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WERRIBEE PARK
320 K ROAD WERRIBEE SOUTH, WYNDHAM CITY

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Victorian Heritage Register
WERRIBEE PARK SOHE 2008
WERRIBEE PARK SOHE 2008
WERRIBEE PARK SOHE 2008
WERRIBEE PARK SOHE 2008
WERRIBEE PARK SOHE 2008
Werribee Park Plan A - Extent of Registration 2012
Werribee Park Plan B 2012
Werribee Park Plan C 2012
Werribee Park Plan D 2012
1 werribee mansion, k road side view
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Statement of Significance

What is significant?
 Werribee Park is set on approximately 1,000 acres of land 35 kilometres southwest of Melbourne. The area includes the Werribee Mansion (1873) with formal garden, grotto, mansion gates and gate lodge, freestanding laundry, the Chirnside homestead (1865) with ha-ha wall, ration store (built by 1861), blacksmith shop, men's quarters, stables, implement shed, Bellenger's house, ford, woolshed, shearers' house, Hastie's house, sheep dip, and burial site.

Edward Wedge, brother of John Wedge (John Batman's surveyor), was the first to establish European settlement at Werribee Park (by 1836). In 1852 a devastating flood claimed the life of Edward, and his wife and daughter. In 1853, the remaining Wedge family members left the Port Phillip District, and the land was transferred to their neighbour, Scottish pastoralist Thomas Chirnside.

Thomas Chirnside arrived in Australia in 1839 to invest in sheep. By 1875, Thomas and his younger brother Andrew owned 250,000 acres of freehold land, and large areas of leasehold land, in Victoria. In addition to running the 93,000 acre Werribee Park sheep station, the Chirnsides also hosted numerous sporting events, hunts, picnics, balls, vice-regal visits, and the first Volunteer Military Encampment in Victoria (1857).

The Chirnsides built a complex of bluestone buildings in the 1850s and 1860s, the oldest being a bluestone four-room ration store, with each room only accessible externally, and a four- room bluestone house, known as Bellenger's house. Both are believed to have been built sometime in the late 1850s or early 1860s, based on the style and materials available at that time. A large bluestone woolshed (1861-2) saw 45,000 sheep produce 506 bales of wool in one year. Originally a one-room building, the simple four-room bluestone shearers' house, just east of the woolshed, and the basalt and brick sheep dip, just southeast of the woolshed, are likely to have been built in the early 1860s.

The bluestone Chirnside homestead (1865), with associated ha-ha wall (1867), was built primarily as a permanent base for Thomas's nephew Robert, who managed the sheep station from 1859 until 1866 and was then a lessee until 1873. The garden surrounding the homestead features an impressive Ficus macrophylla, and framing the central view are two Lagunaria Patersonia, near the ha-ha wall. The bluestone stables (built by 1868) housed prize winning stallions and the winners of the Melbourne, Caulfield and Geelong Cups. The men's quarters (1880s) is a large rectangular bluestone building with a bell turret. The large rectangular bluestone blacksmith's shop (post 1880) retains its original forge. The U-shaped brick implement shed (1890s) reflects the Chirnsides' move away from pastoral activities to farming. The burial area, surrounded by a near-square bluestone wall, contains the graves of Patrick Logan Edgar, who died in 1858, and John L. Hamilton, who died in 1863.

Hastie's house (1890s), named after Adam Hastie who managed Werribee Park for George Chirnside, is a 10-room double fronted building located near the shearers' house. It is the last surviving substantial weatherboard building associated with the Chirnsides on the property, and one of the few known to be occupied by staff.

Thomas and his brother Andrew began construction of the mansion in 1873, primarily for Andrew and his family. The large basalt and sandstone mansion, built in a Renaissance Revival style, is a two storey central block, with dominant tower and an arcade surrounding three sides of the block. The fine interior with some original furniture features a richly decorated entry hall, containing a Minton encaustic tiled floor, niches, Corinthian pilasters and free standing columns, leading to a grand staircase and providing access to the main reception rooms. The library and dining room have heavy pedimented polished timber architraves, and tongue and groove Kauri pine floors with deep polished parquet borders.

