New Police Station
13 Thompson St HAMILTON, Southern Grampians Shire
Botanic Gardens Precinct Hamilton
Statement of Significance
SIGNIFICANCE: »Key building in the Police complex. Complements the neighbouring State Public Offices.
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
New Police Station
13 Thompson St
This building has regional significance as an important component of the Hamilton police complex and for its historical associations with the district's police establishment which pre dated the 1850 plan for a Grange township (the earlier name for Hamilton). As early as November 1840 La Trobe recommended the appointment of a district Police Magistrate supported by police constables based on the Grange. ([i])
The site of the police station in Thompson Street is of considerable archaeological significance as it was the location in the 1840s of a hut erected for the Police Magistrate with barracks for a detachment of mounted police. ([ii]) The police station which was replaced by the existing was built for the Public Works Department in 1878 by J A Wood for 428 pounds and nineteen shillings. ([iii]) The present building dates from either in the late 1940s or the early 1950s and may have been designed by Percy Everett who was the chief architect of the PWD. It is a typical design for the time using conventional cream bricks, timber windows, terra cotta tiles and a traditionalism notwithstanding its attempt to be modern. It is significantly intact and is in excellent condition.
Also part of the significance is the old red brick building, apparently a former lock-up adjacent to the Police Station.
[i] Garden, D, Hamilton, p 18.
[ii] Ibid.
[iii] Argus, 7 September 1878, 10 September 1878.
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MECHANICS INSTITUTE
Victorian Heritage Register H2171 -
HAMILTON BOTANIC GARDENS
Victorian Heritage Register H2185
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HAMILTON GAS HOLDER
Victorian Heritage Register H1086
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153 Morris Street, Sunshine
Brimbank City -
186-188 Smith Street
Yarra City -
1ST STRATHMORE SCOUT HALL (FORMER)
Moonee Valley City
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