SHILLINGLAW COTTAGE

What is significant?
The c1878-80 Shillinglaw Cottage, in particular the original building fabric that predates the cottage's relocation in the 1960s, and the surrounding site to a radius of 20 metres.

How is it significant?
The cottage is historically, aesthetically and socially significant to the Shire of Nillumbik.

Why is it significant?
The cottage is historically significant because it is one of the Shire's oldest dwellings and was built within Josiah Holloway's 1850s subdivision known as Little Eltham, which later became the centre of the first Eltham township (Criteria A & B). The cottage is with the work of the well known pioneer builder George Stebbing, built for the pioneer Phillip Shillinglaw and his family (Criteria H). The cottage is aesthetically and historically significant as a fine example of the work of George Stebbing, and unusually features dark coloured brick ends arranged in a Flemish bond (Criteria H, B & E). It is of social significance as an important local landmark since the 1960s, once used as a handicraft and tourist centre, now a restaurant, and as an example of an early local community conservation project which led to the accurate reconstruction of the cottage close to its original site (Criterion G).

BUTLER STUDY, 2001
The former Shillinglaw Cottage is significant to the Metropolitan area and Nillumbik Shire, despite reconstruction in 1963:

- as part of one of the Shire's oldest dwellings;

- for its associations with well-known pioneer builder George Stebbing, Phillip Shillinglaw and the Shillinglaw family for more than 80 years;

- as a fine example of the work of George Stebbing, who built a number of Eltham's most notable structures;

- as a reflection of Josiah Holloway's important 1850s subdivision, known as Little EItham, which became the centre of the first Eltham township { 4} (both original and present site);

- for its dark coloured brick ends arranged in the Flemish Bond brickwork ofthe walls which is rare within the State;

- as an important local landmark over the last three decades, used as a handcraft and tourist centre, now a restaurant; and

- as an example of early local community conservation project which led to the accurate reconstruction of the house close to its original site which is still marked by two Italian cypress.

BASIS OF SIGNIFICANCE:

ILLUSTRATION OF THE THEMES

HISTORY

ARCHITECTURE

ORIGINAL ELTHAM TOWNSHIP

DEGREE OF SIGNIFICANCE: LOCAL SIGNIFICANCE

EXTENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: ENTIRE BUILDING AND SITE TO A RADIUS OF 20 METRES - THE ORIGINAL FABRIC OF THE BUILDING THAT PREDATES THE RELOCATION IS OF PRIMARY SIGNIFICANCE.

Group

Residential buildings (private)

Category

Cottage