Residence

The house at 94 Swanston Street, Geelong, has significance has a relatively intact example of the Federation style. Built in 1906 for J.F. Kerley to a design by the prolific Geelong architects Laird and Barlow, the house appears to be in good condition when viewed from the street.

The house at 94 Swanston Street is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level. It demonstrates original design qualities of the Federation style. These qualities include the central steeply pitched hipped roof form, together with the projecting minor gables at the front and side (at the rear) and the return verandah formed under the main roof. Other intact or appropriate qualities include the asymmetrical composition, single storey height, horizontal weatherboard wall cladding, galvanised corrugated steel roof cladding, elongated, rendered and strapped brick chimneys with terra cotta pots, wide eaves with exposed timber rafters, projecting bay of timber framed double hung windows with a fluted window hood above, bank of timber framed double hung windows about the corner under the verandah, other timber framed double hung windows, timber framed doorway with sidelight, turned timber verandah columns, decorative timber fretwork verandah valances and the decorative gable infill. The front fence and gate also contribute to the significance of the place.

The house at 94 Swanston Street is historically significant at a LOCAL level. It is associated with residential developments in Geelong during the Federation period (c.1895-1915). In particular, this house has associations with J.F. Kerley, carrier and original owner, who had it built in 1906. The house has further associations with the prolific Geelong architects, Laird and Barlow, and the builder, J.N. Tingate.

Overall, the house at 94 Swanston Street is of LOCAL significance.


REFERENCES:

Reports and Drainage Plans, Barwon Water profis system, 1921, 1977.
Sands & McDougall's Directory of Geelong, 1972, Geelong Historical Records Centre.
Sands & McDougall's "Invicta" Geelong Directory, 1968, Geelong Historical Records Centre.
Geelong City Council Rate Books (Barwon Ward), 1905-1960, Geelong Historical Records Centre.
Town Plan of Geelong 1881, Geelong Historical Records Centre.
Aitken, Richard, Edwardian Geelong - An Architectural Introduction, Architecture Division, Deakin University, 1979.

Group

Residential buildings (private)

Category

Residence