HO76 - Former Melton Courthouse
323-329 High Street MELTON, Melton Shire
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Statement of Significance
The former Melton Court House (now the Melton Tourist Information Centre), 323-329 High Street, Melton, is significant as the only surviving brick example of a Federation styled court house building in Victoria. Built in 1892 at a cost of £857.11.0 by building contractors, Brooke and Brundell to a design by the Public Works Department Architect, Samuel E. Bindley, the former court house is predominantly intact.
The former Melton Court House is architecturally significant at a STATE level (AHC D.2, E.1). It demonstrates original design qualities of a Federation style which are rare for a late nineteenth century court house building. These qualities include the gable roof form that traverses the site, together with the elevated gable roof form (comprising the court room) and the skillion verandah with gable entrance portico that projects towards the front. Other intact or appropriate qualities include the asymmetrical composition, single storey height, face brick wall construction, slate roof cladding, two face brick and multi-corbelled chimneys, modest eaves, three small horizontally-proportioned, flat-arched, timber framed 3-paned clerestorey windows with cream brick voussoirs in the court room gable end, decorative gable infill (stuccoed panelling and timber battening supported by timber brackets) in the court room and verandah gable ends, decorative timber gable bargeboards, turned timber verandah posts, decorative timber verandah brackets, framed turned timber fretwork valance in the verandah gable (and the framing only in the remainder of the verandah), flat-arched timber framed double hung windows with cream brick voussoirs and the timber framed doorway with transom above.
The former Melton Court House is historically significant at a LOCAL level (AHC A.4, H.1). It is one of only two early buildings remaining in Melton's main shopping street, and the only nineteenth century building in the street. Its design and construction quality express the historical role of government in the community, in particular in regard to law and order and the administration of justice.
Overall, the former Melton Court House is of STATE significance.
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HO76 - Former Melton Courthouse - Physical Description 1
Physical Description -
The former Melton Court House, 323-329 High Street, Melton, has an open setting and is situated adjacent to (forward of) a local supermarket. The site is bound by introduced timber picket fences (approximately 1200 mm high) and there is a row of young exotic trees along the side.
The asymmetrical, single storey, red brick, Federation styled former court house building is characterised by a gable roof form that traverses the site, together with an elevated gable roof form (comprising the court room) and a skillion verandah with gable entrance portico that projects towards the front. These roof forms are clad in slate tiles. Two early face brick and multi-corbelled chimneys adorn the roofline. Modest overhangs are features of the eaves.
An early feature of the design is the prominent front court room gable. It has three small horizontally-proportioned, flat-arched, timber framed 3-paned clerestorey windows with cream brick voussoirs, above which is a decorative gable infill (stuccoed panelling and timber battening) supported by timber brackets. The gable end also has decorative (geometric pattern) timber bargeboards.
The decorative gable infill and timber bargeboards are also reflected on the verandah gable. The verandah is supported by turned timber posts and has decorative timber brackets and a framed turned timber fretwork valance in the verandah gable. The turned fretwork is missing from the remainder of the verandah valance.
Other early features of the design include the flat-arched timber framed double hung windows with cream brick voussoirs and the timber framed doorway with transom above.
Internally the characteristic courtroom fittings and furnishings including the bench, dock, and seating has been removed as part of its conversion to the Melton Tourist Office.
HO76 - Former Melton Courthouse - Historical Australian Themes
Melton Historical Themes: 'Community'
HO76 - Former Melton Courthouse - Integrity
Integrity - High
HO76 - Former Melton Courthouse - Physical Conditions
Physical Condition - Good
Heritage Study and Grading
Melton - Shire of Melton Heritage Study phase 2
Author: David Maloney, David Rowe, Pamela Jellie, Sera Jane Peters
Year: 2007
Grading:
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