EAGLEHAWK PRIMARY SCHOOL

CHURCH STREET AND 88-94 HIGH STREET EAGLEHAWK, GREATER BENDIGO CITY

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Victorian Heritage Register

PRIMARY SCHOOL NO. 210 SOHE 2008

Statement of Significance

• Additional Place Information

  • History

    EAGLEHAWK PRIMARY SCHOOL - History

    A school was first erected at Eaglehawk in 1856. The original wooden school room was replaced by a brick school by the architect HE Tolhurst in 1866. During the 1870s further brick buildings were erected to accommodate students. In 1881 the Methodist Church was leased to the Education Department until a new school was erected. 
    The new school building, addressing Church Street, was designed by H.R. Bastow and constructed by Newton and Borland (Castlemaine builders). Works commenced in 1884 with construction of a wing for the infant school, which now forms the left wing of the current school. In 1886 the two-storey central structure with tower and belfry, and the right wing, were completed.  The new building was officially opened in November 1886.
    
    The Gothic-style building, with its clear distinct sections, is constructed of red brick, ornamented with black and white bricks and Waurn Ponds stone. Original small verandahs and hoods over the windows, provide some shade in hot summer months. The most striking feature of the building is the bell tower, which gives prominence to the central section, while subordinating the wings. The tower, brick ornamentation and verandahs and hoods provide further emphasis to the central section and make the building visually dominant on the Church Street streetscape.
    
    Eaglehawk Primary School is a fine example of school architecture which developed during the 1880s in Victoria, following the initial rush of enrolments after the Education Act 1872. The Education Department was no longer designing new schools for over 800 pupils and preferred one-storey designs. However, it also wanted its schools to be easily seen, and appear consequential and grand. Eaglehawk Primary School’s design displays a compromise, with a prominent two-storey central block and subordination of compact one-storey wings. 
    
    Eaglehawk Primary School’s design shows inspiration from other schools built during the period. The symmetrical elevation was common in early state school designs (see, for example: Clifton Hill Primary School VHR H1621 and Former Hawksburn Primary School VHR H1032). The prominence of Eaglehawk Primary School’s two-storey central block, flanked by two subordinate wings, was a design element developed at Warrnambool State School and Brunswick State School, and further improved at Vere Street Collingwood State School No. 2462. The tower’s relationship with the building is a straight reuse of the design seen at State School 260 (VHR H1645, now Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary School).
    
    In 1980 the Department of Education officially acquired the Former Eaglehawk East Methodist Church building for use by the Eaglehawk Primary School. This building is listed separately in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR H1458).
    
    

    References

    Blake L J (ed) (1973) Vision and Realisation: A Centenary History of State Education in Victoria, The Government Printer, Melbourne. 

    Burchell L (1980) Victorian schools: a study in colonial government architecture, 1837-1900, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne.  

    Butler G and Assoc (1993), Eaglehawk and Bendigo Heritage Study, Victoria.
    Peterson R (1993) Historic Government Schools: a Comparative Study June 1993, Department of Planning and Development, Melbourne. 
    
    

    Assessment Against Criteria

    EAGLEHAWK PRIMARY SCHOOL - Assessment Against Criteria

    The Eaglehawk Primary School is of architectural significance to the State of Victoria. It satisfies the following criterion for inclusion in the Victorian Heritage Register: 

    
    Criterion D

    Importance in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of cultural places and objects
    
    

    Permit Exemptions

    EAGLEHAWK PRIMARY SCHOOL - 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:

    Specific Exemptions

    The works and activities below are not considered to cause harm to the cultural heritage significance of the Eaglehawk Primary School subject to the following guidelines and conditions: 
    
    

