House

The circa 1860s brick house at 88 Wright Street, Heathcote, is significant

How is it significant?

The house at 88 Wright Street, Heathcote is of local historic and architectural significance to the City of Greater Bendigo.

Why is it significant?

The house at 88 Wright Street is historically significant for its association with Richard Carveth Carkeet who resided there from 1864 until about 1872. Carkeet was an auctioneer, and well known member of the local community. In 1859, Carkeet was a County Court Bailiff, in 1865 was a member of the Heathcote water supply committee. Carkeets father, Dr. William Carkeet, established a successful medical practice and set up the Rodney Dispatch, a local paper, in 1863. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Heathcote Hospital, but tensions between him and Dr. Robinson meant his role there was ultimately limited. By 1872, his son Richard had sold the property to his father's competitor Dr. Charles Robinson. Criterion A

88 Wright Street is architecturally significant as a 'picturesque' brick house with some unusual features including the gable ends facing the street, and the arrangement of an off centre window to the left hand gable end. The house is unique in the study area, and displays architectural features rarely used in buildings later than 1860. Of particular interest is the use of the small recess and label mould motif to both of the gables, and the chimney set on a diagonal plan. These features are often associated with the cottage orne depicted in nineteenth century pattern books that described ways to make farm buildings and small homes picturesque by using scaled down versions of grander buildings and ornament. There have been alterations, including the blocked in fanlight, the wing wall that extends from the left hand gable, and the rear of the house has a number of additions and alterations. The verandah has features of early construction, including the corrugated iron roofing, however it is unlikely to be part of the original design. Criterion E

Group

Residential buildings (private)

Category

House