A detached bluestone laundry, with its own cistern and drying yard, was built in the mid 1870s. The gates and gate lodge were built in 1877. It was reported that by completion of works, the mansion cost over £60,000.

The flat open plains contain scattered River Red Gums, Lightwood and She-oak, windbreaks of Monterey Cypress, Monterey Pine, Aleppo Pine and Sugar Gum trees and an orchard, enclosed by a post and rail fence with an English Hawthorn hedge.

The Chirnsides' active membership in the Acclimatization Society is reflected in the mansion's large formal garden (from 1877). Features within the garden include a man-made lake and grotto (1870s), large circular parterre (1882) and a rustic fountain, two glasshouses (1880 to 1890s - the sunken glasshouse was replaced by an identical structure in the 1970s), and an iron hurdle fence and Pittosporum hedge. The intact rock-work grotto is lined with decorative seashells, fragments of mirrored glass, pebbles, and sheep bones and teeth. The outside of the grotto is covered by a large Aloe arborescens.

The formal garden's meandering paths, shrubberies and trees were used to frame views, illustrating the influence of the 18th century English landscape movement. There is a dominance of conifers and evergreen trees, especially Araucaria, Pinus, Cupressus, Ficus, Cedrus, Schinus, Lagunaria, Corymbia and Eucalyptus. Deciduous Ulmus, Quercus Phytolacca, and the palms, Phoenix canariensis, P. reclinata, Trachycarpus fortunei have been planted to provide foliage contrast in the landscape.

The Park also contains a significant collection of cypress (Cupressus now Hesperocyparis), including the State's largest and finest Cupresus torulosa, rare and outstanding Cupressus macrocarpa 'Filipendula, 'Aurea Saligna, and 'Horizontalia Aurea', large and outstanding Ficus macrophylla, Lagunaria patersonia, Phytolacca dioica, Elaeodendron croceum, Quercus bicolor, Ulmus minor 'Variegata', and Corymbia citriodora. The garden includes Victoria's only known example of Plagianthis betulinus, and one of 6 plants of Dovyalis caffra.

Following the deaths of Thomas, in 1887, and Andrew, in 1890, the property was passed on to Andrew's sons, George and John Percy. The dissolution of the Chirnside estate began in 1893, when 8,847 acres were sold to the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works. A further 23,485 acres was acquired by the Victorian Government in 1906 under the Closer Settlement Scheme, reducing Werribee Park to 2,270 acres.

The scaled down area of Werribee Park remained in the ownership of the Chirnside family until George Chirnside sold the land to grazier Phillip Lock in 1921. The following year, Lock sold the property to the Catholic Bishops of Victoria. The mansion was converted into a seminary, Corpus Christi College, for the training of priests. Major additions to the mansion at this time included the St Joseph's wing, a library and the refectory (1925-28), and the theatre wing (1936-37), altering the mansion's function from domestic to institutional. Imitative detail was used externally to unite the early and modern work.

The Catholic Church owned the property until it was acquired by the Victorian Government in 1973. Approximately 130 acres was reserved for the Werribee Park Golf Course, which opened in 1976. In 1977, the Victorian Government opened the mansion and gardens for public viewing. At that time a

substantial part of the original furnishings supplied by Taylor & Sons, Queen Victoria's Edinburgh cabinetmaker remained in the house, together with a significant collection of nineteenth century decorative arts provenanced from elsewhere.

The northern section of Werribee Park was handed to the management of the Zoological Board of Victoria, who opened the Werribee Open Range Zoo in 1983. A further portion was designated for the development of the Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre, officially opened in 1984 as the state centre for equestrian activity. The Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works assumed management responsibility of the 1870s mansion in 1985. Another six acres of the Werribee Park property was developed as the Victorian State Rose Garden (1986), which contains over 5,000 locally and internationally bred roses. It was the first garden outside of Europe awarded the International Garden of Excellence by the World Federation of Rose Societies (2003).

In 1996, management of the mansion was transferred from the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works to Parks Victoria. In the late 1990s, the seminary wings were converted for hotel use and a hotel building was added between 1998 and 2000. The hotel opened in June 2000. A vineyard and winery, and polo pavilion were also added at this time.

