KENILWORTH COACH HOUSE (FORMER) AND TREES

What is significant? Charles Nott, gentleman and local figure of note, was first rated for the Kenilworth Villa property in the 1889-90 Shire of Berwick rate records. Nott owned land near the Burwood Highway and Pink Hill was once known as 'Nott's Hill.' On his property, Nott built a substantial villa (no longer extant), coach house and established a garden, ornamental lake and island as the setting for his villa.

Evidence of the garden and plantings, as laid out by Nott around his villa, and ornamental lake and island exist today. However, the ornamental lake and island are located west and outside of the current property boundary. Some of the 1880s plantings, including cypress, pines, Araucarias (Bunya Bunya) and deciduous exotics, remain throughout the property, along the drive, and define the Kenilworth Avenue boundary.

The coach house has been modified and gaps in boundary plantings suggest some of the original perimeter trees are no longer extant. Nott's villa is no longer extant.

How is it significant? The mature conifers and exotic trees within the Kenilworth Villa property, including the Bunya Bunyas lining the driveway and marking the entrance to the site, are of local historic and aesthetic significance to Cardinia Shire.

The former Kenilworth Coach House is of local historic significance to the Beaconsfield locality.

Why is it significant? The remains of the garden layout, plantings and coach house are significant because they represent all that remains of Nott's large mansion and gardens which were, for a long period, also used as the Berry Street Foundling Home (RNE Criteria A.4, H.1). The house was a local landmark prior to demolition. The coach house, although greatly modified, still possesses its traditional stable form and provides a link to the property's original owner, Charles Nott (RNE A.4, H.1). The mature conifers, in particular the Bunya Bunya marking the entrance to the property, also have local landmark value. The trees lining the drive are significant as evidence of the site's early layout, circulation patterns and plantings, and as mature and rare plantings within the Shire (RNE A.4, F.1). These trees also recall Nott and the other major occupiers of the property (RNE H.1).

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1996 Study by: Graeme Butler & Associates

The former Kenilworth Coach House is significant to the Beaconsfield locality and the bunya bunyas in the drive planting are significant to the Cardinia Shire because they represent all that remains of Nott's large mansion and gardens which were, for a long period, also used as the Berry Street Foundling Home. The house was a local landmark prior to demolition. The coach house has been greatly changed but still possesses a traditional stable form and hence some link with Nott. The trees on the drive are of significant as mature and rare plantings within the Shire which also recall Nott and the other major occupiers of the property.

Local Significance - Coach House
Regional Significance - Drive Plantation

Group

Parks, Gardens and Trees

Category

Planting exotic