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Former Common School

Other Name Y.M.C.A. Location High Street,, ARARAT VIC 3377 - Property No B2118 File Number B2118 Level Local

[1/1] B2118 YMCA former Common

Statement of Significance

Y.M.C.A., originally Common School, was erected in 1876 to the designs of Elijah Derrick for the Common School committee. Single storied and symmetrical in plan, the brick school has projecting end wings with separate porches and a central gable and bell-cote with porch below. Roofs are in corrugated iron and buttresses, string courses, triple window motifs, hood mouldings, chimneys and deep mullions are features.
Y.M.C.A. is a rare surviving example of a Common School, is part of the townscape and streetscape and history of Ararat and is of note architechturally. In the Gothic Revival style, the structure is a good example of a substantial school of the period. The structure is fairly typical in form and detailing, but is unusual for the arrangement of the two side porches and the central 'porch'.
Y.M.C.A. has been painted externally but is otherwise very largely intact and in good condition.
Classified: 'Local' 25/05/1967
Revised: 'Regional' 25/03/1976