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EGERTON

Other Name

Morris House, Knox House

Location

37 JEFFREY STREET, LEONGATHA, SOUTH GIPPSLAND SHIRE

Level

Included in Heritage Overlay

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Egerton

Statement of Significance

What is significant?
'Egerton', comprising the house and stables constructed c.1915 by F.W. Morris as his own residence and later occupied by James T. Knox, at 37 Jeffrey Street, Leongatha is significant. It is a characteristic Federation Queen Anne timber villa with a corrugated iron hip and gable roof, contiguous return verandah at a lesser pitch and weatherboard walls. Other notable elements include:

- The roughcast chimneys with their precast cap and corbel brick tabs and terracotta pots.
- Scrolled metal ridge finials suggesting that metal ridge cresting has been removed.
- Projecting bracketed gable ends with vertically battened roughcast infill.
- Boxed bay windows with casements and hoppers to the gable ends and a shingled hood over.
- A splayed corner boxed bay window.
- Turned verandah posts with neck-moulds supporting an arched ladder frame valance.
- A shingled weatherboard dado.
- 'Rams horn' finials to the gable ends

At the rear are early gabled timber stables, which have a small rectangular door in the west-facing gable and a smaller square door/window in the east gable.

Non-original alterations and additions to the house and stables and other buildings on the site are not significant.

How is it significant?
'Egerton' at 37 Jeffrey Street, Leongatha is of local historic and aesthetic significance to South Gippsland Shire.

Why is it significant?
Historically, it is associated with an important phase of development in Leongatha during the early twentieth century and is representative of the fine villas erected for local business people as the town prospered. It is also important for its associations with the noted engineer, Mr J.T. Knox, who developed Knox's Quarry and the Rockhill Farm at Nerrena. (Criterion A, D & H)

Aesthetically, it is a superior example of a Federation Queen Anne style house with fine and characteristic detailing, which is complemented by a rare example of an early stables. The significance of the house is enhanced by its high degree of integrity. (Criteria B & E)

Group