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Ripple Vale Homestead & Outbuildings

Location Cape Otway Road, BIRREGURRA VIC 3242 - Property No B1066 File Number B1066 Level Local

[1/13] B1066 Ripple Vale Homestead [2/13] B1066 Ripple Vale Homestead [3/13] B1066 Ripple Vale Homestead [4/13] B1066 Ripple Vale Homestead [5/13] B1066 Ripple Vale Homestead [6/13] B1066 Ripple Vale Homestead [7/13] B1066 Ripple Vale Homestead [8/13] B1066 Ripple Vale Homestead & [9/13] B1066 Ripple Vale Homestead [10/13] B1066 Ripple Vale Homestead [11/13] B1066 Ripple Vale Homestead [12/13] B1066 Ripple Vale Round House [13/13] B1066 Ripple Vale Homestead

Statement of Significance

The single storey brick homestead, Ripplevale, at Birregurra, was erected in 1871 for Sir Charles Sladen, pioneer Geelong solicitor, pasoralist and politician. Harrison Hayter, a London civil engineer and brother of Henry, Victorian Government Statist, designed the picturesque domistic style residence and Geelong architects Davidson and Henderson supervised construction. Many of the fittings and fixtures were imported from London.

Ripplevale at Birregurra is a distinctive homestead and a rare and direct representation in Victoria of the English picturesque domestic revival. The combination of Gothic with Italianate and other stylistic motifs is unusual and strongly derivative of pattern book architecture of the mid 19th century. Charles Sladen is an important figure in Victorian political history as well as an influential pioneer settler and solicitor at Geelong.

Ripplevale at Birregurra has been meticulously maintained and is preserved intact. The original cottage c.1854 and an unusual circular plan weather-board silo are also of interest.

Of State significance.

First Classified 02/05/1968
Classified Local 03/08/1998