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CHRIST CHURCH SCHOOL BUILDING
54 CENTRAL SPRINGS ROAD DAYLESFORD, HEPBURN SHIRE

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Victorian Heritage Register
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Christ Church School_Daylesford_North Elevation 01_Feb 2004_mz
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Christ Church School_Daylesford_Plan_Feb 2008_mz
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Statement of Significance

What is Significant?
Christ Church, Church of England School was built as a non vested denominational school. Built as a single roomed school by the Anglican congregation of Daylesford, the building was completed in April 1857 and the school opened on 4 May 1857 with 50 pupils enrolled. The school building was also used for worship until the church , designed by architect Leonard Terry, was opened in December 1864.

Following Victoria's separation from New South the National Board of Education was established in Victoria in December 1851. The Denominational Schools Board had been established in 1848. Schools built and funded by each of these boards were known as 'vested' schools, whereas schools not funded by either board were termed 'non vested' and remained financially independent. As a consequence the Denominational Board exerted little control over the design of non vested schools and their designs varied greatly. Only six of these are known to survive.

In September 1862 the National and Denominational Schools boards were abolished with the implementation of the Common Schools Act. The intention was to amalgamate schools and reduce denominational influence. All Common Schools were publicly owned from 1863 and were numbered. The Christ Church School became Common School 190 until it closed on 31 December 1873 when the Education Department took over responsibility for public education in Victoria. The control of the building then reverted to the Trustees of Christ Church. The school reopened in January 1885 as Daylesford College, operating for a period in the town as a private college for 'young ladies and gentlemen'. The building since continued to be used as a Sunday School and Hall.

Built in three stages, the school is a plain Gothic single storey brick structure with narrow lancet windows, external engaged columns resembling buttresses and block lined stucco to the exterior walls. The first stage was a single room with a single gabled porch entry and gallery seating to the western end. The school was extended in 1864 with the addition of a girls' wing. This was added across the eastern end of the existing room to form a 'T' shape. The addition of the girls' wing was partially funded by local land owner W.E. Stanbridge who was a major benefactor to the Anglican church in Daylesford and allowed the boys and a girls to be taught separately. A plaque on the building reads "This girls school room is a gift to education by W. E. Stanbridge out of gold obtained from the Concordia Tunnel and Defiance Paddock". A third room was later added to the south side of the original room.

It appears that the building was allowed to deteriorate and remained in a neglected condition until repairs to the building were carried out in 1883. The stained and varnished pine panel ceilings , pine dados, oak grained doors and the block-lined stucco date from this time. The roof had been replaced in 1882.

How is it Significant?
Christ Church, Church of England School, Daylesford is of architectural and historical significance to the State of Victoria.

Why is it Significant?
Christ Church, Church of England School, Daylesford is of historical significance as a rare remaining example of a non vested denominational school. The school is also of historical significance for its association with the development of education in Victoria during the nineteenth century as a non vested denominational school, a common school and as a private college.

Christ Church, Church of England School, Daylesford is of architectural significance as a rare example of a non vested denominational school building.

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    • History

      CHRIST CHURCH SCHOOL BUILDING - History

      Built as a single roomed school by the Anglican congregation of Daylesford for £922, the building was completed on 18 April 1857 and the school opened on 4 May 1857. Until the church , designed by Leonard Terry, was opened in December 1864, the school was also used for worship.

      The school was extended in 1864 with the addition of a girls wing. This was added across the eastern end of the existing room creating a 'T' shaped building.

      The addition of the girls was partially funded by local land owner W.E. Stanbridge who was a major benefactor to the Anglican church in Daylesford. Stanbridge offered to fund £1 for every £1 raised by the Church. A plaque on the front of the wing states "This girls school room is a gift to education by W.E. Stanbridge out of gold obtained from the Concordia Tunnel and Defiance Paddock" Stanbridge also left £1000 in his will for the construction of the church's chancel which was built in 1896.

      Part of the original section of the building was destroyed by a 'hurricane of wind' in October 1867. The damage was done to the 'east west wing' and "the west gable was blown in and the roof, 40ft. long was lifted off the building and deposited in the playground.[1]

      It is unclear wether the damage was fixed immediately but in June 1873 the building was described as being in very poor condition. With "windows broken, doors without locks, floors worn through, walls requiring whitewash, inadequate supply of desks and seating accommodation. There are no fireplaces...The building is dreadfully overcrowded, there being 514 on the roll".[2]

      The school was closed on 31 December 1873. Pupils were then accommodated in a temporary school, No:1350 which opened on 1 January 1874. This school was replaced in turn by School No:1609 which opened on 30 June 1875. Robert Knox who had been the head teacher at the Christ Church School continued as the head teacher of the temporary school until it closed.[3] After the Christ Church School closed, the use of the building was reverted fully to the Trustees of Christ Church.[4]

      Repairs to the Christ Church School were carried out in 1883, the works cost £150 and included lining the ceilings with pine panels, which were stained and varnished, painting the principal purlins and mouldings a French grey, lining the walls up to 4ft with pine which were then oak grained, the doors were oak grained, all old interior whitewash removed and replaced with new cement which was block-lined. A new roof had been erected the previous year for £70. [5]

      The school reopened on 29 Jan 1885 as a college for 'young ladies and gentlemen' in 1885 known as Daylesford College.

