Shops, 72-74 Main Street, STAWELL

This property has been reviewed as part of the Stawell Main Street Precinct in 2024, and its heritage category is now Contributory.

The property is Contributory to the precinct.

Text from the 2004 heritage study: 

The former Victoria House drapery building at 72-74 Main Street, Stawell, makes a significant contribution to the architectural and visual amenity of the predominantly 19th and early 20th century commercial streetscape. The form and rear sections of the building also contribute to the architectural amenity of the area. Built in 1874 for G.M. Bond, draper, the building appears to be in good condition when viewed from the street and represents a legacy of 19th century commercial development in Stawell.

The former Victoria House drapery building at 72-74 Main Street is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level. Although altered with a new front verandah and shopfront, the building still demonstrates original design qualities of a Victorian Free Classical style. These qualities include the balustraded parapet with the central solid title panel and flanking piers, and dentillated stringcourse. Other intact or appropriate qualities include the symmetrical composition, two storey height, rendered brick wall construction, three-bayed first floor with arched windows having moulded architraves and punctuating keystones, central window pediment and flanking label moulds, and the decorative motifs between the label moulds and the window arches. The rear of the building also contributes to the significance of the place, including the gabled roof form with the stepped parapet on the rear wall, face and partly rendered brick wall construction, arched window opening, oculus ventilator in the gable end, brick skillion wing, and the face brick chimneys.

The former Victoria House drapery building at 72-74 Main Street is historically significant at a LOCAL level. It is associated with commercial developments in Stawell in the 1870s. In particular, this building has associations with G.M. Bond, draper and original owner who instigated construction in 1874. It also has associations from 1887 with Anthony Bone, owner and Borough Councillor between 1887 and 1890, and 1901 and 1908. 

Overall, the former Victoria House drapery building at 72-74 Main Street is of LOCAL significance.