Dwelling - Retford House

History/Notes
This property is already subject to a heritage overlay, the basis for the overlay being the heritage assessment in A. Willingham, Geelong Region Historic Buildings and Objects Study, Geelong Regional Commission, 1986, sheet 311. The following details are provided in addition to the existing citation: J.E. Cutts acquired the land at 311 Shannon Avenue from Charles Shannon in
1914. He engaged the well known architectural firm of Laird and Buchan to design this dwelling. Tenders were called in April 1915 for a brick residence. It was built by Henry Beach and son (Ernest) at a cost of 1982 pounds and was named 'Retford House'.

Joseph Edward Cutts was born in c.1848 in Nottingham, England, the son of Francis and Frances J. (nee Littlewood) Cutts. Following his arrival to Victoria, he married Miss Fanny Travett at Ballarat in 1868. Cutts appears to have soon established a farm at Wycheproof where he contributed to community and municipal life, and in 1885 he was appointed a Justice of the Peace. Joseph and Fanny Cutts had 12 children. They lived out their retirement years at 'Retford House', where J.E. Cutts was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1909. In 1918, Joseph and Fanny Cutts celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at 'Retford House'. J.E. Cutts died the following year, 1919. At this time, 'Retford House' was described as 'a 10 roomed brick residence with necessary outbuildings' and valued at 1800 pounds.

Today, the brick dwelling is largely intact, reflecting the original Federation style design of the architects, Laird and Buchan, in the hipped and gabled roof forms and particularly the projecting hipped attic balcony oriented on the diagonal above the return verandah. The slate roof cladding with terra cotta ridge decoration and finials, rendered banding under the eaves, rectilinear bays in the gable ends with timber framed casement windows and highlights, rendered chimneys and the brick verandah piers with tapered Tuscan columns are other original features. The dwelling is comparable to another Laird and Buchan designed house, 'Ardoch', 298 Latrobe Terrace, Newtown. The front timber fence at 'Retford House' was built in 2011.

References:
Victorian Births, Deaths & Marriages Indexes, Dept. of Justice.
Newtown Rate Books, 1914, 1915-16, 1918-19.
Certificates of Titles, Certificates of Title, vol. 2121 fol. 075, vol. 2204 fol.672.
The Argus, 11 July 1885, p.10.
Cazalys Contractor Reporter, 27 April 1915, State Library of Victoria.
Victoria Government Gazette, 21 April 1909, p.2015.
Ballarat Star, 11 April 1893, p.2, 22 June 1905, p.1.
Mildura Telegraph & Darling & Lower Murray Advertiser, 19 April 1918.
J.E. Cutts, Probate Administration files, 1919, VPRS 28/P3 Unit 960 PROV.

Group

Residential buildings (private)

Category

House