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Seymour Memorial Swimming Pool

Location Lesley Street, SEYMOUR VIC 3660 - Property No 105208 File Number Original Hermes No: 110216 Level -

[1/2] Seym 15.jpg [2/2] Seym 16.jpg

Statement of Significance

The history and description that precedes this Statement of Cultural Significance is the source of the evidence for the statement below.

Seymour Kings Park Precinct is historically significant at the LOCAL level (AHC criteria A.4). The mixture of residential and commercial structures from around the turn of the 19th century demonstrates the nature of the development of the town after the arrival of the railway in 1872 as it occupies the interstitial space between the old town centre and the new centre and is located around the most direct route between the two centres. The avenue of plane trees is expressive of the importance of Tallarook Street as the major link.

The establishment of Kings Park and its continuing backdrop of woodland are illustrative of its original landscape as billabong and floodplain that discouraged the type of subdivision that occurred elsewhere along Tallarook Street. The park is significant for its continuing use as showgrounds since 1907 some few years after the establishment of Seymour's own Agricultural Society. The significant oaks and palms are important indicators of that history while the large native trees represent the original character of the landscape.

The precinct is aesthetically significant at the LOCAL level (AHC Criterion E.1).
The avenue of plane trees on Tallarook Street makes a major contribution to Seymour's civic landscape, the view north along Tallarook Street terminated by low hills provides a sense of the towns relationship to the countryside, the oaks and palm trees are important elements in the landscape of Kings Park while the while the large native trees in and bordering Kings Park trees provide an backdrop to the setting evocative of the original landscape. The houses dating from the turn of the 19th century retain most of the pleasing features and garden settings that are representative of their period of construction while the commercial buildings retain their original scale and massing. The fence and gateways to Kings Park and the Memorial Pools are good examples of civic building of the period while the former market gates are excellent examples of design and workmanship from the 19th century.

The Park Gates are scientifically significant at the LOCAL level (AHC Criterion F1.) by demonstrating excellence in design and craftsmanship.

Kings Park is socially significant at the LOCAL level ( AHC Criterion G.1) as evidenced by its continuing use as a public park and showgrounds. The fence and gateway to Kings Park and the War Memorial Pools express the civic and community pride of the 1960s when the pools were created 'by the citizens of Seymour'.

Overall, Seymour King's Park precinct is culturally significant at the LOCAL level.
Sourced by Lorraine Huddle P/L 2006