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HIGHLAND PARK (Formerly LARGOWAN, LATER MON DESIR)
2 McBride Road BEACONSFIELD UPPER, CARDINIA SHIRE

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Cardinia Shire

Martel from '500 Victorians' (1934), p.78

Largowan Later Mon Desir Now Highland Park

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Statement of Significance
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Statement of Significance

Highland Park, former Mon Desir, apparently constructed in two stages, c1924 for Captain Rushall and c1928 as the home of Charles Martel, a French woolbuyer, is of significance to the Cardinia Shire as a good example of the gentlemen's retreats built in the Shire's resort areas during the immediate post-First World War period.

This large Bungalow style brick house has historical significance as a demonstration of the lifestyle of a number of prominent owners, including the Martels; Norman Steele, of the large Swanston Street furniture business; and Gladys Irene Zuyderhout, wife of the Commodore of the Dutch Inter Ocean Line.

Regional Significance

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- Physical Description 1
  
  HIGHLAND PARK (Formerly LARGOWAN, LATER MON DESIR) - Physical Description 1
  
  This large Bungalow style brick house consists of two broad-gabled pavilions joined by a colonnaded pergola-porch, each pavilion possibly representing the two stages of building outlined in the history. The porch also links two boxed window bays with a minor gable over the entry. The roofs are slated, with terra-cotta ridge cappings and finials and the chimneys are square in section, of red brick and have terra-cotta cappings with pots. Each gable has shingling (over-painted ) and three ornamental louvred vents. Glazing is diamond-pane leadlight. There is a pier and pipe balustraded terrace to one end of the house frontage, next to an added wing.
  
  This is the most articulate and massive house of its era and style in the study area.
  
  Physical Conditions
  
  HIGHLAND PARK (Formerly LARGOWAN, LATER MON DESIR) - Physical Conditions
  
  The house is near externally original except for the addition of a wing at each end, the deck roof to the pergola porch and the overpainting of the originally stained shingles.
  
  Historical Australian Themes
  
  HIGHLAND PARK (Formerly LARGOWAN, LATER MON DESIR) - Historical Australian Themes
  
  Historical Themes
  
  7.1 Gentlemen's rural retreats
  
  10.9 Holiday houses, gardens
  
  Physical Description 2
  
  HIGHLAND PARK (Formerly LARGOWAN, LATER MON DESIR) - Physical Description 2
  
  Associations - Rushall, Captain A; Martel, Charles; Steele, Norman
  
  Heritage Study and Grading
  
  Heritage Study and Grading
  
  Cardinia - Cardinia Shire Heritage Study 1996
  
  Author: Graeme Butler & Associates
  Year: 1996
  Grading: Local
- Show:
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