HAWTHORN BANK
165 BLANDS ROAD YARRAM, WELLINGTON SHIRE
-
Add to tour
You must log in to do that.
-
Share
-
Shortlist place
You must log in to do that.
- Download report
Statement of Significance
What is significant?
Hawthorn Bank is a farmhouse complex (now in a ruinous state) apparently constructed in three main stages. The construction dates of the various stages are not known, though the earliest portion of the complex was possibly built in the early 1840's when Reeve's Special Survey was undertaken.
The first stage of the complex is a timber framed structure comprising round, timber posts and wattle and daub infill panels for walls. Wattle and daub is a form of construction employing a background of woven wattle branches, with an applied finish, typically consisting of mud and other additives, including in the instance of Hawthorn Bank, animal hair. The structure is roofed with a double gabled corrugated iron roof, probably replacing earlier timber shingles.
The second stage of the complex (now in a poor state of repair, due to the collapse of an adjacent mature tree in 1978) is also timber framed, with timber weatherboard cladding and a timber shingled gabled roof.
The third stage of the complex, constructed sometime in the late nineteenth century, also has weatherboard cladding, a gabled corrugated iron roof, and remnants of a returning concave profile roofed verandah.
There are a number of mature exotic trees surrounding the complex, including a large Ficus macrophylla, Araucaria heterophylla opposite the front entrance of the 1890s house, Araucaria cunninghamii, Araucaria bidwillii, Cedrus atlantica f. glauca, row of Pinus radiata along the west side of the former driveway, and 3 senescent Pinus radiata along the west side of the garden, and four pear trees in the former orchard. Scattered around the complex are several clumps of Amaryllis belladona, and next to the Araucaria bidwillii there is a large old Coprosma repens.
Despite deterioration in the physical condition of the complex, due to the collapse of the tree, harsh weather conditions, and some poorly executed cement based repairs to the daub (undertaken approximately 20 years ago) the complex retains a high degree of integrity as a complex of simple, primitive vernacular buildings.
How is it significant?
Hawthorn Bank is of historical and architectural significance to the State of Victoria.
Why is it significant?
Hawthorn Bank is historically significant as a rare surviving rural complex, some of which would appear to pre-date 1850. The complex is strongly evocative of the early pastoral settlement and development of Gippsland. The large mature trees, comprising of Araucaria cunninghamii, A. heterophylla, A. bidwillii, Cedrus atlantica f. glauca, Pinus radiata, Ficus macrophylla, Coprosma repens and Amaryllis belladona and pear trees are all species popular in the nineteenth century are of landscape and historic value.
Hawthorn Bank is architecturally significant as the oldest surviving example of wattle and daub construction in Victoria. The complex stands as an important document of changing traditions in rural vernacular architecture, from the 1840s through to the late nineteenth century.
[Online Data Upgrade Project 2001]
-
-
HAWTHORN BANK - History
Heritage Inventory History of Site:
Pound Rd, Yarram. Believed to be one of Victorias remaining true wattle and daub buildings. Built in 1850s originally with a bark roof.Source: National Trust of Australia (Victoria)
"........the only unequivocal example of true wattle and daub construction so
far identified in Victoria."
Source: File Note (Heritage Victoria-Financial Assistance Meeting) 11/11/1980
Importance
This building is purported to date from the 1840's ... and this alone makes it
considerably important. The use of such vernacular building techniques and the
substantial intactness also make it particularly important.HAWTHORN BANK - Plaque Citation
This simple structure is believed to pre-date 1850 and is the oldest surviving example of wattle and daub construction in Victoria. It is rare example of rural vernacular architecture dating from the early pastoral settlement of Gippsland.
HAWTHORN BANK - 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:RECOMMENDED PERMIT EXEMPTIONS
(Gabrielle Moylan, Online Data Upgrade Project 2001. Notional exemptions not yet submitted to Heritage Council)
It is recommended that the following works be exempt from the need for a permit, subject to prior consultation with the Shire’s Heritage Adviser.
- Repairs and maintenance which replace like with like, including fences, gates, weatherboards, hand made bricks, roof claddings, cappings, flashings and guttering, but excluding repairs and maintenance to the wattle and daub walls.
- Repairs and maintenance which preclude exposure of the fabric, especially the wattle and daub walls, to sun, moisture and damage by livestock.
- Tree surgery by a qualified horticulturalist or tree surgeon necessary for the survival of mature trees.
4. Cleaning out gutters, drainage systems and other water storage and drainage areas
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. Note: All archaeological places have the potential to contain significant sub-surface artefacts and other remains. In most cases it will be necessary to obtain approval from the Executive Director, Heritage Victoria before the undertaking any works that have a significant sub-surface component.General Conditions: 3. If there is a conservation policy and planall works shall be in accordance with it. Note:A Conservation Management Plan or a Heritage Action Plan provides guidance for the management of the heritage values associated with the site. It may not be necessary to obtain a heritage permit for certain works specified in the management plan.
General Conditions: 4. 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 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.HAWTHORN BANK - Permit Exemption Policy
RECOMMENDED PERMIT EXEMPTION POLICY
(Online Data Upgrade Project 2001. Notional policy not yet submitted to Heritage Council)The purpose of the permit exemptions is to allow works that do not impact on the significance of the place to be undertaken without the need for a permit. If any doubt exists as to the need for a permit, owners should contact Heritage Victoria or its representative, usually the local Heritage Adviser.
The complex is primarily significant for its age, and as a rare example of the primitive construction technique, wattle and daub. The complex is now in a ruinous state and does not have functional services such as plumbing and water, nor are these ever likely to be installed. Similarly, there are only remnants of decorative finishes surviving.
It is recommended that the complex be maintained periodically to delay the deterioration of the fabric as much as possible, but at this stage, complete reconstruction is considered neither practical nor particularly desirable. Repairs previously undertaken to the ?daub?, which appear to have been cement based, were not successful. It is therefore recommended that no further repairs be attempted to the ?daub?, since its precise constituents are not known, and few trades people would have the necessary skills to undertake this work. Nevertheless, the fabric, especially wattle and daub walls, should have as little exposure to moisture, sun and livestock damage as possible. Remnants of decorative finishes in stages 2 and 3 of the complex should also be protected from the elements, for information and research purposes, in case a full reconstruction of the complex is ever attempted.
-
-
-
-
-
HAWTHORN BANKVictorian Heritage Register H0256
-
"1890"Yarra City
-
"AMF Officers" ShedMoorabool Shire
-
"AQUA PROFONDA" SIGN, FITZROY POOLVictorian Heritage Register H1687
-
3 Sherwood StreetYarra City
-
Archaeological siteSouthern Grampians Shire
-
BLACKWOOD HOMESTEAD COMPLEX AND CEMETERYSouthern Grampians Shire
-
-