Werribee Park is the traditional land of the Wurundjeri on the east side of the Werribee River and the Wathaurung Aboriginal Corporation (trading as Wadawurrung) on the west side of the river.

How is it significant?
 Werribee Park is of architectural, historical, scientific (horticultural), archaeological, and aesthetic significance to the State of Victoria.

Why is it significant?
 Werribee Park is of architectural significance for the number of intact buildings and features constructed during the late 19th century, under the ownership of the Chirnside family. The mansion, with its fine interiors and some original furniture, is one of Australia's grandest and most finely designed English country houses. Since its construction in the 1870s, little has been altered internally and externally. The mansion demonstrates the finest application of renaissance detailing in Victoria. It is also the largest and most intact example of the use of Barrabool Hills sandstone applied to a domestic building in Victoria. The Chirnside homestead and associated buildings are one of the most intact groups of homestead buildings in Victoria. Their relationship is visually discernable in design and date and historic use. The intact mansion laundry is architecturally significant as a rare example of a late 19th century freestanding purpose built laundry facility. The remarkably intact grotto (1870s), a traditional component of 17th century garden design, is the only known example of its type in Victoria if not Australia. The sunken glasshouse, although not the original, is one of only two known in Victoria.

Werribee Park is of historical significance for its association with the early establishment of permanent European settlement of the Port Phillip District, dating to 1836 by Edward Wedge. It is significant for its association with prominent Victorian pastoralists Thomas, Andrew and Robert Chirnside. In addition to using Werribee Park as a sheep station, it was also a centre for numerous and lavish social activities in the 19th and early 20th century.

Werribee Park is of historical significance for the mansion's conversion into the first major Catholic seminary for secular priests in Victoria, Corpus Christi College. The foundation of the College in 1923 was an important achievement by Daniel Mannix, Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne, who established the seminary to train Australian-born students.

Werribee Park is of scientific (horticultural) significance for its rare and outstanding collection of trees, especially conifers comprising of Pinus Araucaria, Cedrus and cypress (Cupressus now Hesperocyparis). The garden includes Victoria's only known example of Plagianthis betulinus, and one of 6 plants of Dovyalis caffra.

Werribee Park is of archaeological significance for its demonstrated and potential archaeological values relating to the Wedge family occupation, and the occupation and pastoral activities of the Chirnside family. Archaeological surface deposits have been identified in the area of the 1865 homestead, ration store, men's quarters, stables and Bellenger's house, as well as the orchard remnants, ruins within the orchard, the ford and the burial site.

Werribee Park is of aesthetic significance for its extensive size and collection of planting, landscape styles and features. The formal garden contains a number of well established specimen trees, rows, avenues and groups of trees to create a landscape of outstanding quality and diversity. The garden has contrasting informal and formal areas with layers of 19th and 20th century planting and development. The colourful circular parterre is the best example of this design feature in Victoria.

Werribee Park mansion and formal garden are of aesthetic significance as one of the few places in the State to retain the characteristics of a 19th century English country house and landscape. The retention of the original layout, boundaries, early plantings and garden features are fundamental to the significance of the mansion. The landscape of the property including its relationship with the Werribee River and the formal presentation of the Mansion are also significant.

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    • History

      WERRIBEE PARK - History

      The large property Werribee Park, Werribee was developed by the leading Victorian pastoralist, Thomas Chirnside, who arrived in Australia from Scotland in 1839. Together with his brother Andrew, Thomas had acquired 250,000 acres of freehold land in Victoria by 1870, including the property at Werribee. The Werribee Park estate remained in the ownership of the Chirnside family until it was purchased by the Catholic Church in 1922. It remained in their ownership for fifty years until it was acquired by the Victorian government in 1973.

      The family of Edward Wedge, brother of John Batman's surveyor, was the first to establish settlement on this land on the flats of the Werribee River at least as early as 1836. At this time the Wedge family had fourteen acres of land and had transported the first sheep to the property. After devastating floods in 1852, which claimed the life of Edward, his wife and daughter, the Wedge family severed their connection with the district, and the homestead block was transferred to Thomas Chirnside in 1853.

