Residence

C Listed - Local Significance

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

'Paringa' at 44 Eastern Beach, Geelong, has significance as a reasonably intact example of the Federation style, and an important example of the work of the prolific Geelong architects, Laird and Barlow. Built in 1907 for George Frederick Walter, accountant, the house has experienced some alterations but appears to be in fair-good condition when viewed from the street.

'Paringa' at 44 Eastern Beach is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level. It demonstrates original design qualities of the Federation style. These qualities include the large gambrel roof form (with the projecting attic gable), rear gable roof that traverses the site and the minor gable that projects towards the street frontage. Other intact or appropriate qualities include the asymmetrical composition, predominantly single storey height (with attic spaces within the roof space), galvanised corrugated iron roof cladding, horizontal weatherboard wall cladding, two unpainted brick chimneys with rendered strappings and terra cotta pots, wide eaves with exposed timber rafters, return verandah under the main gambrel and projecting minor gable with timber columns and decorative timber work (including the shingle simulation to the corner valance, curved solid timber brackets, large timber arch, lattice fretwork, and the simplified timber fretwork valances that extend across the projecting minor verandah gable), projecting attic gable supported by timber columns with decorative timber fretwork and solid stuccoed balustrade, four panelled timber door and timber framed window within the attic, other timber framed double hung windows on the ground floor, timber framed ground floor doorway and the decorative gable infill (battening and panelling). 'Paringa' at 44 Eastern Beach is historically significant at a LOCAL level. It is associated with the development of substantial residences in Geelong in the early 20th century. In particular, this house has associations with George Frederick Walter, accountant and original owner from 1907, and continues under the ownership of the Walter family. The house also has associations with the prolific Geelong architects, Laird and Barlow.

Overall, 'Paringa' at 44 Eastern Beach is of LOCAL significance.

REFERENCES

Drainage plans and Reports, Barwon Water profis system, 1917, 1939.

Voters' Roll, Bellerine Ward 1992, Geelong Historical Records Centre. Electoral Roll, Division Corio, Subdivision Geelong, 1984, Geelong Historical Records Centre.

Sands & McDougall Directory of Geelong 1972, Geelong Historical Records Centre.

Sands & McDougall "Invicta" Geelong Directory, 1968, Geelong Historical Records Centre.

Geelong City Council Rate Books (Barwon Ward), 1907-1960, Geelong Historical Records Centre.

Geelong Town Plan 1881, Geelong Historical Records Centre.

L. Huddle, 'John Angus Laird's Architecture from 1890', private research database with references to the Contractors' and Day Books of the Laird and Barlow and Laird and Buchan Architectural practice held at the Geelong Historical Records Centre, 1998.

Group

Residential buildings (private)

Category

Residence