"Morongo" Presbyterian Girls' School, original 1859 building including interior Nor Kardinia Int College

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Recommendation:- Because of the complex nature of the School as there are important buildings, landscapes and objects too numerous to mention in this citation, it is highly recommended that a professional Conservation Management Plan be carried out. The Conservation Analysis Report, by Tim Perks will be a valuable resource for this work. The aesthetic, historic and social importance of the place is directly linked to its existing fabric. The Conservation Management Plan would provide essential and useful information to school administrators, planners, and designers so that informed assessments can be made in terms of future appropriate developments that compliment and protects extant significant fabric. This is particularly urgent in view of the proposal by the school to make major changes to the entry, with a new driveway, new school buildings as well as a change in use for some buildings.

The Kardinia International College, Bell Post Hill is aesthetically significant on a STATE level, within the curtilage of Heritage Victoria's Registration and it is aesthetically significant on a REGIONAL level outside of it. It demonstrates important design qualities, particularly the community spirit embodied in its configuration, the architecture of the pastoral period and the Girls College era. Important artifacts such as the bell, as well a trees and landscape elements are dispersed throughout this community and substantially contribute to the significance of the place.

The Kardinia International College, Bell Post Hill, is historically significant on a STATE level, within the curtilage of Heritage Victoria's Registration and it historically significant on a REGIONAL level outside of it. Established in 1859 as a prominent pastoral property it is associated with the early history of the region near Geelong. Many of the buildings, gardens, trees, memorabilia and art works date from 1926 to 1994 and have been donated by former students and staff during the period in which it evolved as a large and important girls school. The bell is an example of a rare aspect of the cultural history of the region.

The Kardinia International College, Bell Post Hill, is socially significant on a STATE level, within the curtilage of Heritage Victoria's Registration and it is socially significant on a REGIONAL level outside of it. It is highly valued by the Presbyterian Church amp other sections of the Australian community for its educational associations with thousands of boarders particularly from rural Victoria. The culturally significant fabric of the school provides a tangible link for all past students and other individuals who have had a long and significant impact on the place. As an important boarding and day school it forms a significant and particular component of the heritage of Geelong and Victoria.

Overall, the Kardinia International College, 205 Ballarat Road, Bell Post Hill, is culturally significant on a STATE level within the curtilage of Heritage Victoria's Registration and it is culturally significant on a REGIONAL level outside of it.

Group

Education

Category

School - Private