Williamstown Croquet Club Pavilion
104 Victoria Street WILLIAMSTOWN, Hobsons Bay City
Victoria Street Heritage Precinct
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Statement of Significance
The Williamstown Croquet Club pavilion, designed by Morsby & Coates and constructed in 1930, at 104 Victoria Street, Williamstown.
How is it Significant?The Williamstown Croquet Club pavilion is of local historic, social and aesthetic significance to the City of Hobsons Bay.
Why is it Significant?Historically, the Williamstown Croquet Club Pavilion illustrates the development of Victoria Street as a fashionable middle class enclave in Williamstown during the Interwar period. (AHC criteria A4 and D2)
Aesthetically, the Williamstown Croquet Club Pavilion is the most elegant and substantial sports clubhouse in Hobsons Bay and one of the few examples designed by an architect. It is a rare and fine example of a blend of Interwar styles, which contributes to the historic character of Victoria Street. (AHC criteria B2, E1 and F1)
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Williamstown Croquet Club Pavilion - Physical Description 1
Keeble (2000) provides the following description of the Croquet Club Pavilion:
The Croquet Pavilion is a symmetrical timber building of roughcast render and weatherboard walls with a massive hipped tiled roof emphasised by large gabled hips and flanked by smaller hipped projections. The street elevation is articulated by the 45 degree angled projection of the fireplace nook and the large central brick chimney. The east facade incorporates a long verandah under the main hipped roof, supported by four pairs of Tuscan timber columns mounted on a low brick verandah plinth. The 45 degree plan motif is repeated on the east facade in the main entrance and verandah projections, and in the angled brick steps leading from the verandah to the lawn croquet courts.
The symmetrical design translates to the interior well-lit rectangular club-room with stained timber trusses in 'English Tudor' style. Its plaster upper walls and ceiling are decorated with dark-stained timber strapwork. Windows, doors, skirtings and other woodwork are also dark stained. The central entrance from the verandah has a group of glazed doors in an angled 'nook' projection matching the fireplace recess opposite. Glazed doors in the end walls lead to the kitchen and change rooms respectively.
The interwar 'Mediterranean' style is emphasised in the Croquet Pavilion by the columns on this facade verandah, its hipped roof and symmetrical form. It is not a pure 'Mediterranean' design, also having half-timbered gables, an externalised prominent brick chimney, and a 'moderne' horizontal emphasis in the arrangement of the windows and division of the weatherboard and textured 'pebbledash' in the walls.[1]
Keeble adds that "Although the Croquet Pavilion is mostly concealed from the north, it is clear its 'Mediterranean' facade was intended to fit the character of Victoria Street's 1920 palm boulevard and its vista of sea, as well as the social aspirations of the initial club membership". The 'palm boulevard' she refers to was originally planted in the early 1920s as a World War 1 Honour Avenue along Victoria Street, however the palms were subsequently replaced by the present Ash species.
[1] Keeble op cit. p.10
Williamstown Croquet Club Pavilion - Integrity
External Integrity and condition
Integrity - High. Condition - Fair to Good.
Williamstown Croquet Club Pavilion - Physical Description 2
Context
The Croquet Club Pavillion is one of a group of notable Interwar buildings at the north end of Victoria Street that includes the dwelling at No. 115 and the Rifle Club Hotel at the corner of Kororoit Creek Road.
Williamstown Croquet Club Pavilion - Historical Australian Themes
Making Suburbs
Williamstown Croquet Club Pavilion - Physical Description 3
Associations
Williamstown Croquet Club, Morsby & Coates
Heritage Study and Grading
Hobsons Bay - Hobsons Bay Heritage Study
Author: Hobsons Bay City Council
Year: 2006
Grading: Local
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RESIDENCEVictorian Heritage Register H0487
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ST HELLIERSVictorian Heritage Register H0560
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FORMER PRESBYTERIAN MANSEVictorian Heritage Register H0229
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"1890"Yarra City
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"AMF Officers" ShedMoorabool Shire
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"AQUA PROFONDA" SIGN, FITZROY POOLVictorian Heritage Register H1687
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