Hesse Street Residential Area

What is significant?

This precinct is situated at the south end of Hesse Street and is significant for the number of relatively large and intact examples of residential buildings which date from the early development of Queenscliff through to the present day. In particular it demonstrates the evolution of residential building styles in the township. The precinct also contains two of Queenscliff's key corner buildings, the St Andrews Church and Seaview House, both at the Hesse and Stokes Street intersection.

Specific significant and contributory buildings within the precinct are identified in the attached schedule.

How is it significant?

This precinct is of architectural, historical and aesthetic significance to the Borough of Queenscliffe.

Why is it significant?

The Hesse Street Residential Precinct is of local historical importance in demonstrating a series of phases of residential development in Queenscliff within a contained area. Many of the residences have interesting historical associations - many of long-standing - with individuals and Queenscliff families of note. The precinct's desirability and proximity to the township's commercial centre saw a number of its allotments developed for relatively substantial residences.

The precinct is also of local aesthetic importance; it includes a number of buildings of individual architectural distinction and these combine with the supporting (contributory) buildings in the precinct to present a streetscape of considerable interest and diversity. The two key non-residential buildings at the northern end of the precinct (St Andrew's Church and Seaview House) both are of individual aesthetic (architectural) significance and stand as key corner buildings in Queenscliff.

This section of Hesse Street is one of the few streets in Queenscliff that has retained aspects of its original/early presentation with a central sealed carriageway, grass and gravel verge and stone gutter to the west side and grassed verge and drainage channel to the east side. The mature street tree specimens of Ulmus x Hollandicus (Dutch Elm) contribute to the aesthetic and historic character of the precinct.

The area has a broad cross-section of the different periods of residential buildings in Queenscliff within a relatively compact area. The area is considered to be of significance for the following reasons:

(i) the collection of a group of architecturally and historically significant residential buildings in one area

(ii) the association of the area and a number of the buildings with the Priddle family

(iii) the existence of established street tree planting and the retention of the roadway in its basic nineteenth century layout

(iv) the importance of the key corner buildings on the Hesse and Stokes Street intersection

(v) the transition of the main commercial centre into a residential centre

(vi) the importance of this section of the street as one of the main entranceways to the centre of the town.

Group

Residential buildings (private)

Category

Residential Precinct