Residence

C Listed - Locsl Significance

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

The house and its setbacks at 5 Barrabool Road is aesthetically significant on a LOCAL level. It demonstrates an early use of important light and fresh design qualities of a localised version of the Post War International style, which although found in Melbourne, are less common in Geelong. The design of this functional residence was influenced by the work of architects such as Carl Koch in America, Sidney Ancher in NSW, and Buchan, Laird and Buchan in Geelong. Important features are the original geometric form, low pitched gable roof, materials, large fixed and casement windows, large glass areas, stone fireplace, garage below the living room entered via the curved driveway which is bounded on the east side by Barrabool freestone random rubble retaining walls and steps. The site has three very large, flowering eucalyptus trees and two of these flank the entry to the driveway. The grassed 'apron' sweeping up from the fenceless Barrabool Road boundary to the house is important part of the setting as is the low Barrabool freestone retaining wall and high tea-tree fences, with Virginia Creeper along the Downshire street frontage. It is in good condition with a good degree of integrity.

The house at 5 Barrabool Road is historically significant at a LOCAL level. It was one of the first post-war houses to be built in this part of Belmont with a view towards rural Highton. It is associated with the Geelong architect Max Naylor who designed the house in 1953 and lived in it until 1984 when it was sold to Lorraine Huddle and Peter Lamb, who have lived in it ever since.

Overall, the house at 5 Barrabool Road is of LOCAL significance.

REFERENCE

1. Lorraine Huddle, interview with Max Naylor, architect and former owner, 1984.
2. Trust News, Victoria June 1997 v25 n6 pp10,11
3. Mary Davis Gillies, McCall's Book of Modern Houses, Simon and Schuster, NY, 1951. p113-117, 161.
4. Winner of 'The Sir John Sulman Medal Award, 1945 in George Beiers, Houses of Australia A Survey of Domestic Architecture, Ure Smith, 1948, pp 60-62.

Group

Residential buildings (private)

Category

House