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PHOLIOTA
23 Glenard Drive HEIDELBERG, Banyule City

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Banyule City

Pholiota

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Statement of Significance
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Statement of Significance

Pholiota is of considerable architectural and historical significance. The diminutive building is the first house designed by Walter Burley Griffin to be constructed from his patent Knitlock system, and features a number of characteristics typical of Griffin's architecture including corridor-free planning, wide overhanging eaves and casement windows with chevron-patterned glazing bars. Pholiota also served as the Griffins' Melbourne home from 1919-21, until the Griffins left for Castlecrag, Sydney. Architecturally, the significance of the building has been diminished by the later alterations.

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- Physical Description 2
  
  PHOLIOTA - Physical Description 2
  
  Property Descriptions - Thomas Walker, Lot 100, Glenard Estate
  
  Usage/Former Usage
  
  PHOLIOTA - Usage/Former Usage
  
  Original Use: Residence
  
  Current Use: Residence
  
  Physical Description 1
  
  PHOLIOTA - Physical Description 1
  
  Pholiota is square in plan with a low-pitched pyramid roof clad. It features many of the stylistic elements which were distinctive of Griffin's Knitlock houses including walls of 'tesseral' blocks with 'vertebral' blocks defining vertical strips between which a group of four windows are located, abutting the roof line. Unlike the similar knitlock house in Frankston, Gumnuts (c.1922), however, Pholiota used the knitlock system for the walls only and the roof was clad in Marseilles tiles. The casement windows have Griffin's typical chevron glazing bars.
  
  Pholiota's twenty-one foot square plan reflected Griffin's abhorrence of the passage. Sleeping cubicles opened off a central living area and service rooms were placed in corners, communicating with the outside. Griffin believed that
  
  out of doors separation of the private quarters from the common or work rooms, obliterating the long dismal, wasteful passageway, is a characteristic advantage of this climate that was recognised in the heights, where alone architecture strictly rational, is not circumscribed by, the exotic impossibilities of the suburban builder.
  
  Externally the house has been altered on the east elevation as a result of the construction of a new house to this side c.1930s or 40s. Other alterations have been made internally. Originally, the interior had a central round table, beds or furnishings set in the alcoves and a continuous pelmet, carrying full length curtains, which isolated the living room.
  
  Building
  
  A tent like ceiling and a pendulous silk light shade hung from the centre of the room.
  
  Landscape
  
  A remnant River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) is significant as an old aboriginal sacred site.
  
  Physical Conditions
  
  PHOLIOTA - Physical Conditions
  
  Fair
  
  Intactness
  
  PHOLIOTA - Intactness
  
  Poor
  
  Historical Australian Themes
  
  PHOLIOTA - Historical Australian Themes
  
  Pholiota, in the Glenard Estate, was the first of many Knitlock houses in Victoria. It served as the Griffin's Melbourne home for a short period and was used extensively in articles to publicise and market the Knitlock house. It is one of the group of buildings designed by Griffin in the City of Banyule.
  
  Heritage Study and Grading
  
  Heritage Study and Grading
  
  Banyule - Banyule Heritage Study
  
  Author: Allum Lovell & Associates
  Year: 1999
  Grading: A
  
  Banyule - Heidelberg Conservation Study
  
  Author: Graeme Butler and Associates
  Year: 1985
  Grading:
- Show:
- PHOLIOTA
  
  Victorian Heritage Register H0479
- ST JOHNS ANGLICAN CHURCH
  
  Victorian Heritage Register H0197
- RESIDENCE
  
  Victorian Heritage Register H2082