ASCOT PARK COACH HOUSE (FORMER)

The former coachman's residence, coach house, stables, harness room and hay loft complex was constructed in 1871/2 and built by the owner John Holdsworth, mining investor and leading chemist and wholesale pharmacist in Bendigo as part of his gentleman's estate, Taxonia, later called Ascot Park. It was built in Ascot on the paddock used by his bullock team, which he employed to transport wholesale goods as far a field as Swan Hill and Echuca. The estate is associated with a number of grand mansions that were built in Bendigo during the early 1870s by successful mining investor during the quartz gold mining boom. Stylistically, the building is derivative of Victorian Rustic Gothic, using free interpretation of medieval motifs. It was part of a group of structures that were associated with the development of the picturesque semi- rural mansion, which was set in extensive landscape setting, olive grove and medicinal gardens as well as a number of other outbuildings and workers cottages. It is now on a separate allotment. The building is well designed and is good example of a building typology associated with coach houses and stables. The layout and design is strongly influenced by its many functions and is constructed of red bricks, decorative brick shaped ventilation designs, tall ornate and elaborate chimney, arched entrance doors and small rustic looking residence. It has been carefully designed to respond to the hot climatic conditions of the area.

The former coachman's residence, coach house, stables and hay loft complex is of historical, aesthetic and social significance to the local area.

The former coach house constructed in 1871/2 is historically significant as a good representative example of an outbuilding associated with the large mining mansions constructed by the mining investors during the quartz mining boom of the early 1870s.

The former coach house is architecturally and aesthetically significant for its ability to demonstrate the functional requirements of maintaining a horse and carriage during the 19th

century. The design clearly responds to the users comfort in hot climatic conditions. It is essentially an intact example of this building typology, which used to be common but is now becoming increasingly rare. It is a fine architectural example of a coachman's residence, coach house, stables, harness room and hay loft all designed in the Rustic Victorian Gothic architectural style in rural Australia, using free interpretation of medieval motifs in a similar style to the main residence, Ascot Park.

The former coach house is historically significant for its strong association with John Holdsworth, who settled in White Hills in 1855 and later built his residence in Ascot in 1871/2 together with extensive olive grove and medicinal gardens. A pharmacist and wholesale manufacture of medicinal prescriptions he owned several chemist shops in the centre of Bendigo as well as distributing goods by bullock teams as far a field as Echuca and Swan Hill. He became a successful mining investor and local politician. The use of coach would have been a necessary aspect of John Holdsworth's occupation.