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Dalvui House & Garden

Location

431 McKinnons Road,, NOORAT VIC 3265 - Property No B2525

File Number

B2525

Level

Regional

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B2525 Dalvui, Noorat

Statement of Significance

A house of 1907 by Ussher & Kemp, closely comparable with their contemporary Dalswraith (now Campion Hall) in Kew, but for a strong diagonal emphasis focussed on a polygonal candle-snuffer roof, and a slightly lower standard of craftsmanship and integrity. Notable features are the panels of vertical tile hanging; the Tudor bay window to the garden, of banked Gothic lights; the stone corbels carrying the jettied upper facade; and above all the picturesque aspect of the house in relation to Guilfoyle's garden and lake.
Internally there is a grand sweeping stair, many plaster ceilings of Jacobean character, an inglenook with carved panels by Robert Prenzel, a number of other details in the Art Nouveau, and a splendid lift car with coloured glass roof light.
Classified: 02/06/1983

Garden significance:
Dalvui, subdivided for Niel Walter Black from the Black family property Mt Noorat, the garden laid out to the design of William Guilfoyle from 1898, the residence erected in 1907-8 and the garden meticulously maintained by the Palmer family following the tragic death of Black in 1909, is of National significance:
- as an outstanding late Victorian garden, the essential layout, features and planting of Guilfoyle's 1898 design remaining remarkably intact and carefully maintained; the plan, although allowing careful glimpses of the surrounding landscape, generally forms an inward looking garden, skilfully focussed on the house and lake and is a superb complement to the stylish Edwardian residence;
- as one of the finest examples of William Guilfoyle's private garden designs (probably matched only by Mooleric at Birregurra); intact features include the sweeping lawns, rockeries, paths and driveways, lake, shrubberies, boundary screen planting, the original driveway avenues, mature specimen trees, early outbuildings and windbreak plantings;
- for its residence, erected to the design of accomplished Melbourne architects Ussher and Kemp; notable features include a strong diagonal emphasis focussed on a polygonal candle-snuffer roof, panels of vertical tile hanging, the Tudor bay window to the garden, banked Gothic lights, stone corbels carrying the jettied upper facade, a grand sweeping stair, many plaster ceilings of Jacobean character, an ingle nook with carved panels by Robert Prenzel, a number of other details in the Art Nouveau and a splendid lift car with coloured glass roof light;
- historically, for its links with the Black family, pioneering Scottish settlers in Victoria's Western District and the original owners of the properties Glenormiston and Mt Noorat;
- for the existence of important documentary evidence regarding the design of the garden, including plans, sketches, early photographs showing development and Guilfoyle's letter of instructions.
Classified: 16/10/1991 National
File note 13/05/2011: G13114 (Dalvui Garden) amalgamated & filed with B2525.

Group