      Thomas Chirnside appears to have had land on the Werribee River, near the Wedges, by the mid to late 1840s. He bought his first land in the Werribee parish in 1851 and by the end of the 1850s had substantial freehold in the area. By 1863 Thomas Chirnside had acquired more than 90,000 acres in Werribee, including most of the river frontage either side of the Werribee River.

      Chirnside developed a complex of outbuildings on the property through the 1850s and 1860s, including a bluestone woolshed (1861-2) and bluestone stables (by 1868). The first substantial dwelling on the site was a bluestone homestead, with associated sunken ha-ha wall, built in 1865 as a permanent base for his nephew, Robert, who managed the property from 1859 to 1866, and tenanted it until 1873. As Thomas spent much time overseas, the homestead was also for his own occasional use.

      Thomas and his brother Andrew went into partnership at Werribee in the early 1870s and constructed a mansion at Werribee Park from 1873, largely for the use of Andrew's family. Thomas, Andrew and his wife, Mary and three youngest children, moved into the mansion in late 1876 or early 1877. Through the late 1870s and 1880s this grand, landscaped estate was the centre of social life for the brothers and they hosted sporting events, hunts, balls, vice-regal visits and military displays.

      The commanding bluestone mansion, faced on three sides with sandstone, was designed in the Renaissance Revival style. A number of architects have been associated with the design, including James Henry Fox, who claimed he built the mansion, however this has not been substantiated. The building comprises a two storey central block with symmetrically conceived east facade and dominant central tower. An arcade surrounds three sides of this block and provides an open balcony to the upper storey. Adjoining the block at the rear are two unfaced bluestone wings, which enclose a large service courtyard.

      The exterior detailing of the mansion is generally restrained, ascending from the ground floor Doric, to the Ionic of the first floor and the Corinthian of the tower above. Interior decoration is opulent with the richly decorated entry hall, containing an encaustic tiled floor, niches, Corinthian pilasters and free standing columns, leading to a grand staircase and providing access to the main reception rooms.

      The mansion is set in a landscape which Thomas Chirnside developed from the 1860s. Begun in 1877, the formal garden was conceived to complement the building, possibly with input by William Guilfoyle, although this has not been substantiated. The original inclusion of a lake and grotto, parterre and fountain, meandering paths and trees to frame views showed the influence of the 18th century English landscape movement.

      Many surviving buildings were constructed between 1870 and 1890, including the gate lodge (1877) and gates (presumably of similar date), laundry (by 1875), men's hut (1880s) and blacksmith's shop (post 1880).

      In 1887 Thomas took his own life and three years later Andrew died. The majority of the land at Werribee Park was divided between Andrew's two youngest sons, with George acquiring about 34,000 acres including the mansion and grounds. Mary Chirnside resided at the mansion until her death in 1908, followed by George's family from about 1911 until 1921.

      George diversified the use of the property, which had been used largely as a sheep station, and he introduced tenant farming. The dissolution of the Chirnside estate began in 1893 when 8,847 acres were sold to the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works and this was perpetuated in 1906 when the government acquired 23,485 acres for closer settlement. At this time, Werribee Park was reduced to 2270 acres.

      In 1921 George Chirnside sold the remains of the estate to grazier, Philip Lock, and the following year it was sold again to the Catholic Bishops of Victoria. The mansion, and 998 acres of land, was purchased and a Jesuit seminary, known as Corpus Christi College, was established for the training of priests.

      The development of the seminary involved the construction of a series of major additions to the mansion, part of a larger scheme, which altered its character from domestic to institutional. Designed by William P. Connolly, St Joseph's wing and library (1925-28) was constructed to the north west of the mansion, and the refectory (1925-28) and the theatre wing (1936-7) to the south. Imitative detail was used externally to unite the early and modern work.

      Werribee Park was used for this purpose until the college was relocated in 1972. In 1973 the estate was acquired by the government of Victoria and the property opened for public viewing in 1977. The Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works assumed management responsibility in 1985.

