HEATHCOTE PRECINCT
Playne, Barrack, Chauncey, Herriot, Jennings, High, Hospital and Wright Streets HEATHCOTE, GREATER BENDIGO CITY
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Statement of Significance
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HEATHCOTE PRECINCT - Physical Description 1
Topography
Heathcote and neighbouring Argyle lie on the McIvor Highway in a strategic location between the junctions to the Goulburn Valley Highway to Nagambie, and the Northern Highway to Echuca stretches for two kilometres along the McIvor Highway which was developed primarily along the main road from Melbourne to Echuca on the Murray, or the secondary route from Melbourne to Bendigo.
The town of Heathcote is laid out along the southern bank of the McIvor Creek which has higher and more open ground, and a narrow strip swampy ground on the north side before rising into the rugged wooded hills of McIvor Range which is a timbered reserve.
Early developmentSome rudimentary facilities were established at Heathcote to service the surrounding pastoral estates and more importantly to provide a stopping place on the Echuca - Melbourne Road No places from the early phase of pastoral settlement have been found within the town. Development of the town begins in earnest following the discovery of alluvial gold in the McIvor Creek in 1852, further develops following the mining operations conducted at Pink Cliffs adjacent to the town. By 1854 the layout of the township of Heathcote was laid out for a land sale by the Government Surveyor, Philip Chauncey.
The Government Camp and Herriot StreetThe Government Camp was laid out on a small hill to the west of the creek and included a large reserve for the police, gold commissioners etc. On the opposite side of High Street the Barracks Reserve was established .between the High Street and the creek. Herriot Street is the continuation of one of the approaches to Heathcote from Kyneton, and enters the township by the Government Camp. It has a different alignment from that shown on the 1854 Chauncey map of Heathcote, today aligning closer to the Pink Cliffs Gold Sluicing site.
The Government Camp contains a brick police station and stone lock up as well as Heathcote Higher Elementary School (previously the site of Heathcote tent school).The hospital of 1859 is also located in this area and stylistically has much in common with the early public buildings from the 1850s. Many of these were built by James Crowle who was the predominant contractor during the early decades of development in Heathcote. John Crowle is also mentioned as a builder and it may be that together these two brothers provided the requisite building skills to construct a number of the places built during the 1850s and 60s. Described as a stonemason and carpenter, Crowle is responsible for the Surveyor's Office at 178 High Street, the lock up and powder magazine and the original hospital building. All of these buildings display high quality stonemasonry work, reflecting their importance as government buildings.
Powder Magazine.The Powder Magazine was an important Government Building and is located away from the Government Camp on the opposite side of the township and the creek in case of explosion. It is a stone building of similar design to the lock up built by James Crowle.
The Barracks ReserveThe Barracks Reserve is now a recreation reserve for football and cricket. The Barracks Reserve contains modern sporting facilities.Following its gazetting in 1873, a number of shrubs were planted and in 1877 oaks, elms and other trees were also added. Some mature trees are part of the landscape and are believed to consist of Ulmus procera x hollandica (Dutch Elm), Pinus radiata (Monterey Pine), Quercus robusta (English Oak), Eucalyptus botrioides (Southern Mahogany) or Melliodra (Yellow Box), Credus deodara (Deodar Cedar), Pinus canariensis (Canary Island Pine), Curpressus lusitanica (Mexican White Cedar), Cedrus libani (Cedar of Lebanon), and Arbutus unedo (Irish Strawberry Tree). These existing trees have been dated at approximately 1880s, making it highly probable that they are some of the original 1877 plantings. The Reserve also contains an ore crushing machine that was moved from the Redcastle mine and placed on the High Street adjacent to the reserve. Several modern plaques record events in the recent history of the reserve. Just to the east of the Barracks Reserve was the Queens' Meadow which is currently in use as a Caravan Park.
