floor bedroom spaces also appears to be intact. Considerable alterations have been made to the rear and side single storey interiors, although the moulded timber door architraves, high timber skirtings and skirting blocks may suggest some very limited legacy of the original 1890s house. These features and spaces have little integrity given the substantial changes.
Of particular interest is the large and elaborate entrance and stair hall that reflects the affluence of the owner in the 1930s. The scale, design, elaboration and detailing is unusual for an interwar regional house. The arched opening from the vestibule is supported by round timber Doric columns in-antis with early moulded timber architraves, with the ornamental timber staircase rising above. Other intact features include the elaborate fireplace with panelled timber surrounds and tapestry/clinker brick rectangular fireplace and hearth. The panelled timber dados and square coffered timber ceiling, together with the large single panelled stained timber doors represent other early features. Some of these features are also evident in the adjacent rooms, including the doors and fireplaces, and also the windows. Of special interest are the early tiled bathrooms, with early fittings and fixtures.
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MITCHELL'S DAIRYVictorian Heritage Inventory
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WELL OCEAN GROVEVictorian Heritage Inventory
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Ingamells Park 73-87 (Cnr Hodgson St)Greater Geelong City
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