      The draft statement of significance and the above history were produced as part of an Online Data Upgrade Project 2007. Sources were as follows:
      Allom Lovell Sanderson Pty Ltd. Werribee Park Metropolitan Park Conservation Analysis. Melbourne 1985
      H. Ronald. Wool Past the Winning Post: a history of the Chirnside family. South Yarra 1978
      J. Uhl et al. Werribee Park [booklet] Geelong 1974


      Permit Exemptions

      WERRIBEE PARK - Permit Exemptions

      General Exemptions:

      General exemptions apply to all places and objects included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). General exemptions have been designed to allow everyday activities, maintenance and changes to your property, which don’t harm its cultural heritage significance, to proceed without the need to obtain approvals under the Heritage Act 2017.

      Places of worship: In some circumstances, you can alter a place of worship to accommodate religious practices without a permit, but you must notify the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria before you start the works or activities at least 20 business days before the works or activities are to commence.

      Subdivision/consolidation: Permit exemptions exist for some subdivisions and consolidations. If the subdivision or consolidation is in accordance with a planning permit granted under Part 4 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the application for the planning permit was referred to the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria as a determining referral authority, a permit is not required.

      Specific exemptions may also apply to your registered place or object. If applicable, these are listed below. Specific exemptions are tailored to the conservation and management needs of an individual registered place or object and set out works and activities that are exempt from the requirements of a permit. Specific exemptions prevail if they conflict with general exemptions.

      Find out more about heritage permit exemptions here.

      Specific Exemptions:

      General Conditions: 1. All exempted alterations are to be planned and carried out in a manner which prevents damage to the fabric of the registered place or object.

      General Conditions: 2. Should it become apparent during further inspection or the carrying out of works that original or previously hidden or inaccessible details of the place or object are revealed which relate to the significance of the place or object, then the exemption covering such works shall cease and Heritage Victoria shall be notified as soon as possible.

      General Conditions: 3. Nothing in this determination prevents the Executive Director from amending or rescinding all or any of the permit exemptions.

      General Conditions: 5. Nothing in this determination exempts owners or their agents from the responsibility to seek relevant planning or building permits, or subsurface works, from the responsible authorities where applicable.

      Minor Works: Note: Any Minor Works that in the opinion of the Executive Director will not adversely affect the heritage significance of the place may be exempt from the permit requirements of the Heritage Act. A person proposing to undertake minor works must submit a proposal to the Executive Director. If the Executive Director is satisfied that the proposed works will not adversely affect the heritage values of the site, the applicant may be exempted from the requirement to obtain a heritage permit. If an applicant is uncertain whether a heritage permit is required, it is recommended that the permits co-ordinator be contacted.

      Buildings identified in the Extent of Registration

      Exterior

      The following permit exemptions apply to the exterior of buildings B1-13 as identified in the Extent of Registration:

      - Repainting all previously painted surfaces in the same colour scheme and paint type.

      - Repair and servicing of existing equipment and services including wiring, plumbing and fire services; equipment and components with moveable parts requiring lubrication including machinery, engines, water reticulation systems.

      - Removal of extraneous items such as air conditioners, ducting, wiring, antennae, aerials, etc, and making good.

      - Installation or repair of damp-proof courses by either injection method or grouted pocket method.

      - Maintenance of power or pipelines or other public services where this involves no alteration to the fabric of the place or will not affect significant archaeological deposits.

      - Cleaning out gutters, modern drainage systems, ponds, fountains and dams.

      Interior

      The following permit exemptions apply to all the interior of buildings B1-13 as identified in the Extent of Registration:

      - Installation, removal or replacement of electrical wiring, provided that all new wiring is fully concealed.

      - Installation, removal or replacement of smoke detectors.

      Landscape

      -The process of gardening, including mowing, hedge clipping, annual bedding displays, removal of dead and diseased plants (excluding trees) and replanting the same species or cultivar to retain the historic landscape character, disease and weed control, mulching and maintenance to care for existing plants and lawns.

      - Removal of dead or dangerous trees and emergency tree works to maintain public safety and to protect significant buildings, structures and landscape, and the replanting the same species in the same location provided a tree removal report is submitted to the Executive Director within 21 days of the removal.

