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RESIDENCE
Other NameAH COY COTTAGE Location5 BOWDEN STREET AND 2 FARNSWORTH STREET CASTLEMAINE, MOUNT ALEXANDER SHIRE
File Number11/011310LevelRegistered |
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Statement of Significance
No.5 Bowden Street was built in the 1860s for James Ah Coy, a Chinese
interpreter. Ah Coy achieved a certain amount of notoriety in 1869
when, following a petition by members of the Chinese community, an
enquiry was held into his activities in collecting mining licence
fees. The architect and builder of this small regency house are not known
but it is typical of a number of late regency dwellings erected in
Castlemaine in the 1860's - for example, 2 Burnett Road and 167 Mostyn
Street. Constructed of brick with corrugated iron roofing, the facade and
sides are rendered and unpainted and there is a simple parapet on
three sides. The facade is symmetrically composed about a central
doorway with a concave verandah across the front on timber posts. The valance boards are simply decorated. The picket fence appears to
be original. The house occupies a prominent position on the hill to
the east of the town and is a very fine example of a small but
imposing cottage remarkable late in terms of its architectural style. It has important connections with the Chinese mining community of
Castlemaine. This building is important in illustrating the story of
the limited assimilation of the Chinese into Victorian goldfield communities.
[Source: Report to the Minister]
Group
Residential buildings (private)
Category
Cottage