Residence

The house at 1 Sommers Street is aesthetically significant at a LOCAL level. It demonstrates several original design qualities of the interwar Californian Bungalow style. These qualities include the dominant central gable roof form, together with minor gables, hips and gambrel roofs that project towards the street frontage and east side. Other intact qualities include the horizontal Tasmanian hardwood weatherboards, painted corrugated galvanised iron roof cladding, unpainted brick chimneys with a soldier course band, painted concrete capping and terra cotta pot, wide eaves, timber framed double hung windows arranged as horizontal banks of three on the street facade with fixed central lights and bowed sashes, box window, segmentally arched leadlight window, front timber and glazed? door, paired square timber verandah posts, timber balustrade, window leadlighting, tapered timber joinery simulating shingling, and the decorative gable infill (roughcast patterned weathered iron and timber battening). The established garden and trees, together with the front timber fence (although introduced), contribute to the character of the place.

The house at 1 Sommers Street is historically significant at a LOCAL level. It is associated with the Belmont Hill Estate subdivision of 1934. It is also associated with Eric Lyons, as his first house constructed for a client in Geelong, and with George McKenzie, original and long time owner and occupier.

Overall, the house at 1 Sommers Street is of LOCAL significance.

REFERENCE

1. I. Wynd, 'Environmental History: Greater Geelong Outer Areas Heritage Study', vol.2.

2. Shire of South Barwon Rate Books, 1934-35, 1939-40, 1943-44, 1948-49, 1957-60.

3. Built By Lyons, E.J. Lyons & Sons Pty Ltd, Master Builders to Geelong for 60 Years, Shennan Media, Geelong, 1989.

4. Drainage Plans and Inspectors' Reports, 1934, Barwon Water Profis system.

Group

Residential buildings (private)

Category

Residence