Clarkes Hill Heritage Area

The Clarkes Hill Heritage Precinct is significant for its notable number of Victorian, Edwardian, Federation and interwar Bungalow styled dwellings built on the southern slope of Clarke's Hill, land first subdivided in the mid 19th century. Few dwellings of this earliest era of building development survive today, with the rendered Victorian dwelling at 21 Austin Street (built before 1863) being an exception. Most of the dwellings were built as a consequence of the sale of Buckland's Paddock from 1890, with further development occurring after the First World War. While there is diversity in scale (from very modest to medium size), most of the dwellings have a single storey appearance (some are more elevated as a result of the topography of the land). Within the stylistic range, there are also consistent design characteristics, including simple or complex hipped and/or gabled roof forms clad in corrugated sheet metal, front or return verandahs, narrow or wide eaves, timber weatherboard wall construction (fewer being built in brick) and architectural detailing consistent with the stylistic era in which the dwellings were built. Also contributing to the significance of the area is the bluestone kerbs and channels.

The Clarkes Hill Heritage Area is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level (AHC criterion D.2). It demonstrates original and early design qualities associated with the residential development of the area from the mid 19th century until c.1940. These qualities are expressed in the Victorian, Edwardian/Federation and interwar Bungalow styled dwellings that are largely single storey in appearance and have predominantly detached compositions. The buildings include the following design characteristics: hipped and gabled roof forms (with simple or complex roof outlines having a pitch between 25 and 35 degrees), front or return verandahs, corrugated galvanised steel roof cladding, horizontal timber weatherboard wall construction, some brick cladding, brick chimneys (detailed to reflect the design era), brick verandah supports, narrow or wide eaves, timber verandah posts, timber brackets and/or valances (some in cast iron), timber framed doorways with sidelights and highlights and timber windows arranged singularly, in pairs or bays. Overall, these dwellings constitute 79% of the building stock in the area. The early engineering infrastructure of bluestone kerb and channel also contributes to the significance of the area.

The Clarkes Hill Heritage Area is historically significant at a LOCAL level (AHC criteria A.4, H.1). It is associated with important eras of residential development that occurred from the early 1850's and throughout the next 55 years. Allotments in the first subdivision were sold from the mid 1850's from the south side of Austin Street. It was the sale of Buckland's Paddock from 1890 when houses north of Austin Street were constructed. The area was home of some of Geelong's important figures including William Cakebread, early limeburner and coal merchant. William Purnell and Sons, noted local architects and builders, were other early land owners who appear to have designed some of the Federation era dwellings at 16 and 62 Austin Street.

The residents in the Clarkes Hill Heritage Area were originally a mix of the middle class including a jeweler, engineer, produce merchant and agent and the working class including storeman, ironmonger, carpenter and spinner.

Overall, the Clarkes Hill Heritage Area is of LOCAL significance.

Group

Residential buildings (private)

Category

Residential Precinct