OMEO JUSTICE PRECINCT
173-175 DAY AVENUE OMEO, EAST GIPPSLAND SHIRE
Victorian Heritage Register
Statement of Significance
Last updated on - December 7, 1999
What is significant?
The Omeo Justice Precinct consists of a log lockup (1858) and stockade fencing (1985 replacing that of 1882-83), court house (1859-61), a police residence (1882-83), police stables (1882-83) and police cook house (1882-83), as well as the 1893 court house designed by the outstanding government architect A. J. Macdonald and the 1893 outbuilding containing toilets.
The 1893 outbuilding is of contributory significance.
The buildings which are not original to the site as a justice precinct, but were introduced to the site for the purposes of the Folk Museum, ie the Penders Court Laundry, the Blacksmithy and the Machinery Shed , are not part of the significance of the site.
How is it significant?
The Omeo Justice Precinct is architecturally and historically significant to the State of Victoria.
Why is it significant?
The Omeo Justice Precinct is the most intact example of a nineteenth century police and court complex known to survive in Victoria. It is significant because of the presence of a number of elements which are architecturally and historically significant to the State. These are the Log Lockup/Gaol (1858), the Court House (1859-61), the Police Cookhouse (1882-83), the Police Residence (1882-83), the Police Stables (1882-83) and the Court House (1893).
The Omeo Lockup is architecturally and historically significant as a rare example of primitive log construction in Victoria. It is unusual in retaining its internal log walling between cells and internal doors so that its original function can be clearly seen. Although not the earliest, it is the most intact lockup in the State and in itself is of State significance as a rare example of a particular type of vernacular building construction seldom used in Victoria. It gains added significance in its context in a remarkably intact example of a nineteenth century justice precinct.
The Court House (1859-61) is historically significant as a rare and intact example of a small country goldfields court of the 1850s. It was a symbol of the extension of the power of the State government to impose justice on a small and remote goldfields community and demonstrates in its fabric part of the story of Victoria. Its strong association with Arthur Currie Wills and Alfred Howitt, is clearly documented in Howitt?s papers describing the way he worked in the two small back rooms, and this gives it added historical significance. .
The Police Cookhouse (1882-83) is historically significant as a rare example of a police building which demonstrates nineteenth century policing practices.
The Police Residence (1882-83) is historically significant as a representative and intact example of a nineteenth century timber police house and station which demonstrates the importance of the police presence in a remote mining town.
The Police Stables (1882-83) is historically important as a representative and intact example of a timber stables, which demonstrates the way of life of nineteenth century police officers and their reliance on horses for transport.
The 1893 Court House is architecturally significant as a fine and rare example of A. J. Macdonald's work, whose small but remarkable output for the Public Works Department during his brief architectural career was influenced by HH Richardson of Chicago and many other styles, such as the Arts and Craft Movement. The 1893 Omeo Court House is particularly significant as a rare example of a court house in the Federation Romanesque style in Victoria. The Court House is also historically significant as an element within the justice precinct which is a rare and intact example of a complex of nineteenth century court and police buildings.
