House, 32 Barnes Street, STAWELL

The house at 32 Barnes Street, Stawell, has significance as a predominantly intact example of a Victorian Italianate style. Possibly built in c.1870 for Thomas Merfield, accountant, commission agent, valuer, broker and auctioneer, the house has experienced some restoration and alteration and appears to be in good condition when viewed from the street.

The house at 32 Barnes Street is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level. It demonstrates original design qualities of a Victorian Italianate style. These qualities include the gable roof. form that traverses the site, together with the minor gable and bullnosed verandah that project towards the street frontage. Other intact or appropriate qualities include the asymmetrical composition, single storey height, lapped galvanised corrugated iron roof cladding, horizontal timber weatherboard wall cladding, rear traversing gable that projects at the side, narrow eaves, rendered chimney with a projecting top, projecting faceted bay window under the front gable crowned with a decorative timber cornice, timber finials, timber framed double hung windows and front doorway. The front timber picket fence contributes to the significance of the place.

The house at 32 Barnes Street is historically significant at a LOCAL level. It is associated with residential developments in Stawell in the second half of the 19th century. In particular, this house has associations with Thomas Merfield, accountant, commission agent, valuer, broker and auctioneer and original owner, who had it built in c.1870. Merfield's son, C. Merfield, became the Government Astronomer and calculated the Simmons Memorial Sundial in Central Park.

Overall, the house at 32 Barnes Street is of LOCAL significance.

Group

Residential buildings (private)

Category

House