HOUSE & REMNANT ORCHARD

The house at 46-48 Old Warrandyte Road, Donvale, was constructed in 1939-40 for John Crossman, orchardist, who was associated with the Handasyde family who also ran an orchard on adjoining land, where they constructed a house in 1922-23. It is set within a mature garden with a number of notable trees and includes the remnant of an orchard at one side and a mature pine windrow at the front.

How is it Significant?

The former orchard house complex, comprising the house, garden, remnant orchard and mature trees at 46-48 Old Warrandtye Road, Donvale, is of local historic and aesthetic significance to Manningham City.

Why is it Significant?

The former orchard house complex at 46-48 Old Warrandyte Road, Donvale has historic significance as a rare example of an orchard house that also retains remnants of an orchard to demonstrate the historic association. It has associations with the Handasyde family, who were an important orchard family in this area during the Inter-war period. The construction materials are also of interest as they demonstrate the increasing use of local stone due to post-war building material shortages as well as its use by a number of local architects at nearby Warrandyte. (RNE criteria A.4, B.2, D.2 and H.1)

The house at 46-48 Old Warrandyte Road, Donvale has aesthetic significance as an attractive house of individual design, which is notable for the random rubble walls of local sandstone. The various mature trees, orchard plantings and the pine hedge contribute to setting, and evoke the historic rural orchard character of Donvale as it was in the Inter-war period. It is related to the adjacent house at 52 Old Warrandyte Road. (RNE criterion E.1)

Group

Farming and Grazing

Category

Orchard