The property at 17 Old Fernshaw Road, Healesville, is a large

allotment on the north side of Old Fernshaw Road, with the c.1919

dwelling located on the south of the property. The latter is a

symmetrical, timber and cement sheet, attic-storey double-fronted

bungalow residence, with a large gable-ended single-hipped roof. The

house has a dado of painted weatherboards with the upper portion of

wall of painted cement sheet (stucco) with cover straps. A verandah

runs the full length of the main facade, the roof of which is

incorporated into the main roof form, and clad with aged terracotta

tiling; a double brick chimney with a stepped brick cap is located to

the west roof slope. The facade is symmetrical and comprises a central

painted timber paneled front door with a panel of leaded glass to the

upper portion and narrow sidelights with leaded glazing. The windows

are tripartite, timber-framed double-hung sashes with multi-paned top

sashes. The verandah has a simple timber frieze, with vertical posts,

and a painted timber rail with vertical slatted balustrade to the west

side; the verandah supporting posts have a square profile, and are

grouped in threes at either end of the verandah. The upper (attic)

level of the gable comprises an infilled rectangular opening which may

originally have been an open verandah, now infilled with modern

timber-framed glazing, incorporating awning sashes. The house is set

in a generous well-maintained garden setting.

The property at 117 Old Fernshaw Road, Healesville, is of local

historical and aesthetic/architectural significance.

No 117 Old Fernshaw Road, Healesville, is of local historical

significance. The dwelling was constructed in c.1919, in a subdivision

which, being north-east of the Graceburn River was outside the

original town reserve of Healesville. Old Fernshaw Road was originally

the main route from Healesville to the locality of Fernshaw, which had

been established in the 1860s on the Blacks' Spur, between Healesville

and Narbethong. Fernshaw became one of the popular tourist attractions

along the heavily forested and scenic Blacks Spur. Old Fernshaw Road

was bypassed in 1955 when the route of the Maroondah Highway was

altered. It subsequently developed into a more residential street. The

property is also of local aesthetic/architectural significance. The

dwelling is a substantially externally intact Federation Bungalow, a

transitional style which falls partway between the detailing and

varied texture of Federation houses - seen here in the timber

dado/stuccoed front wall combination, fenestration and door detailing

- and the square house plan with a simple rectangular division of

verandah space associated with early bungalows of the 1910s and early

1920s. In comparable terms, it is generally more intact and/or of

larger scale than other similar examples in Healesville. Other

elements of note include the symmetrical composition, simply detailed

but strongly proportioned verandah, and the prominent single-hipped

and high-pitched roof. The treed setting also enhances the

presentation of the building, and this aspect of significance.

Integrity: The property at 17 Old Fernshaw Road, Healesville, is a large allotment on the north side of Old Fernshaw Road, with the c.1919 dwelling located on the south of the property. The latter is a symmetrical, timber and cement sheet, attic-storey double-fronted bungalow residence, with a large gable-ended single-hipped and high pitched roof. The house has a dado of painted weatherboards with the upper portion of the walls made of painted cement sheet (stucco) with cover straps. A verandah runs the full length of the main facade, the roof of which is incorporated into the main roof form, and clad with aged terracotta tiling; a double brick chimney with a stepped brick cap is located to the west roof slope. The facade is symmetrical and comprises a central painted timber paneled front door with a panel of leaded glass to the upper portion. Narrow sidelights to either side rise from the plinth line to the lintel. These are also infilled with leaded glazing. The windows are tripartite, timber-framed double-hung sashes with multi-paned top sashes, set atop the timber plinth. The verandah has a simple timber frieze, with vertical posts, and a painted timber rail with vertical slatted balustrade only to the west side, where the house is slightly elevated. The timber verandah supporting posts are of square profile, and grouped in threes at either end of the verandah. The verandah floor is of stained timber boards. There are later box-framed tripartite double hung sash windows to both the east and the west elevations. The upper (attic) level of the gable comprises an infilled rectangular opening which may originally have been an open verandah, now infilled with modern timber-framed glazing, incorporating awning sashes.

The house is set in a generous well-maintained garden setting. The fence is a low-height non-original wire fence with a vine covering much of its form. An aged crimped wire pedestrian gate leads to the verandah. Metal and wire low gates to the east side of the house lead to the concrete driveway which has a grassed strip at its centre. The property is part-concealed by a wide grassed verge which supports trees and plantings.