Sawyers Arms

The Sawyers Arms Hotel at 2 Noble Street, Newtown, has significance as a predominantly intact Federation styled hotel building, representing one of few surviving Federation era hotels in Geelong. Possibly built prior to 1854, the existing external character and appearance reflects the design of the prolific Geelong architectural firm of Laird and Barlow in 1907. Further alterations and additions occurred in 1924 and 1955, and the additions to the north of the building contribute to an understanding of the evolution of the hotel. The building appears to be in good condition when viewed from the street.

The Sawyers Arms Hotel at 2 Noble Street is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level (AHC D.2). It demonstrates original design qualities of a Federation style. These qualities include the Victorian-like composition of rectangular facades with a splayed corner and hipped roof, dark brown brick wall construction distinguished by a red brick base and quoinwork, rendered banding and rendered label moulds to the window and door openings. Other intact or appropriate qualities include the corrugated sheet metal roof cladding, brick chimneys, bracketed eaves, segmental and round arched ground floor window and door openings, timber framed ground floor windows, and the regularly arranged timber framed, twelve paned double hung first floor windows with timber shutters. The northern additions also contribute to the significance of the place.

The Sawyers Arms Hotel at 2 Noble Street, is historically significant at a LOCAL level (AHC A.4, H.1). It has associations with a hotel business on this site for over 150 years from prior to 1854. In particular, this building represents a surviving hotel design by the prolific Geelong architectural firm of Laird and Barlow who were responsible for remodeling the building in 1907.

The Sawyers Arms Hotel at 2 Noble Street, is socially significant at a LOCAL level (AHC G.1). It is recognized and valued by the local community has an important and long-standing recreational meeting place.

Overall, the Sawyers Arms at 2 Noble Street is of LOCAL significance.

Recommendations

Heritage Overlay Schedule Controls

External Paint Controls: Yes

Internal Alteration Controls: No

Tree Controls: No

Outbuildings and/or Fences: No

The HO apply to the whole of the site.

Nil

References

City of Newtown and Chilwell Rate Books 1860-1950, digital copies on CD, Geelong Heritage Centre.

G. Butler & Associates, City of Geelong Urban Conservation Study, 1991.

R. Aitken, 'Edwardian Geelong An Architectural Introduction', Deakin University 1979.

Geelong Waterworks and Sewerage Trust Plan of Drainage NN5362 (1978).

Geelong Waterworks and Sewerage Trust Field Book 032_013 (Jan 1912)

D. Rowe, 'Architecture of Geelong: 1860-1900', B. Arch. Thesis, Deakin University, 1991.

Laird and Barlow Contractors' Books, 1895, 1905 & 1907, Geelong Heritage Centre.

M. Page, An Architectural Apex, Buchan Laird International Pty Ltd, South Yarra, 1990.

Group

Commercial

Category

Hotel