      The building was built as a denominational school but was not vested with the denominational schools board

      In 1848 the New South Wales Governor, Charles Fitzroy, set up three boards of education, the National Board of Education, a Denominational Board of Education in Sydney and the Port Phillip Denominational Schools Board in Melbourne. the Denominational Boards funded church schools but did not own any.[6]

      After Victoria separated from New South Wales Lieutenant Governor La Trobe established the National Board of Education in Victoria on 31 December 1851, which built and owned its owned "vested" schools.[7] Schools not funded by either board were known as "non vested" schools and remained financially independent.[8] As a consequence the Denominational board exerted little control over the design of schools these schools and their designs varied greatly and accommodation for teachers rarely attached to the schools.[9]

      Initiative for Denominational schools came from the local community and construction may have been under way before funding was applied for. It was not uncommon for denominational schools to also used as for worship by the community while a more permanent church was being built, or in some smaller communities the school acted as both school and church. The opportunity to use funding from the Denominational Schools Board to construct a church was tempting an some early denominational schools appeared more like churches than schools. As a response, schools funded by the Denominational Schools Board could not be used for worship and certain provisions were made to discourage the practice.

      In response a number of church or school bodies chose not to vest their schools with the Denominational Schools Board, allowing them to build and use their buildings as they chose.

      On 1 September 1862 the National and Denominational Schools boards were abolished with the implementation of the Common Schools Act. The intention was to amalgamate schools and hence reduce denominational influence. With the implementation of the Common Schools Act all Common Schools were publicly owned from 1863 and were numbered.[10]

      Education was further reformed with implementation of the 1872 Education Act, which became operative on 1 January 1873. Under it education became free (in basic subjects), Compulsory (120 days per year until age 15) and secular (except in schools fully funded by their denominations).[11] The Government became responsible for designing and building all schools, effectively extinguishing local initiative. 453 vested schools were inherited by the Education Department, most of these rural.[12]


      [1] (letter in education dept archives from 'Daylesford Primary School No. 1609, A Centenary History,

      [2] Daylesford Primary School No. 1609, A Centenary History

      [3] Vision & Realisation, v2, p.634

      [4] Daylesford Primary School No. 1609, A Centenary History

      [5] Daylesford Advocate 25 August 1883

      [6] Peterson, Historic Government Schools: A Comparative Study. 3.Chronology, p.1

      [7] ibid

      [8] Ibid. Only eleven of these are known. Another eleven vested Denominational schools survive of the 518 constructed.

      [9] ibid

      [10] ibid

      [11] ibid

      [12] (Peterson, Historic Government Schools: A Comparative Study. 3.Chronology, p.3)

      Plaque Citation

      CHRIST CHURCH SCHOOL BUILDING - Plaque Citation

      Built in 1857 as a single roomed school, the building was also used for worship until the current church was built. The school was extended in 1864, partially funded by money raised through gold mining.

      Permit Exemptions

      CHRIST CHURCH SCHOOL BUILDING - 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 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 plan endorsed 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 the Executive Director, 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.

      Non Registered Fabric:
      All works including demolition and internal modification to structures not included in the extent of registration are permit exempt. Additions to structures not included on the extent will require either the approval of the Executive Director or permit approval. Should these works require a permit is at the discretion of the Executive Director.

      The construction of any new structures within the boundaries of this registration will require a permit.

      Exterior:
      Minor repairs and maintenance which replaces like fabric with like.

      Removal of extraneous items such as air conditioners, pipe work, ducting, wiring, antennae, aerials etc, and making good.

      Installation and repairing of damp proofing by either injection method or grout pocket method.

      Installation or removal of external fixtures and fittings such as, hot water services and taps.

      Interior:
      Painting of previously painted walls and ceilings provided that preparation or painting does not remove evidence of any original paint or other decorative scheme.

      Installation, removal or replacement of carpets and/or flexible floor coverings.

      Installation, removal or replacement of curtain tracks, rods and blinds.

      Installation, removal or replacement of hooks, nails and other devices for the hanging of mirrors, paintings and other wall mounted art or religious works or icons.

      Demolition or removal of non-original stud/partition walls, suspended ceilings or non-original wall linings (including plasterboard, laminate and Masonite), bathroom partitions and tiling, sanitary fixtures and fittings, kitchen wall tiling and equipment, lights, built-in cupboards, cubicle partitions, computer and office fitout and the like.

      Removal or replacement of non-original door and window furniture including, hinges, locks, knobsets and sash lifts.

