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BARWON PARK
105 INVERLEIGH-WINCHELSEA ROAD WINCHELSEA, SURF COAST SHIRE

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Victorian Heritage Register
H0365 BARWON PARK - National Trust of Australia (Vic)
H0365 BARWON PARK - National Trust of Australia (Vic)
H0365 BARWON PARK - National Trust of Australia (Vic)
1 barwon park inverleigh rd winchelsea front view homestead
barwon park inverleigh rd winchelsea rear view homestead
H0365 BP dining - National Trust of Australia (Victoria)
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Statement of Significance

The mansion house, Barwon Park, at Winchelsea, was built of basalt in 1869 - for prominent western district squatter Thomas Austin. Architects Davidson and Henderson of Geelong designed the 42 room Italianate mansion and supervised construction on a sub-contract basis at a cost of c. 10,000 pounds. The square and utilitarian two storey building is enhanced by a distinctive cast iron verandah, elaborate entry hallway, stair case and high quality crafted interior. Barwon Park at Winchelsea, when completed in 1869 was the finest and most celebrated mansion house in western Victoria and having established the reputation of architects Davidson and Henderson, survives as perhaps the most notable homestead designed by this prolific practice. At Barwon Park, Thomas Austin, royal host, public figure, eminent pastoralist and leader of the acclimatisation society, was the first to introduce rabbits to Australia, an achievement now universally condemned.

Barwon Park was bequeathed to the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) in 1975 and is being systematically restored. The mansion although in depressed condition, is preserved virtually intact but devoid of the original furniture and fittings.

Source: Register of the National Estate citation

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    • Permit Exemptions

      BARWON 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.

  • Tours involving this place See all tours

    Bellarine Summer Road Trip

    02/12/21

    BELLS BEACH SURFING RECREATION RESERVE - BARWON PARK - EASTERN BEACH BATHING COMPLEX AND RESERVE - FORMER MINERAL SPRINGS, CLIFTON SPRINGS - SHORTLANDS BLUFF

Public contributions

Tours involving this place See all tours

Bellarine Summer Road Trip

02/12/21

BELLS BEACH SURFING RECREATION RESERVE - BARWON PARK - EASTERN BEACH BATHING COMPLEX AND RESERVE - FORMER MINERAL SPRINGS, CLIFTON SPRINGS - SHORTLANDS BLUFF

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