Residence

The property known as "Karrama", 80-84 Francis Street, has significance as one of the oldest residences and a rare physical legacy of the development of vineyards and market gardens in Belmont in the mid 19th century. The dwelling represents a contextually early example of a Victorian style, having been originally built in 1864. The Federation era alterations and additions contribute to an understanding of the evolution of the place, symbolising another era as a private residence in the 20th century. The property was established as a vineyard in c.1858 by James Goodall Francis, member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly. In 1862 the passing of the Land Act by the Victorian Parliament included the promotion of "novel industries" such as the production of wine. Francis was Premier of Victoria in 1872-74 and his Belmont property was a subsidiary enterprise to his more substantial Goonwarra winery at Sunbury established in 1863. The success of the Belmont vineyard was short-lived due to Phylloxera disease that swept through the Geelong vineyards in the late 1870s. The property was one of at least 13 vineyards in Belmont at that time. Between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the property operated as an orchard and market garden.

"Karrama", 80-84 Francis Street, is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level (AHC D.2). It demonstrates original design qualities of a Victorian style, with Federation era alterations and additions that contribute to an understanding of the evolution of the place. The original qualities include the multiple hipped roof forms (including the front and north roofs), and south-west elongated hipped roof, rendered brick chimneys with projecting cornices, narrow eaves, and the timber framed front doorway with sidelights and highlights (except the glazing) and four panelled timber doors. The early (Federation era) qualities include the projecting gable roof forms at the front and side (north), return verandah with projecting corner gable, faceted corner bay window, projecting rectangular bay window at the front with bracketed hood above, and timber framed double hung windows. Other intact or appropriate qualities include the single storey height, asymmetrical composition, horizontal timber weatherboard wall cladding, galvanised corrugated steel roof cladding, cast iron verandah posts with decorative cast iron valances and brackets and timber verandah floor.

"Karrama" represents one of few known surviving Victorian dwellings first built in the 1850s or 1860s in the Belmont locality, and one of a small number of 19th century dwellings in Belmont. Other dwellings of the era include "Kardinia" in Riverview Terrace, house at 26 Spring Street, house at 79 Mt Pleasant Road and Winter's Cellars, 197 Francis Street. All of these dwellings have also experienced alterations and additions over time. The substantial setting, including the open grassed areas around the dwelling and particularly the two mature Norfolk Island pine trees at the front, also contribute to the significance of the place.

"Karrama" at 80-84 Francis Street is historically significant at a LOCAL level (AHC A.4, H.1). It is one of the oldest surviving dwellings and a rare physical legacy of the vineyard era in Belmont of the 1850s and 1860s. Only four properties associated with the vineyard era are known to survive in Belmont. Established as a vineyard in c.1858 by James Goodall Francis, member of the Legislative Assembly and later Premier of Victoria in 1872-74, the timber dwelling was originally constructed in 1864, two years after the Duffy Land Act had been passed that included the promotion of "novel industries" such as wine production. While the Phylloxera disease that swept through the Geelong vineyards in the late 1870s brought to an end the vineyard at "Karrama", the existing timber dwelling with stone cellar are a physical embodiment of this early and now rare function in Belmont. Alterations and additions to the dwelling during the Federation era contribute to an understanding of the evolution of the place, as a private residence on a contextually substantial setting at a time when many neighbouring properties were greatly altered through subdivision and residential development.

Overall, "Karrama" at 80-84 Francis Street is of LOCAL significance.

References

Rate Books of Shire of South Barwon 1857-1919, Geelong Heritage Centre.

Plan of Parish of Corio L5915, May 1880, Public Record Office Victoria, Melbourne.

G. Bridges (owner, 80-84 Francis St.), letter to Kevin Krastins, City of Greater Geelong, 12 July 2004.

D. Pike (ed.), Australian Dictionary of Biography Vol.4 1851-1890, 1972.

"History of Goona Warra Vineyard", Goona Warra Vineyard website.

Database of Victorian M.P.s since 1851. Victorian government website, http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/re-member/.

Auction Notice of Thomas Ogilvie estate, Geelong Advertiser, 3 November 1874, Geelong Heritage Centre.

Report of the Inspectors of Vineyards in the Geelong District, 1878, Geelong Heritage Centre.

Auction notice of the estate of J.G.Francis, Geelong Advertiser 31 May 1884, Geelong Heritage Centre.

Certificate of Title for William Newton Sommers 11 October 1884, Landata system, Land Registry website, https://www.landata.vic.gov.au.

Auction Notice for Sommers estate 19 December 1885. Held at Geelong Heritage Centre.

Certificate of Title for Leon Monbon 27 October 1887, Landata system, Land Registry website, https://www.landata.vic.gov.au.

Auction Notice of Belmont Estate, 1 October 1910, Geelong Heritage Centre.

Certificate of Title for William Sumner Hunt 17 November 1913, Landata system, Land Registry website, https://www.landata.vic.gov.au

Schedule of Real Estate. Probate of estate of Lillie Hunt, 7 November 1951, Public Records Office Victoria, Melbourne.

Sands & Mc Dougall Directory of Victoria, 1934,1957, 1972, Geelong Heritage Centre.

T. Pescott, South Barwon 1857-1985, City of South Barwon, Belmont, 1985.

Authentic Heritage Services Pty Ltd (Rowe & Huddle), 'Greater Geelong Outer Areas Heritage Study' Stage 2, April 2000, vols. 6-10 & 16. See also Environmental History (vol. 2) by I. Wynd.

D. Moloney, 'Goonwarra' heritage citation and Environmental History (pp.77-84) in 'City of Hume: Heritage Study of the Former Shire of Bulla', 1998.

'Kardinia House, 1 Riverview Terrace, Belmont', Victorian Heritage Register online, H337, February 2006.

Geelong Waterworks & Sewerage Trust Plan of Drainage, 80-84 Francis Street, Belmont, 1929.

Interactive Maps at Land.vic.gov.au.

Morrow Index to the Geelong Advertiser, 1869-1870, Geelong Heritage Centre.

Group

Residential buildings (private)

Category

House