      Installation of stud walls, which are removable.

      Refurbishment of existing bathrooms, toilets and kitchens including removal, installation or replacement of sanitary fixtures and associated piping, mirrors, wall and floor coverings.

      Removal of tiling or concrete slabs in wet areas provided there is no damage to or alteration of original structure or fabric.

      Installation, removal or replacement of ducted, hydronic or concealed radiant type heating provided that the installation does not damage existing skirtings and architraves and that the central plant is concealed.

      Installation, removal or replacement of electrical wiring.

      Installation, removal or replacement of electric clocks, public address systems, detectors, alarms, emergency lights, exit signs, luminaires and the like on plaster surfaces.

      Installation, removal or replacement of bulk insulation in the roof space.

      Installation of plant within the roof space.

      Installation of new fire hydrant services including sprinklers, fire doors and elements affixed to plaster surfaces.

      Landscape:
      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 and planting themes.

      Removal of vegetation that is not significant to maintain fire safety to protect monuments, paths, significant buildings and structures.

      The replanting of plant species to conserve the landscape character and plant collections and themes.

      Repairs, conservation and maintenance to hard landscape elements, buildings, structures, ornaments, roads and paths, drainage and irrigation system.

      Management of trees in accordance with Australian Standard; Pruning of amenity trees AS4373.

      Removal of plants listed as noxious weeds in the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994.

      Installation, removal or replacement of garden watering and drainage systems.

      Non-structural works that occur at a distance greater than 5 metres from the canopy edge of a significant tree, plant or hedge, (structural works may require a permit if still on the registered land).

      Non-commercial signage, lighting, security fire safety and other safety requirements, provided no structural building occurs.

      Plant labelling and interpretative signage.

      Resurfacing of existing paths and driveways.

      Maintenance of roads and paths and gutters to retain their existing layout.

      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.

      Regular Site Maintenance :
      The following site maintenance works are permit exempt under section 66 of the Heritage Act 1995,

      a) regular site maintenance provided the works do not involve the removal or destruction of any significant above-ground features or sub-surface archaeological artefacts or deposits;

      b) the maintenance of an item to retain its conditions or operation without the removal of or damage to the existing fabric or the introduction of new materials;

      c) cleaning including the removal of surface deposits, organic growths, or graffiti by the use of low pressure water and natural detergents and mild brushing and scrubbing; d) repairs, conservation and maintenance to plaques, memorials, roads and paths, fences and gates and drainage and irrigation.

      e) the replacement of existing services such as cabling, plumbing, wiring and fire services that uses existing routes, conduits or voids, and does not involve damage to or the removal of significant fabric.

      Note: Surface patina which has developed on the fabric may be an important part of the item's significance and if so needs to be preserved during maintenance and cleaning.

      Note: Any new materials used for repair must not exacerbate the decay of existing fabric due to chemical incompatibility, obscure existing fabric or limit access to existing fabric for future maintenance. Repair must maximise protection and retention of fabric and include the conservation of existing details or elements.

      Painting:
      Painting will not require permit approval if the painting:

      a) does not involve the disturbance or removal of earlier paint layers or other decorative schemes, where the extant painting or other decorative scheme has not been mentioned in the statement of significance or the extent of registration.

      b) involves over-coating with an appropriate surface as an isolating layer to provide a means of protection for significant earlier layers or to provide a stable basis for repainting;

      c) employs the same colour scheme and paint type as an earlier scheme if they are appropriate to the substrate and do not endanger the survival of earlier paint layers.

      If the painting employs a different colour scheme and paint type from an earlier scheme a permit will not be required if

      a) the Executive Director is satisfied that the proposed colour scheme, paint type, details of surface preparation and paint removal will not adversely affect the heritage significance of the item;

      b) the person proposing to undertake the painting has received a notice advising that the Executive Director is satisfied.

      Any proposal to undertake such work should be submitted to the Executive Director, detailing the proposed colour scheme, paint type, details of surface preparation and paint removal involved in the repainting, for approval

      Permit Exemption Policy

      CHRIST CHURCH SCHOOL BUILDING - Permit Exemption Policy

      The purpose of the Permit Policy is as a guide only in assisting when considering or making decisions regarding works to the place. It is recommended that any proposed works be discussed with an officer of Heritage Victoria prior to them being undertaken or a permit is applied for.

      The purpose of the permit exemptions is to allow works that do not impact on the heritage significance of the place to occur without the need for a permit. Works other than those mentioned in the permit exemptions may be possible but will require either the written approval of the Executive Director or permit approval.

      It is important that any proposed changes to the place are considered and assessed on the basis of clearly defined plans and proposals and must be planned and carried out in a manner which prevents damage to the significant fabric of the registered place. It is recommended that before any proposed changes are undertaken a Conservation Management Plan, that includes historical research and a history of alterations, be documented and developed for the site to better define the extant significant elements and guide future works.

Public contributions

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