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Former Kara Kara Shire Offices, 8 Napier Street, ST ARNAUD
Location8 Napier Street ST ARNAUD, NORTHERN GRAMPIANS SHIRE LevelRecommended for VHR |
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Statement of Significance
The Kara Kara Shire Office building has significance as a rare example of an imposing Federation Free style Shire building that is predominantly externally intact. Constructed in 1902, the building has been the centre of some of the most important civic meetings and developments in the town of St. Arnaud. It also has significance as being part of an unusual grouping of former government and civic 19th and early 20th century buildings in a predominantly Victorian town. The Kara Kara Shire Office building is architecturally significant at a STATE level. It demonstrates original design qualities of a Federation Free style. These qualities include the unpainted red brick wall construction, as well as the central three-bayed loggia with flanking gable ends distinguished by a parapeted projecting bay broad-arched window (a triple lighted casement with fixed multi-paned windows above), and similar arched window and projecting pedimented bay respectively. Other intact qualities include the unpainted brick loggia piers, unpainted square pillars and round columns, square rendered and tapered pilasters, arched windows and door openings, timber framed double hung two paned windows, unpainted brick chimneys with rendered and corbelled tops (and pots), unpainted stone plinth and the decorative features (sculptural rendered parapets with fluted piers, balustrades and pediments - all adorned with urns, rendered stringcoursing that envelopes the facades, rendered drip moulds blind oculus in one of the gables, rendered keystones, and the name and date plates in the central pediment above the loggia). The open garden areas to the sides and front of the building, together with the mature exotic street trees, contribute to the significance of the place. The Kara Kara Shire Offices building and site are historically significant at STATE level. They are associated with the growth of the St. Arnaud region and more particularly with the development of the former Kara Kara Shire from 1902 until the 1990s. The Kara Kara Shire Offices building is socially significant at a LOCAL level. It is recognised and valued by the community of St. Arnaud for its role as the civic centre in the town. Overall, the Kara Kara Shire Offices building is of STATE significance.
Group
Government and Administration
Category
Office building