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Former Post & Telegraph Office
140 Inglis Street, Ballan VIC 3342

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Moorabool Shire
Former Post & Telegraph Office, Moorabool Shire Heritage Study Stage 1, 2010
Former Post & Telegraph Office, Moorabool Shire Heritage Study Stage 1, 2010
Former Post & Telegraph Office, Moorabool Shire Heritage Study Stage 1, 2010
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Statement of Significance

What is significant?

140 Inglis Street, Ballan known as the former Post and Telegraph Office, is a two storey Victorian rendered masonry building, dating to circa 1874. It was built for George Flack (snr) and was used as the Ballan Post and Telegraph Office until 1911. The property has been owned by members of the Flack family for 144 years.

The house is incredibly intact and the original fabric includes an unusual cantilevered verandah with ornate timber brackets and decoration. It has a symmetrical facade with three upper sash windows of single pane glass which appear to be original, a single Victorian period timber door and two timber framed windows at ground level and a projecting render band above the verandah which has the outline of a sign announcing "Post & Telegraph Office".

How is it significant?

140 Inglis Street, Ballan is of local historical, rarity and representative (architectural) significance to the Moorabool Shire.

Why is it significant?

140 Inglis Street, Ballan is historically significant for its association with the Flack family who ran businesses in Ballan and still own the property. The property was constructed circa 1874 and is an excellent example of a Victorian masonry building. It is one of only a few Victorian buildings surviving in Ballan which have not been altered.

As a purpose built Post Office it has rarity value because it was privately constructed rather than being built by the Government and is not of a known Post Office style. The rarity value of the building is enhanced by its intactness. (Criterion A & B)

The building retains a number of original features of the Victorian era, including rendered masonry walls with ashlar ruling and mouldings around windows and doors, a cantilever verandah with ornate timber brackets, decoration and single pane sash windows. The hipped roof has a central chimney and a side wall devoid of render indicates an early building (also a Flack store) has been removed. The retention of the generous garden setting with mature trees and prominent site in Ballan enhances its significance. (Criterion D)

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    • Physical Conditions

      Former Post & Telegraph Office - Physical Conditions

      Fair

      Integrity

      Former Post & Telegraph Office - Integrity

      Substantially Intact

      Historical Australian Themes

      Former Post & Telegraph Office - Historical Australian Themes

      Theme 3.5: Establishing & Maintaining CommunicationsTheme 6.1: Building Towns

      Physical Description 1

      Former Post & Telegraph Office - Physical Description 1

      This two storey brick and render residence was built and operated as a post office for 37 years. It is set on the street alignment over which is a timber supported cantilevered awning. The house is architecturally an 1870s (Victorian period) style with windows only onto the street and rear. The timber single pane sashes are original and the whole laid out near symmetrically save for the entry on the lower right.

      The building is topped with a corrugated metal hipped roof peaked with a large Victorian rendered chimney. Early illustrations appear to show it was a corrugated roof from the beginning. George Flack, the owner, had an iron store and his hotel is built of iron in some sections although originally it was entirely clad in iron.

      The verandah awning is worthy of mention as it predates the trend for cantilevered awnings by something like 40 years and is unusual in the Victorian context. The cantilevered support structure and valance are all intricately worked timber and the roof itself is of self-supporting concave corrugated metal sheets.

      In the projecting render band above the awning are the now barely visible words; POST & TELEGRAPH OFFICE. The paint on the building which covers the ashlar ruling set in the render is also an early paint scheme.

      At the rear is a single storey skillion extension of exposed brick with a tall brick chimney serving the kitchen fireplace.

      The house stands on an undeveloped block of land (save for the house) running from Inglis to Simpson Streets being parcel 1 part of Crown Allotment 9 and Parcel 2 part of Crown allotment 10 which gives effect to a linear half acre of land upon which the only elements are the large Cypress trees and the house. There is a second extension to the house on the rear west side but this is only partly visible.

      The interior has not been inspected and may be unaltered. The house does not seem to have had many renovations other than new guttering and downpipes. Of importance will be any remnants of the post office period.

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Moorabool - Moorabool Shire Heritage Study Stage 1

      Author: D. Rowe & W. Jacobs
      Year: 2010
      Grading: Local

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