DESBROWE ANNEAR HOUSE

38 THE EYRIE EAGLEMONT, BANYULE CITY

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Victorian Heritage Register

DESBROWE ANNEAR HOUSE SOHE 2008

Statement of Significance

• Additional Place Information

  • History

    DESBROWE ANNEAR HOUSE - History

    The house was built by James Chadwick in conjunction with the other two house in The Eyrie in 1903. Desbrowe-Annear was married to Chadwick’s daughter Florence. When Chadwick died in 1913 his three children George, Annie & Florence each inherited one of The Eyrie houses, Florence received the one She and Harold occupied. Some months after Chadwick’s death Florence mortgaged the house and she and Harold moved to Riverside on Punt Hill South Yarra. Florence eventually sold the house in 1916 around the time she and Desbrowe-Annear separated.
    
    Harold Desbrowe Annear was one of Australia’s leading and most innovative Arts and Crafts architects in the first decade of the twentieth century. 38 The Eyrie is highly representative of Annear’s work during this period, possibly his most inventive. While drawing on ideas from Britain and America, Annear was searching for an Australian expression in his work that was informed by the principles of the Gothic Revival and the Arts and Crafts movement. The place shows influences from British Arts & Crafts, particularly Baillie Scott, evident in such features as the built in furniture, the high vertical ‘weavers’ windows and the open planning of the house whose main living spaces are separated by sliding doors. The latter is an articulation of Baillie Scott’s notions of an integrated interior. Desbrowe-Annear’s use of open planning and the expression of materials is also a result of Annear’s familiarity with Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie houses.
    
    Annear allied himself to the ideas of both the Gothic and the Arts and Crafts movement, when he stated that “decorate your construction; do not construct your decoration”. This reflects Pugin’s axiom “1st, that there should be no features about a building which are not necessary for convenience, construction or propriety. 2nd, that all ornament should consist of enrichment of the essential construction of the building.”

    Plaque Citation

    DESBROWE ANNEAR HOUSE - Plaque Citation

    Built in 1903 and designed by architect Harold Desbrowe Annear for himself and his wife Florence, this is an outstanding example of the architect's developing ideas for an Australian expression of Arts and Crafts architecture.

    Permit Exemptions

    DESBROWE ANNEAR HOUSE - 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:

    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 the Executive Director 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 Heritage Victoria before the undertaking any works that have a significant sub-surface component. General Conditions: 3.
    If there is a conservation policy and plan approved by the Executive Director, all works shall be in accordance with it. Note: The existence of a Conservation Management Plan or a Heritage Action Plan endorsed by Heritage Victoria 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 may 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.

    Landscape:
    Landscape Maintenance : The process of gardening and maintenance, mowing, hedge clipping, bedding displays, removal of dead plants, disease and weed control, emergency and safety works to care for existing plants.

    Permit Exemption Policy

    DESBROWE ANNEAR HOUSE - Permit Exemption Policy

    38 The Eyrie is of significance as a representative and intact example of the work of architect Harold Desbrowe Annear. Any proposals that would adversely affect the fabric or understanding of any original feature or the original layout of the place should be avoided.
    
    38 The Eyrie incorporates a collection of features which are characteristic of the architect and for which he is considered an innovator. Any proposals that would adversely affect these significant features or their understanding should be avoided. These feature include, but are not limited to, the vertical awning and sash windows, built in furniture, fireplace surrounds, ceiling vents, external cladding and internal lining, exposed roof structure, timber ceiling boards and decorative timber and metal elements.
    
    Annear was a pioneer in developing the concept of open planning in houses in Australia. Any scheme that proposes to subdivide or otherwise affect the understanding or fabric of any rooms or spaces, including passages, should be avoided.
    
    It was the intention of Annear that the internal layout and the structure of the building were the drivers for the external expression of the design, position of openings in walls and the incorporation of decoration. Any scheme that proposes to alter the exterior of the place should be avoided.
    
    The kitchen and bathrooms, the laundry and the utility as well as the internal refurbishments of the lower floor are not considered to be unique, representative of Annear’s work or original. These areas could be refurbished or remodelled as long as any proposed works have no adverse affect of any aspect of the place that demonstrates the heritage significance of the place.

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