      -Repairs and maintenance to hard landscape elements, roads and paths, edging, gutters, rockwork, steps, stone walls (Ha Ha wall), drainage and irrigation systems, fences and gates.

      - Management of trees in accordance with Australian Standard; Pruning of Amenity Trees AS 4373-1996.

      - Management of trees in accordance with Australian Standard; Protection of Trees on Development Sites AS 4970-2009.

      -Subsurface works involving the installation, removal or replacement of watering and drainage systems or services, outside the canopy edge of significant trees in accordance with AS4970 and on the condition that works do not impact on archaeological features or deposits.

      - Removal of plants listed as noxious weeds in the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994

      -Vegetation protection and management of possums and vermin.

      Buildings not identified in the Extent of Registration

      Below is a list of buildings, features and areas that are exempt from obtaining permits for alteration to the existing fabric only:

      . hotel building and service areas, e.g. laundry, steam room (constructed 1998-2000)

      . buildings and features within the Werribee Park Open Range Zoo . [this does not include the Woolshed (B1) or Shearers' house (B2)]

      . Werribee Golf Course Clubhouse and associated outbuildings

      . Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre buildings

      . Shadowfax Winery buildings

      . Pavilion

      Subsurface work is permit exempt in the areas identified below:

      . Werribee Park Open Range Zoo - subsurface works outside of the areas of the Woolshed (B1) and Shearer's house (B2)

      . Werribee Golf Course - this does not include work on or near the burial site (F12).

      . Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre

      However, if during subsurface works any archaeological artefacts or deposits are discovered, works must cease immediately and Heritage Victoria contacted.

      Minor structures or features

      Erection of minor structures or features, such as weather shelters or horse jumps, within the Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre, the Werribee Park Golf Course and Werribee Park Open Range Zoo (except within the areas known as the 'Asian Journey' and the 'Australian Grasslands Journey') do not require a permit.

      Outdoor Events

      A permit is not required for the erection of temporary structures and infrastructure outside the Tree Protection Zones (as defined in AS4970-2009) for events of less than 7 days duration.

      Specific permit exemptions, as applied to the following 'zones' of the Werribee Open Range Zoo:

      Zone 1: Visitor Services

      . Construction of all buildings necessary for Zoo operations of less than 6.0 metres height at the ridge line or at the highest point of the roof in the case of flat or skillion-roofed structures or at the highest point of the structure in the case of viewing platforms and less than 500 square metres in extent;

      . Demolition of any building, fence or structure;

      . Maintenance, repair, removal and construction of all paving and hard landscaping including the construction of the new car park;

      . Screen planting and landscaping.

      Zone 2: Administration and Operations

      . Construction of all buildings necessary for Zoo operations of less than 6.0 metres height at the ridge line or at the highest point of the roof in the case of flat or skillion-roofed structures or at the highest point of the structure in the case of viewing platforms and less than 750 square metres in extent;

      . Demolition of any building, fence or structure;

      . Maintenance, repair, removal or construction of all paving and hard landscaping;

      . Screen planting and landscaping.

      Zone 3: Asian Journey

      No works within the Asian Journey zone are exempt from permit requirements.

      Zone 4: Australian Grasslands Journey

      . Construction of all buildings necessary for Zoo operations of less than 6.0 metres height at the ridge line or at the highest point of the roof in the case of flat or skillion-roofed structures or at the highest point of the structure in the case of viewing platforms and less than 300 square metres in extent and not within 20 metres of the Woolshed (B1), Shearer's Dining Room/House (B2) or the Werribee River;

      . Demolition of any building, fence, enclosure or structure (excluding fabric relating to the Woolshed (B1), Shearer's Dining Room/House (B2) and Sheep Dip (F1);

      . Maintenance, repair, removal and construction of all paving and hard landscaping, except within 20 metres of the Woolshed (B1) and the Shearer's Dining Room/House (B2);

      . Planting and landscaping, except within 20 metres of the Woolshed (B1) and the Shearer's Dining Room/House (B2);

      . Maintenance of the Sheep Dip (F1).

