Walbaringa Flats, former

Previously C Listed - Local Significance

Statement of Significance

The former Walbaringa Flats are architecturally significant as an intact and highly unusual example of the interwar Spanish Mission style with visual connections to the highly significance interwar Beaux-Arts and Californian styled Eastern Beach Reserve and Baths. Built in 1928 for Edward Berryman and occupied from c.1938 by Ian McDonald, City Surveyor responsible for the establishment of the swimming pools and promenade at Eastern Beach, the flats appear to be in fair condition when viewed from the street, with evidence of some serious wall cracks.

The former Walbaringa Flats are architecturally significant at a LOCAL level. They demonstrate original design qualities of an interwar Spanish Mission style. These qualities include the rectangular plan form, parapets to the main facades, and the shallow projecting two storey section to the main (north) facade with Cordover tiles on the top and a central Spanish Mission style pediment with applied rendered decorative motif. Other intact or appropriate qualities include the predominantly symmetrical composition, single storey height, unpainted cement stuccoed finish, two banks of tripled arched, timber framed, double hung windows (the upper sashes being 6 paned) with arched highlights and low lights on the projecting section, timber ropework pilasters with decorative capitals on the arched windows, narrow balcony that projects on decorative brackets on the east side of the first floor, side ground floor entry porches with Cordova tiled roofs. Spanish Mission shaped timber framed window opening with decorative metal grill on the ground floor, ground floor timber framed and double hung windows 6 paned upper sashes, timber framed doorways under the western porch and the timber framed 9 paned highlight and timber door, and the timber and glazed door, and the eastern ground floor doorway with timber and glazed French doors. The location and uninterrupted views to the Eastern Beach Reserve and Baths, and Corio Bay, also contribute to the significance of the place. The former Walbaringa Flats are historically significant at a LOCAL level. They have associations with residential developments in Geelong during the interwar (1920s-1940s) period. In particular, the Flats have associations with Edward Berryman, railway employee and original owner from 1928, and with Ian McDonald, early occupant and City Surveyor responsible for the establishment of the swimming pools and promenade at Eastern Beach.

Overall, the former Walbaringa Flats are of LOCAL significance.

References

Reports and Drainage Plans, Barwon Water profis system, 1928, and plans for proposed subdivision.

Certificate of Title dated 23.11.1982.

APP property history, no. 37313, Lands Titles Office, Bourke St., Melbourne.

Electoral Roll, Division Corio, Subdivision Geelong, 1984, Geelong Historical Records Centre.

Sands & McDougall's Directory of Geelong, 1972, Geelong Historical Records Centre.

Sands & McDougall "Invicta" Geelong Directory, 1968, Geelong Historical Records Centre.

Geelong City Council Rate Books (Bellerine Ward), 1925-1960.

Geelong Town Plan 1881, Geelong Historical Records Centre.

Administrative Appeals Tribunal of Victoria, Appeal determination, September 1989.

Heritage Victoria, Historic Buildings Council Registration Assessment, September 1990.

Group

Residential buildings (private)

Category

Flat