High Street
The layout of High Street is laid out to some extent following the line of the creek, then taking a turn at Herriot Street to diverge from the McIvor Creek to allow two streets to be laid out between the High Street and the creek. This is balanced by two streets on the south side of High Street. High Street consists of a mixture of commercial and residential properties with a core of shops between Jennings and Chauncey Streets. The south side of the road has a semi continous shopping street, however the north side has several large areas of vacant land. This may be a response to the favourable aspect of the pavements on the north side of the buildings, or as a result of the land reserved on the north side of the road being later to develop.
High Street is wide, in parts able to accommodate a median strip and/or service road. There are some mature street trees, although there is little consistency in the manner in which they are planted.
Residential buildings are generally of timber construction and commercial buildings are generally of masonry, either face brick or sandstone. Key buildings in High Street include Helenslee at 178, in the core of which is the Government Surveyor's office of 1853 and Innisfail at 188, both of which are unusually large residences set on large allotments in garden settings. The former flour mill at no. 149 is a distinctive three storey structure with an intact chimney .Two former two storey brick banks at 151 and 129 High Street demonstrate different building styles of their period. An earlier bank at 72 High Street is no longer used as such but predates the others.
St John's Anglican church by Vahland and Getzchmann is the most impressive religious building in High Street. The Municipal Offices and Courthouse and the Mechanics Institute are key institutional buildings. Whilst once numerous, the extant hotels include the Commercial, the Heathcote, and the two storey hotel at 171 High Street.
Of the shops there are some good examples of timber framed shopfront windows including nos. 74, 99 and 117 High Street that still retain recessed entries and the glass divided into panes set in timber frames. These shops have the traditional stallboards and verandahs, although most of these have been rebuilt.
High Street has a number of street corners where there are early commercial buildings with splayed corners. These include nos. 105, 72, and 183.
The buildings lining the street are of equal scale and setback and this, together with the line of intact posted verandahs and the presence of very few intrusive elements, produces a streetscape with excellent continuity. The wide street is lined on either side with mature trees which greatly enhance its character.
Playne StreetThe area of Playne Street near the intersection of Herriot Street is populated with small cottages of relatively early construction date. This area is close to the Government Camp and appears to have been the nucleus of residential development. One house at 18 Playne Street has unusual chimneys, and another at 41 Playne Street is unusual being built of stone and located very close to the front boundary.
Pohlman StreetThe cemetery was laid out in the township plan of 1854 at the southern end of Pohlman Street and remains. A new cemetery has been located on the other side of Pohlman Street. Pohlman Street was also the site of the reserve for a Catholic Church. The cemetery contains a large number of elaborate memorials, a small shelter and a number of cypresses and pines. There is an avenue of exotic street trees along Pohlman Street leading to the cemetery. Another key building in Pohlman Street includes the Presentation Convent.
Wright StreetWright Street is a residential street that contains a number of weatherboard houses. Most of these are of types found in other locations in the City of Greater Bendigo, especially in the urban area of Bendigo, however Wright Street does have more consistency of nineteenth century houses than other streets within Heathcote.
Hunter Place and Brodie StreetThis area at the point where High Street changes alignment at the western end of the town was laid out in a circular layout with Hunter Place as its nucleus. The centre of this area was to be set aside for important buildings such as marketplace and church. A hierarchy of streets and lanes was planned for this area, however all that remains are half of the layout in Hunter Place, Boomerang Place and Brodie Street. The land adjoining these streets has been subdivided and the intention and purpose of this area has never eventuated.
HEATHCOTE PRECINCT - Integrity
Good
Heritage Study and Grading
Greater Bendigo - Former Shires of McIvor and Strathfieldsaye Heritage Study
Author: Context P/L
Year: 2008
Grading: Local
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INNISFAILVictorian Heritage Register H0388
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FORMER SURVEY OFFICEVictorian Heritage Register H2247
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MCIVOR TIMBER & FIREWOOD COMPANY TRAMWAYVictorian Heritage Inventory
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"1890"Yarra City
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"AMF Officers" ShedMoorabool Shire
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"AQUA PROFONDA" SIGN, FITZROY POOLVictorian Heritage Register H1687
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'Altona' Homestead (Formerly 'Laverton' Homestead) and Logan ReserveHobsons Bay City
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