      Zone 5: African Journey

      . Construction of all buildings necessary for Zoo operations of less than 6.0 metres height at the ridge line or at the highest point of the roof in the case of flat or skillion-roofed structures or at the highest point of the structure in the case of viewing platforms and less than 300 square metres in extent;

      . Demolition of any building, fence or structure;

      . Maintenance, repair, removal or construction of all paving and hard landscaping;

      . Screen planting and landscaping.

      Zone 6: North and South American Journeys

      . Construction of all buildings necessary for Zoo operations of less than 6.0 metres height at the ridge line or at the highest point of the roof in the case of flat or skillion-roofed structures or at the highest point of the structure in the case of viewing platforms and less than 300 square metres in extent;

      . Demolition of any building, fence or structure;

      . Maintenance, repair, removal or construction of all paving and hard landscaping;

      . Screen planting and landscaping.

      Zone 7: Conservation Journey

      . Construction of all buildings necessary for Zoo operations of less than 6.0 metres height at the ridge line or at the highest point of the roof in the case of flat or skillion-roofed structures or at the highest point of the structure in the case of viewing platforms and less than 300 square metres in extent;

      . Demolition of any building, fence or structure;

      . Maintenance, repair, removal or construction of all paving and hard landscaping;

      . Screen planting and landscaping.

      Permit Exemption Policy

      WERRIBEE PARK - Permit Exemption Policy

      The purpose of the Permit Policy is to assist when considering or making decisions regarding works to the place. It is recommended that any proposed works be discussed with an officer of Heritage Victoria prior to making a permit application. Discussing any proposed works will assist in answering any questions the owner may have and aid any decisions regarding works to the place.

      The addition of new buildings and structures to the site may impact upon the cultural heritage significance of the place and requires a permit. The purpose of this requirement is not to prevent any further development on this site, but to enable control of possible adverse impacts on heritage significance during that process. All of the buildings and features identified in the extent of registration are integral to the significance of the place and any alterations are subject to permit application.

      The importance of the Werribee Park lies primarily in its layers of development and planting which combine to create a cultural landscape of considerable individuality and diversity. The Grotto and lake, the Ha Ha Wall, iron hurdle fencing and the half sunken glasshouse are all of outstanding significance.

      Permit applications should be informed by Werribee Park Metropolitan Park Conservation Analysis by Allom Lovell Sanderson Pty Ltd (1985) and the Werribee Park Tree Management Guidelines 2012, including the appendix, Tree Protection Zones map.. It is recommended that a Conservation Management Plan is prepared to assist with the future management of the cultural heritage significance of the place.

      The Werribee Open Range Zoo Heritage Issues and Heritage Policy Final Report by Ray Tonkin October 2010 was commissioned by Zoo Victoria to assist in future management of the Zoo Victoria areas.

      The following buildings and features are exempt from the need to obtain a permit for alteration to existing fabric (see 'Permit Exemptions') but are not exempt from requiring a permit for the erection of additional floors or wings, or new buildings or structures:

      . Hotel building and service areas e.g. laundry, steam room (constructed 1998-2000)

      . buildings and features within the Werribee Park Open Range Zoo (this does not include the Woolshed or Shearers' house)

      . Werribee Golf Course Clubhouse and associated outbuildings

      . Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre buildings

      . Shadowfax Winery buildings

      . Pavilion

      Permit Policy Regarding Subsurface Works

      Given the minimal level of subsurface disturbance for the registered land, it is necessary to have a specific Permit Policy addressing proposed subsurface works and impacts on the archaeological remains (known or potential).

      There is a high likelihood for surface and subsurface archaeological material to exist within the entire area of the mansion, 1865 homestead and associated buildings, orchard, and ford. Any subsurface works not listed specifically under Permit Exemptions require approval from Heritage Victoria.

      The Werribee Open Range Zoo includes the Woolshed, Shearers' house, and sheep dip, which lie within areas named by the zoo as the 'Asian Journey' and the 'Australian Grasslands Journey' (2010). These areas have demonstrated archaeological values and a high likelihood to contain subsurface deposits. In addition, these areas have demonstrated archaeological evidence relating to contact between the Wurundjeri and early European settlers.

      The registered land along both sides of the Werribee River has the likelihood to contain historical archaeological features and deposits.

Public contributions

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