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FORMER VICTORIAN RAILWAYS WEATHERBOARD RESIDENCE1885, CHINESE WINDMILL PALM TREE AND MONTEREY CYPRESS TREES

Other Names

Trachycarpus fortunei , 781 HEIDELBERG-KINGLAKE RD, HURSTBRIDGE , Cupressus macrocarpa

Location

781 HEIDELBERG-KINGLAKE ROAD HURSTBRIDGE, NILLUMBIK SHIRE

Level

Included in Heritage Overlay

[1/9]
Railways Residence Palm
[2/9]
Railways Residence Palm
[3/9]
Railways Residence Palm
[4/9]
94 - Railways Residence Palm
[5/9]
94 - Railways Residence Palm
[6/9]
94 - Railways Residence Palm
[7/9]
94 - Railways Residence Palm
[8/9]
Railways Residence Palm
[9/9]
Railways Residence Palm

Statement of Significance

REVISED STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE, CONTEXT, 2010

What is significant?
The former Victorian railways weatherboard residence No.1885 of 1912, the Chinese Windmill Palm tree (Trachycarpus fortunei), the Monterey Cypress tree (Cupressus macrocarpa) and all other mature planting and the surrounding site to the title boundaries.

How is it significant?
The former Victorian railways weatherboard residence of 1912, the Chinese Windmill Palm and the Monterey Cypress are historically and aesthetically significant to the Shire of Nillumbik.

Why is it significant?
The residence is historically significant because it was built by the Victorian Railway Commissioners to house railway staff as part of the opening of the railway line in 1912, and is a reminder of the impact that the construction of the line had upon Hurstbridge (Criterion A). The residence is historically and aesthetically significant because it is probably the earliest, and is one of the most elaborate, buildings constructed in Hurstbridge during the 1910s and 1920s and because its size and elaborate nature (featuring a timber verandah and notched weatherboard walls) illustrates the importance and wealth of the railways at the time (Criteria A, B & E).

The Chinese Windmill Palm is historically and aesthetically significant because it is connected to the house, because Chinese Windmill Palms were important ornamental trees in the early part of the 20th century and because this is the only example of the tree in the Shire (Criteria A, H & B).

The Monterrey Cypress is historically and aesthetically significant because it is connected to the house and is a reminder of the fashion for conifers during the early 20th century in Victoria (Criteria A & H).

Group