Residence

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

The semi-detached house at 22 Lonsdale Street, South Geelong, has significance as one of few semi-detached Late Victorian Italianate styled houses in Geelong. Built between 1893 and 1896 for Samuel Law, the house is largely externally intact and in good condition when viewed from the street. This complex of semi-detached houses is also neighbouring a detached house of identical design and construction, forming an unusual residential grouping.

The semi-detached house at 22 Lonsdale Street is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level. It demonstrates original design qualities of a Late Victorian Italianate style. These qualities include the hipped roof forms and the bullnosed verandah. Other intact or appropriate qualities include the asymmetrical composition, single storey height, galvanised corrugated iron verandah roof cladding over-painted dark red, corrugated profile to the main roof cladding, pressed red brick wall construction, three pressed red brick and strapped chimneys with terra cotta pots, narrow eaves with decorative timber brackets and incised rectangular panels, timber framed double hung windows with shallow arched heads accentuated by brick voussoirs, timber framed doorway with sidelights and highlights, cast iron finial on the roof ridge, cast iron verandah columns with decorative capitals and the decorative cast iron verandah valances.

The semi-detached house at 22 Lonsdale Street is historically significant at a LOCAL level. It is associated with residential developments in South Geelong in the late 19th century. In particular, this house has associations with the original owner, Samuel Law from 1893-96. It is also associations with the original occupant, James Gardiner, a manager in 1896. The house represents one of the few 19th century semi-detached town houses in South Geelong.

Overall, the semi-detached house 22 Lonsdale Street is of LOCAL significance.

Group

Residential buildings (private)

Category

Residence