705 Bacchus Marsh Road, Merrimu (Former W Symington House and Symington's Brewery Industrial Archaeological Site) 1862

Western Highway HOPETOUN PARK, MOORABOOL SHIRE

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Moorabool Shire

"Bacchus Marsh Roadhouse" Shell Restaurant (Residence).

Statement of Significance

• Additional Place Information

  • Physical Description 1

    705 Bacchus Marsh Road, Merrimu (Former W Symington House and Symington's Brewery Industrial Archaeological Site) 1862 - Physical Description 1

    An early brick house with a gable roof and L-shaped plan. The base and quoins at comers are expressed. It has tall diamond-plan chimneys with brick mouldings. There is a recent addition in front. Beside the highway, is a Shell service station and roadhouse. There is a brick outbuilding at rear.

    The remains of Symington's Brewery are also located behind the service station adjacent to the surviving Symington house (G.R. 277940-5826080). While there are only a few ruins of the actual buildings, there appears to be a strong potential for surviving related archaeological evidence. (Refer: map)"

    The surviving parts of the brewery complex are sections of the north and west walls of the malthouse, including parts of two chimneys, which are evident in the nineteenth century illustrations. The west wall stands to about one metre height, over a length of about three metres, although footings can be discerned for a further three metres. This appears to be partly a retaining wall against the hillside, and has been buttressed on the outside . The north wall has been reconstructed with concrete and in the north-west corner of the building, are the remains of the chimneys, with a cylindrical recess, possibly for a small boiler or copper at the base of the smaller of the two chimneys which is skewed at a 45° to the building.Immediately south of this is the larger chimney, of which only two sides stand, to about one metre. There is some concrete infil between the two chimneys.

    The south end of the building has been completely demolished but brickwork appears to define the floor area of the building, with two steps at 45° dropping down to a lower level. Early illustrations show this structure as having a brick lower section and possibly a brick furnace room at the north end, with the main malting floor constructed over this in timber, with full-width opening panels in the walls and louvred lantern vents on the shingle-covered gable-roof It is understood that there was some form of root; but probably not the original upper level, over this area until about twelve months ago.

    North of the malthouse remains is an excavated area which was probably a half cellar or store. Remnants of a timber retaining wall are along the west and north walls against the hill side which is excavated to a depth of2 to 3 metres. The front, or south wall survives only as a short section of I metre high brick wall attached to the back of the malthouse. This is at an angle of about 30 degrees off the alignment of the malthouse, corresponding with the building depicted in the nineteenth century illustration.

    The ground surface is generally earth, but this appears to be a result of soil washing down from the hill behind and covering brick paving, which is evident to the south of the area. A number of other buildings existed on the brewery site. The main brew-house was evidently along the road frontage, about where the present service station office and shop is located. Another small house was located to the east, in the area of the present car-park.

    Physical Conditions

    705 Bacchus Marsh Road, Merrimu (Former W Symington House and Symington's Brewery Industrial Archaeological Site) 1862 - Physical Conditions

    CONDITIONS & THREATS:

    The house. Reasonable. Traffic and potential Redevelopment ofthe site threaten.

    Intactness

    705 Bacchus Marsh Road, Merrimu (Former W Symington House and Symington's Brewery Industrial Archaeological Site) 1862 - Intactness

    The house. Visibly fair, but the entire front is obscured by the addition.

    All masonry is painted gloss white. Windows have been inserted

    Historical Australian Themes

    705 Bacchus Marsh Road, Merrimu (Former W Symington House and Symington's Brewery Industrial Archaeological Site) 1862 - Historical Australian Themes

    Townships,

    Heritage Study and Grading

    Heritage Study and Grading

    Moorabool - Bacchus Marsh Heritage Study 1995

    Author: Richard Peterson and Daniel Catrice
    Year: 1995
    Grading:

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  • "Bacchus Marsh Roadhouse" Shell Restaurant (Residence).
    
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