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WALLER HOUSE AND COLLECTION
Location9-9A CROWN ROAD IVANHOE, BANYULE CITY
File Number602597LevelRegistered |
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Statement of Significance
WHAT IS SIGNIFICANT?
The Waller House and Collection including all the buildings
(interiors and exteriors), fixed and movable objects and the garden.
The buildings include the main house with semi-detached sunroom and
laundry/bathroom, a separate garage and a separate Art Studio. The
garden near the house includes plantings, terraces and garden rooms
with brick and stone edged gravel paths, brick or stone walls and
concrete paths. A less formal bush garden is located further away from
the house. The Collection includes artworks by Napier Waller; Napier
and Christian Waller's full-size cartoons for stained-glass windows,
library, art materials, tools and equipment as well as items
associated with the Wallers including a collection of Melbourne Art
Pottery, rugs and household items. Most of these objects are still in
the house. The Waller House and Collection is of
architectural, historical and social significance to the State of
Victoria. It satisfies the following criterion for inclusion in the
Victorian Heritage Register: Criterion A Importance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria's cultural history. Criterion D Importance in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class
of cultural places and objects. Criterion H Special association with the life or works of a person, or group of
persons, of importance in Victoria's history. The Waller House and Collection is
significant at the State level for the following reasons: The Waller House and Collection is historically significant as the
residence and workplace of renowned artists Napier and Christian
Waller where, with assistance from Lorna Waller and others, many
artworks of State and national significance were designed and fully or
partially executed. These include mosaics, stained-glass windows,
painted murals, ceramics, prints and books. Evidence of these creative
practices still exists at the place. [Criterion A] The Waller House is architecturally significant as a notable example
of an artists' residence and workplace, specifically designed and
modified for the production of monumental artworks such as murals,
mosaics and stained-glass windows, noting that smaller scale prints,
paintings and drawings were also made at the house. A separate Glass
Studio was attached to the Living Hall in 1931 and the original studio
and light well were converted to a double height Living Hall and
Minstrels Gallery respectively. Full-size cartoons of monumental
artworks could be hung in the Living Hall and viewed from the
Minstrels Gallery and Entrance Hall. A simple self-contained Art
Studio was constructed on a lower terrace in 1937 for mosaic work and
print making. Both studios have large south facing windows intended to
provide good light to the artists. [Criterion D] The Waller House and Collection is also architecturally significant
for its architecture, interiors, furnishings and garden; all of which
demonstrate the ideals of the English Arts and Crafts movement,
especially the value of simplicity, utility and beauty; unified design
schemes for buildings and their interiors and gardens, and
collaborations between designers and crafts people. The house was
designed by the Wallers in 1922 and has similarities to the work of
the Wallers' friend architect Harold Desbrowe-Annear. Later
alterations were designed by architect Percy Meldrum, in sympathy with
the original design. The individually designed furniture resulting
from collaborations with the Wallers, Percy Meldrum and furniture
designer and manufacturer Harry Goldman, reflects the Wallers'
creativity and is either Arts and Crafts or Moderne in style. The
handcrafted interior finishes were also designed by the Wallers. The
Australian Arts and Crafts style garden has more formal terraced
garden rooms and hand-crafted features nearer the house, and an
informal bush garden further away from the house. [Criterion D] The Waller House and Collection is significant for its association
with artists Napier and Christian Waller. Mervyn Napier Waller CMG OBE
(19 June 1893 - 30 March 1972) was a noted Australian stained-glass
artist, mosaicist, muralist, print maker and painter. Christian
Marjory Waller (1894-1954) was a noted book designer, printmaker,
stained-glass artist and painter. The Waller House and Collection
provides a unique insight into the daily lives, work practices,
friendships, range of interests and personal and professional
associations of the Waller family and their circle of artist friends
especially ceramicists Kylie Sclater/Pate and John Barnard Knight,
architect Percy Meldrum, sculptor Ola Cohn and furniture designer and
manufacturer Harry Goldman. Most of the Collection consists of
artworks by Napier Waller; Napier and Christian Waller's full-size
cartoons for stained-glass windows, their library, art materials,
tools and equipment as well as items associated with the Wallers
including a collection of Melbourne Art Pottery, rugs and household
items. Most of these objects are still in the house, many in their
original rooms. [Criterion H]
Group
Residential buildings (private)
Category
House