    Guidelines 

    1. Where there is an inconsistency between permit exemptions specific to the registered place or object (‘specific exemptions’) established in accordance with either section 49(3) or section 92(3) of the Act and general exemptions established in accordance with section 92(1) of the Act specific exemptions will prevail to the extent of any inconsistency.
    2. In specific exemptions, words have the same meaning as in the Act, unless otherwise indicated. Where there is an inconsistency between specific exemptions and the Act, the Act will prevail to the extent of any inconsistency. 
    3. Nothing in specific exemptions obviates the responsibility of a proponent to obtain the consent of the owner of the registered place or object, or if the registered place or object is situated on Crown Land the land manager as defined in the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978, prior to undertaking works or activities in accordance with specific exemptions.  
    4. If a Cultural Heritage Management Plan in accordance with the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 is required for works covered by specific exemptions, specific exemptions will apply only if the Cultural Heritage Management Plan has been approved prior to works or activities commencing. Where there is an inconsistency between specific exemptions and a Cultural Heritage Management Plan for the relevant works and activities, Heritage Victoria must be contacted for advice on the appropriate approval pathway.  
    5. Specific exemptions do not constitute approvals, authorisations or exemptions under any other legislation, Local Government, State Government or Commonwealth Government requirements, including but not limited to the Planning and Environment Act 1987, the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006, and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth). Nothing in this declaration exempts owners or their agents from the responsibility to obtain relevant planning, building or environmental approvals from the responsible authority where applicable. 
    6. Care should be taken when working with heritage buildings and objects, as historic fabric may contain dangerous and poisonous materials (for example lead paint and asbestos). Appropriate personal protective equipment should be worn at all times. If you are unsure, seek advice from a qualified heritage architect, heritage consultant or local Council heritage advisor.  
    7. The presence of unsafe materials (for example asbestos, lead paint etc) at a registered place or object does not automatically exempt remedial works or activities in accordance with this category. Approvals under Part 5 of the Act must be obtained to undertake works or activities that are not expressly exempted by the below specific exemptions. 
    8. All works should be informed by a Conservation Management Plan prepared for the place or object. The Executive Director is not bound by any Conservation Management Plan and permits still must be obtained for works suggested in any Conservation Management Plan. 

    Conditions 

    1. All works or activities permitted under specific exemptions must be planned and carried out in a manner which prevents harm to the registered place or object. Harm includes moving, removing or damaging any part of the registered place or object that contributes to its cultural heritage significance.
    2. If during the carrying out of works or activities in accordance with specific exemptions original or previously hidden or inaccessible details of the registered place are revealed relating to its cultural heritage significance, including but not limited to historical archaeological remains, such as features, deposits or artefacts, then works must cease and Heritage Victoria notified as soon as possible. 
    3. If during the carrying out of works or activities in accordance with specific exemptions any Aboriginal cultural heritage is discovered or exposed at any time, all works must cease and the Secretary (as defined in the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006) must be contacted immediately to ascertain requirements under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006. 
    4. If during the carrying out of works or activities in accordance with specific exemptions any munitions or other potentially explosive artefacts are discovered, Victoria Police is to be immediately alerted and the site is to be immediately cleared of all personnel.  
    5. If during the carrying out of works or activities in accordance with specific exemptions any suspected human remains are found the works or activities must cease. The remains must be left in place and protected from harm or damage. Victoria Police and the State Coroner’s Office must be notified immediately. If there are reasonable grounds to believe that the remains are Aboriginal, the State Emergency Control Centre must be immediately notified on 1300 888 544, and, as required under s.17(3)(b) of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006, all details about the location and nature of the human remains must be provided to the Secretary (as defined in the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006.

    Exempt works and activities

    All other buildings constructed or moved to the site post 1990: 

    1. All internal works.  
    2. Removal or demolition. 

    Landscape/outdoor areas:  

    1. Installation and replacement of shade sail fabric and supporting structure.  
    2. Replacement of playground equipment and outdoor furniture in the same location. 
    3. Pruning of all trees to ensure safety. 
    4. Removal, replacement and installation of new ground surfacing treatments (for example, asphalt, safety matting) provided it is not within five metres of significant buildings.

    Permit Exemption Policy

    EAGLEHAWK PRIMARY SCHOOL - Permit Exemption Policy

    It is recommended that a Conservation Management Plan is utilised to manage the place in a manner which respects its cultural heritage significance.

    
    
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