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WWII Air Spotters' Cabin
20 Armytage Street, LORNE VIC 3232 - Property No 121930

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Vic. War Heritage Inventory
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Statement of Significance

Queen's Park Caravan Park is of local significance for its historical and social values. It has been a highly valued recreational feature within the local area for more than a century (criteria A4, G1). The significance of the park is embodied in the physical fabric and setting, whereby the natural bushland and contours has been conformed into a terraced landscape with gravelled tracks and stone walls.

Within the park, the former Air Spotters' Quarters has local significance an example of volunteer air spotters' quarters established at Lorne as a community response to fears of attack by sea during the Second World War. It is also of architectural significance as an example of 'rustic park design' or 'parkitecture', a design strongly influenced by the US National Parks Service and characterised by the use of local materials to complement the natural environment. Buildings and structures took on a deliberately rustic character as a result of this design influence. It is one of several examples within the Shire (including the Great Ocean Road arch, Lorne Kiosk and Cumberland River picnic shelter) and one of a small number of examples state-wide (eg. Yarra Bend Golf House) (criteria A4, G1). Although it has been altered slightly in recent years, the original character and appearance of the building is clearly discernible.

Significant fabric includes: terraced layout, stone walls, the former Air Spotters' Quarters and two small buildings near the main entrance (one styled as a log cabin and the other is reminiscent of a bathing box).

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    • Physical Description 1

      WWII Air Spotters' Cabin - Physical Description 1

      Queen's Park Caravan Park occupies part of Queen's Park. It is a large caravan and camping park surrounded by bushland, with views to the sea and Point Grey. The terraced nature of the park is identified by the gravelled tracks that follow the contours of the land, together with some stone wallling and exotic plantings. In addition to the expected caravan and camping sites and amenities, it also contains several interesting buildings (the Air Spotters Quarters is described below) and two small buildings near the main entrance which are of interest: one is styled as a log cabin, and the other is reminiscent of a small bathing box. The use and history of these two buildings is not known. All of the buildings appear to have been designed by the Public Works Department in the late 1930s, following the popular and influential rustic Bungalow designs by the early 20th century National Park Service architecture in the U.S.A.

      The Air Spotter's Quarters is a timber building (c.1934?) set on a rise within the grounds of the Queen's Park Caravan Park, with views over the sea and Point Grey. The building is characterised by a gable roof form and vertical timber cladding with random stone base, retaining walls and piers, with an elevated balcony on the seaward side. There is a random stone chimney at one end. There have been some recent changes to the building, including the balcony. The design and construction of the former Air Spotter's Quarters has an affinity with the Lorne Kiosk (former Comfort Station) on the Lorne foreshore, and the picnic shelter in the Cumberland River Caravan Park.

      Historical Australian Themes

      WWII Air Spotters' Cabin - Historical Australian Themes

      Local themes - Defence & Governing the Shire

      Integrity

      WWII Air Spotters' Cabin - Integrity

      Good

      Physical Description 2

      WWII Air Spotters' Cabin - Physical Description 2

      Key element - building

      Physical Description 3

      WWII Air Spotters' Cabin - Physical Description 3

      Extent of designation - The whole of Queens Park Caravan Park.

      Usage/Former Usage

      WWII Air Spotters' Cabin - Usage/Former Usage

      Public

      Veterans Description for Public

      WWII Air Spotters' Cabin - Veterans Description for Public

      The Air Spotters Quarters is located within the Queen's Park Caravan Park, on 20 Armytage Street. The park is thought to have been established around 1937. The Air Spotters Quarters, a building of rustic design, was originally constructed as a park recreation hut. During the Second World War, it was used as Air Spotters Quarters. Throughout the war,Volunteer Air Observers carried out "air spotting" at Surf Coast Shire's coastal towns to safeguard against a feared attack by sea.

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Surf Coast - Surf Coast Places of Cultural Significance Study

      Author: Context Pty Ltd with assistance from Dr Carlotta Kellaway with later assessments added by Dr David Rowe
      Year: 2003
      Grading:

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