House

The house at 312 Shanahans Road, Eppalock, including all of the fabric of the sandstone and co-joined timber houses are significant. The outbuildings are not significant.

How is it significant?

The house at 312 Shanahans Road, Eppalock is of local historical and architectural significance to the City of Greater Bendigo.

Why is it significant?

The house and outbuildings are historically significant for their association with long-term owners, the Shanahan family, for whom the road the land is situated on is named. Timothy Shanahan was an early Shire of Strathfieldsaye Councillor between 1889- 1895, and is likely to have built the house by the late 1870s. Timothy Shanahan lived there with his wife Mary until his death in 1897 when ownership passed to James, his eldest son, and Patrick Shanahan, land holders of large sheep stations in Terrick Terrick to the north, and Poonboon Station in New South Wales respectively. Patrick took sole ownership in 1914, and the property remained in the Shanahan name for over 80 years. Patrick was also a Councillor for the Shire of Strathfieldsaye, serving from 1913-1915. Criterion A, Criterion H

The property was transferred from the Shanahan family in 1951 to graziers Allan Livingstone Watson and his wife, Mary Clare Watson, who had been residents of Lockington. Following this, the property changed hands over the years to several farmers. The property is historically significant for remaining as a working farm for 112 years, from its original ownership in 1869 up until 1981, when it was transferred to a journalist and teacher. Historically, it is significant as a now rare early house that demonstrates the first stages of selection by graziers in the Eppalock area. Criterion A

The house is architecturally significant as a co-joined complex that illustrates changing building traditions. Although it is unclear which was the first house to be built on the property, the sandstone house facing the road, has interesting window quoins and dressings. While both houses have relatively high hipped roofs, and are almost fully encircled by verandahs supported on timber posts, the posts have been altered on the front house to include concrete half pillars. By contrast, the rear timber house has weatherboard cladding with the verandah positioned beneath the eaves line. A half gable with weatherboard infill cladding on the rear house also makes an interesting contrast with the house at the front of the property where the verandah is continuous with the slope of the roof. Criterion D

Group

Residential buildings (private)

Category

House