Office Building

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

The building at 28 Fenwick Street has significance as one of Geelong's early substantial urban residential buildings. Although altered, the Victorian stylistic qualities, forms, construction and details are still evident, as are the early brick service wing at the rear and the detached brick stables building. Originally built in c.1854 and altered and extended at various times in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the building has associations with some of Geelong's early identities including the Towle brothers (Dr Frederick Towle was a local surgeon) and George Cunningham, MLA. The building appears to be in fair condition when viewed from the street.

The building at 28 Fenwick Street is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level. Although altered, it still demonstrates original design qualities of a Victorian style. These qualities include the dominant rendered brick parapet having a projecting stringcourse supported by ornamental brackets with decorative motifs between, timber framed and glazed first floor French doors with leadlighted highlights, evidence of the original arched ground floor openings, incised panelled ground floor pilasters with moulded Tuscan capitals, and the pitched roof forms. Other intact or appropriate qualities include the rendered brick wall construction, two storey height, rendered brick chimneys with multi-corbelled tops and terra cotta pots, narrow eaves, projecting rear wing with an stained glass arched window and balconette balustrade on the first floor, doorway with a mid Victorian Tuscan door surround, projecting timber framed double hung bay window on the side facade, and the timber framed double hung window on the first floor. The rear brick service wing with pitched galvanised corrugated iron roof forms, rear detached brick stables outbuilding with a gabled galvanised corrugated steel roof and the side cast iron palisade fence at the front also contribute to the significance of the place.

The building at 28 Fenwick Street is historically significant at a LOCAL level. It is associated with substantial urban residential developments in Geelong in the mid 19th century. In particular, this building has associations with Thomas Towle, original owner prior to 1854, and also with Dr Frederick Towle, surgeon and George Cunningham, MLA, both later prominent owners in the 19th century.

Overall, the building at 28 Fenwick Street is of LOCAL significance.

REFERENCE

Drainage Plans and Reports, Barwon Water profis system, 1917.

Maps from App. 46199, re. part of Allotments 2,3,5 and 6, Sec. 46, Victorian Lands Office.

Conveyance Memorial Book 178, No. 718, dated 15 April, 1868, Victorian Lands Office.

Morrow, W., Geelong Advertiser Index, 1850-66, and 1867-69, Geelong Historical Records Centre.

A. Sutherland, Victoria and its Metropolis: Past and Present, vol. 2, McCarron, Bird & Co., Melbourne, 1888, p. 170.

Thomson, K. and Serle, G., A Biographical Register of the Victorian Parliament 1859-1900, 1972.

Sands & McDougall Geelong Directory 1972, Geelong Historical Records Centre.

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

Geelong City Council Rate Books (Kardinia Ward) 1853-1960, Geelong Historical Records Centre.

Geelong Town Plan 1854, 1858, Geelong Historical Records Centre.

Removed from City Fringe Heritage Area (HO1639)

Group

Commercial

Category

Office building