BIGELOW'S STORE & RESIDENCE (FORMER)

The former Bigelow's Store, at 35 Victoria Road, Loch, built in c.1890, is significant. This single Victorian weatherboard complex with a residence to the west and a commercial building to the east has a shop that includes a hip and valley roof and reconstructed, straight roofed street verandah. The setback residence includes a projecting octagonal bay with double hung windows on each face. Other key features of these two buildings include:
Commercial Building:

Residence:

Non-original alterations and additions, other than those specified above, are not of heritage significance.

Historically, the former Bigelow's store is one of the oldest commercial buildings in the Shire as Mr Charles Snow Bigelow purchased this lot at the first Loch land sales on 22 November, 1887. This building demonstrates the important, early commercial development of the Shire that occurred following the construction of the South Eastern Railway in 1890. (Criterion A) 
Aesthetically, the store is a superior and substantially intact example of a large Victorian commercial property within the Shire. In addition, it is one of the few Victorian shop and residence complexes of this scale that still remains in South Gippsland Shire. The residence and shop significantly contribute to the character of Loch and demonstrates the early optimism of the Loch community. (Criterion E) 
The former Bigelow store is strongly associated with Mr Charles Snow Bigelow, one of the commercial pioneers of this region of the Shire, especially Loch and Jeetho. Besides being an early commercial magnate, Mr Bigelow was active in development of the Loch township and the South Gippsland Shire. Mr Bigelow was significant to the former Shire of Poowong and Jeetho, the Presbyterian Church and sporting clubs within Loch and the surrounds. (Criterion H)