Garfield Commercial Precinct

The Garfield commercial precinct at 33-101 Nar Nar Goon-Longwarry Road, Garfield along the south side of the road, is associated with Garfield's 1920s boom era. Following completion of the Koo-Wee-Rup Swamp drainage scheme in the first decade of the twentieth century, Garfield became a prosperous farming and orcharding district, coupled with the growth of an associated shopping and business centre related to improved transport (rail and road), communications, power and water supplies. This development reached its peak during the 1920s.The present commercial precinct along the Nar Nar Goon-Longwarry Road retains a character that reflects the 1920s boom era. This character is created by individually significant places already on the Heritage Overlay:

- 41 Nar Nar Goon-Longwarry Road - 1920s J & ME Lowndes bakery & residence (HO86)

- 51 Nar Nar Goon-Longwarry Road - Garfield Picture Theatre (HO87), opened in 1924

-79 Nar Nar Goon-Longwarry Road

- ANZ Bank (HO88), built in 1925

Other places within the precinct that contribute to its significant 1920s character are:

- 33 Nar Nar Goon-Longwarry Road - Post Office (new)

- 37-39 Nar Nar Goon-Longwarry Road - Garfield Automotive and Charity Shop, with mature fruit trees in the rear garden (citrus and stone fruit) (new)

- 55 Nar Nar Goon-Longwarry Road

- Shop- 57-59 Nar Nar Goon-Longwarry Road - Shops

- 61 Nar Nar Goon-Longwarry Road - Shops

- 69 Nar Nar Goon-Longwarry Road - Garfield Milk Bar

- 71 Nar Nar Goon-Longwarry Road - Shop

- 73-75 Nar Nar Goon-Longwarry Road - Pizza

- 77 Nar Nar Goon-Longwarry Road- Garfield Newsagency

- 81-83 Nar Nar Goon-Longwarry Road - Shop

- 87 Nar Nar Goon-Longwarry Road - Pharmacy

- 89 Nar Nar Goon-Longwarry Road - Country Style Meats

- 95 Nar Nar Goon-Longwarry Road - Iona Hotel

- 101 Nar Nar Goon-Longwarry Road - Cottage

- Garfield War Memorial - opposite 77 Nar Nar Goon-Longwarry Road

Non-contributory places in the precinct are: 35, 47, 53, 85, 89-93, 97 and 103 Nar Nar Goon-Longwarry Road.

How is it significant?

The Garfield commercial precinct has local historic and aesthetic significance to Cardinia Shire.

Why is it significant?

Historically, the Garfield commercial precinct has significance for the tangible evidence the surviving c.1920s buildings provide of the development of the Garfield area from the 1920s, which in turn was a result of more intense settlement of the farming districts around the town. (RNE criterion A.4) The character of the precinct and its location and relationship to the railway, which are indicative of its origins, also have historic and aesthetic significance as a relatively rare substantially intact township with a largely consistent 1920s character. The character of the precinct is most strongly evidenced by the large buildings such as the former ES&A Bank, the Iona Hotel and the former Garfield Picture Theatre, the sole surviving picture theatre in the shire as Pakenham's Kings Picture Theatre has been demolished. Evidence of the precinct's significance is also provided by the remaining bakery and residence and the Garfield War Memorial. (RNE criteria A.4, E.1 & F.1)

Historically, the Post Office at 33 Nar Nar Goon-Longwarry Road and the garage with garden at 37 Nar Nar Goon-Longwarry Road contribute to the significance of the precinct. The Post Office and garage provide evidence of town services developed to serve the expanded community.

Group

Commercial

Category

Commercial Precinct