"Waitaki"

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

This house is one of a number of substantial brick homes with slate roofs, often architect-designed, constructed on Newtown Hill ("the Toorak of Geelong") during the Edwardian period, for successful local business and professional men. It has regional historical significance for its association with its first owner/occupier in 1905, Herbert Buchanan, prosperous iron merchant, and from c1917 with the Church of England Girls Grammar School, its second owner. This notable girls educational institution at first let "Waitiki" to school teachers. It has regional architectural significance as an impressive, complex, Edwardian house with influences not only from Art Nouveau in the oculus and fretwork, but Colonial Classicism (preceding Hardy Wilson's popularization of that period) exemplified in its Tuscan columns.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Existing Listing - None

Recommendations - RNE LPS Area 2 Place

REFERENCES

Stephen Davis - "Federation Houses, Geelong", unpublished research essay, Deakin University, 1981, p.24.

Newtown Rate Book - 1906-6, North Ward No 323.

Ibid 1917-18 No 363.

Newtown Rate Book - 1909-10, No 334

Ibid 1915-16, No 362

The Book of Geelong, Henry Franks & Co, Geelong, 1897, pp58-62

Newtown Rate Book - 1917-18, No 363: 1927 No 368

Ibid 1915-16, No's 363, 364. the NAV for the Hermitage was 360 pounds. See Geelong Water & Sewerage Trust Detail Plan No 97.

Gladys Seaton, Model Borough, City of Newtown, 1983, p 45.

Newtown Rate Book 1930. No 420.

Ibid 1938, No 424

Group

Residential buildings (private)

Category

Residence