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Dwellings- 'Rathcoursey' & 'Lauraville'
Location321-323 Shannon Avenue NEWTOWN, GREATER GEELONG CITY LevelIncl in HO area indiv sig |
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![Figure 6: 'Balyang', Marnockvale, Newtown, n.d. [c.1850].
Source: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales.](http://vhd.heritage.vic.gov.au/images/vhr/206620.jpg)
Statement of Significance
What is Significant? How is it significant? Why is it significant? 'Rathcoursey' and 'Lauraville', 321-323 Shannon Avenue, Newtown, have aesthetic significance as a predominantly intact, rare, unusual and refined example of a Late Victorian single storey duplex in Geelong (Criteria D & E). The dwellings are one of few surviving duplexes in Newtown. The high design qualities of the dwellings is reflected in the composition of the single storey hipped and gabled roof forms, and especially in the detailing of the front hipped and gabled wings with faceted bays having unusual curved and rendered sides, eaves detailing, timber stylised quatrefoil verandah valance detailing and the detailing in the gable ends. Heritage Overlay Map
'Rathcoursey' and 'Lauraville', 321-323 Shannon Avenue, Newtown, have significance as a rare example of a Late Victorian styled duplex in Newtown, and one the most unusual and refined examples of the small number of late 19th and early century single storey duplexes surviving in Geelong. The dwellings are a local heritage landmark at the south-west corner of Shannon Avenue and Aphrasia Street. Built in 1895 to a design by Thomas Seeley, architect, for Mrs Jane Walker, wife of the omnibus proprietor, William Walker, the significant fabric includes: the symmetrically composed central traversing roof with flanking projecting hipped wings, rear hipped wings, front bullnosed verandahs, centrally located brick party wall with a rendered capping, slate roof cladding to the main roofs, corrugated sheet metal roofing to the front verandahs, five face brick chimneys with corbelled tops and incised rendered panels, modest eaves with timber brackets with narrow moulded cornices below, front faceted bays with unusual curved and rendered sides, pair of front timber framed double hung windows at 323 Shannon Avenue (with segmentally-arched highlights and brick voussoirs, vertical timber battening and narrow panelling supported by substantial, moulded cornices to the front gable ends, decorative timber bargeboards and timber finial to the gable end at 321 Shannon Avenue, stylised quatrefoil timber verandah valances (in timber frames), front entrance door openings with timber and leadlighted doors and sidelights, faceted bay window on the north facade of 321 Shannon Avenue (with original timber framed, double hung, segmentally-arched windows, and a cast iron finial crowning the apex of the polygonal roof of the window bay), minor gabled wing on the south side of 323 Shannon Avenue, and the other segmentally-arched, timber framed double hung windows. The front cast iron palisade fence on a rendered masonry plinth and with rendered gate piers to 321 Shannon Avenue also contributes to the significance of the place.
'Rathcoursey' and 'Lauraville', 321-323 Shannon Avenue, Newtown, are historically and aesthetically significant at a LOCAL level.
'Rathcoursey' and 'Lauraville', 321-323 Shannon Avenue have historical significance for their associations with residential development in Newtown in the late 19th century (Criterion A). Built in 1895, they embody residential progress in the Newtown West area as housing for Geelong's middle and professional classes. The dwellings also have historical significance for their associations with the original owner, Mrs Jane Walker, wife of the well-known omnibus proprietor, William Walker, whose nearby stables at 327 Shannon Avenue were also owned by Mrs Walker (Criterion H). Having established his omnibus service in Geelong in 1886 with the introduction of 'The Pivot' omnibus, William Walker relocated his business to the corner of Shannon Avenue and Leslie Street in 1895-96, the stone used in the construction of the stables, store and shop complex originating from Captain Foster Fyans' home, 'Balyang', near the banks of the Barwon River at Marnockvale (Newtown). At Newtown, Walker brought into service 'The Sunbeam' omnibus which had been imported from Cardiff, Wales, in August 1895. His omnibus service was the progenitor of Geelong's public transport service. 'Rathcoursey' and 'Lauraville' also have historical significance for their associations with the architect, Thomas Seeley (Criterion H). These dwellings represent one of his earliest known and refined designs prior to taking into partnership George King.
It is recommended that the heritage overlay is applied to the properties at 321-323 Shannon Avenue, Newtown, as shown on the following map:
Group
Residential buildings (private)
Category
House