FORMER POLICE QUARTERS

728 MAIN ROAD ELTHAM, NILLUMBIK SHIRE

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Victorian Heritage Register

FORMER POLICE QUARTERS SOHE 2008

Statement of Significance

• Additional Place Information

  • History

    FORMER POLICE QUARTERS - History

    The Former Police Quarters, Eltham, was part of a larger police complex designed by the Public Works Department and built by Langridge, Wright and Witney in 1859-60. The original two-cell bluestone lockup was demolished c1950s. Following the relocation of police operations, the residence was used as the local office of the Lands Department and subsequently as offices for the local council. The replica police station was constructed in the 1980s and replaced an earlier police station that had been moved and subsequently demolished. The timber lock-up was relocated to the site from another location in Eltham in c2000. The place is currently occupied by the Eltham District Historical Society.

    Permit Exemptions

    FORMER POLICE QUARTERS - 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:

    
    

    INTRODUCTION TO PERMIT EXEMPTIONS

    Preamble
    
    The purpose of this information is to assist owners and other interested parties when considering or making decisions regarding works to a registered place. It is recommended that any proposed works be discussed with an officer of Heritage Victoria prior to making a permit application. Discussing proposed works will assist in answering questions the owner may have and aid any decisions regarding works to the place.
    
    The extent of registration of the Former Police Quarters in the Victorian Heritage Register affects the whole place shown on Diagram 1539 including the land, buildings (exteriors and interiors), car park, trees, landscape elements and other features. Under the Heritage Act 2017 a person must not remove or demolish, damage or despoil, develop or alter or excavate, relocate or disturb the position of any part of a registered place or object without approval. It is acknowledged, however, that alterations and other works may be required to keep places and objects in good repair and adapt them for use into the future.
    
    If a person wishes to undertake works or activities in relation to a registered place or registered object, they must apply to the Executive Director, Heritage Victoria for a permit. The purpose of a permit is to enable appropriate change to a place and to effectively manage adverse impacts on the cultural heritage significance of a place as a consequence of change. If an owner is uncertain whether a heritage permit is required, it is recommended that Heritage Victoria be contacted.
    
    Permits are required for anything which alters the place or object, unless a permit exemption is granted. Permit exemptions usually cover routine maintenance and upkeep issues faced by owners as well as minor works or works to the elements of the place or object that are not significant. They may include appropriate works that are specified in a conservation management plan. Permit exemptions can be granted at the time of registration (under s.38 of the Heritage Act) or after registration (under s.92 of the Heritage Act). It should be noted that the addition of new buildings to the registered place, as well as alterations to the interior and exterior of existing buildings requires a permit, unless a specific permit exemption is granted.
    
    Disrepair of registered place or registered object
    Under s.152 of the Act, the owner of a registered place or registered object must not allow that place or object to fall into disrepair. Failure to maintain registered place or registered object Under s.153 of the Act, the owner of a registered place or registered object must not fail to maintain that place or object to the extent that its conservation is threatened.
    
    Conservation management plans
    It is recommended that a Conservation Management Plan is developed to manage the place in a manner which respects its cultural heritage significance. Aboriginal cultural heritage If works are proposed which have the potential to disturb or have an impact on Aboriginal cultural heritage it is necessary to contact Aboriginal Victoria to ascertain any requirements under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006. If any Aboriginal cultural heritage is discovered or exposed at any time it is necessary to immediately contact Aboriginal Victoria to ascertain requirements under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006.
    
    Other approvals
    Please be aware that approval from other authorities (such as local government) may be required to undertake works.
    
    Archaeology
    There is not identified archaeology of state level significance at the place.
    
    Cultural heritage significance
    Overview of significance
    The cultural heritage significance of the Former Police Quarters lies in the police residence and the police stables. Both buildings are part of the original 1859/1860 Public Works Department scheme for the site. The weatherboard police station and timber lock up are not part of the State-level significance of the place. The police station is a 1980s replica of an earlier police station that once existed in the same location. Although its reconstruction and location are of interest, the building itself is not significant at the State level. The timber lock-up was relocated to the site from another location in Eltham in c2000. Like the replica police station, its location on the site is appropriate, but it does not have a direct association with the State-level significance of the place. 
    
    

    CATEGORIES OF WORKS OR ACTIVITIES (PERMIT EXEMPTIONS) RECOMMENDED UNDER S.38 

    GENERAL CONDITIONS

    • All exempted alterations are to be planned and carried out in a manner which prevents damage to the fabric of the registered place or object. 
    • Should it become apparent during further inspection or the carrying out of works that original or previously hidden or inaccessible details of the place or object are revealed which relate to the significance of the place or object, then the exemption covering such works shall cease and Heritage Victoria shall be notified as soon as possible. 
    • All works should ideally be informed by a Conservation Management Plan prepared for the place. 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. 
    • Nothing in this determination prevents the Heritage Council from amending or rescinding all or any of the permit exemptions. 
    • Nothing in this determination exempts owners or their agents from the responsibility to seek relevant planning or building permits from the relevant responsible authority, where applicable. 

    
    SPECIFIC PERMIT EXEMPTIONS
    General

    • Minor repairs and maintenance which replaces like with like. Repairs and maintenance must maximise protection and retention of fabric and include the conservation of existing details or elements. Any repairs and maintenance must not exacerbate the decay of fabric due to chemical incompatibility of new materials, obscure fabric or limit access to such fabric for future maintenance. 
    • Repair to or removal of items such as antennae, aerials, air conditioners and associated pipe work, ducting and wiring. 
    • Works or activities, including emergency stabilisation, necessary to secure safety in an emergency where a structure or part of a structure has been irreparably damaged or destabilised and poses a safety risk to its users or the public. Note: The Executive Director must be notified within seven days of the commencement of these works or activities.  
    • Painting of previously painted external and internal surfaces in the same colour, finish and product type provided that preparation or painting does not remove all evidence of earlier paint finishes or schemes. Note: This exemption does not apply to areas where there are specialist paint techniques such as graining, marbling, stencilling, hand-painting or signwriting, or to wallpapered surfaces, or to unpainted, oiled or varnished surfaces. 

    
    1980s replica police station and timber lock-up
    All works and activities listed above plus: 

    • All works to the interiors which do not alter the external appearance of the building. 

    
    Landscape/outdoor areas
    Hard landscaping and services

    • Subsurface works to existing watering and drainage systems. Existing lawns, gardens and hard landscaping, including paving and paths, are to be returned to the original configuration and appearance on completion of works. 
    • Maintenance, repair and replacement of existing above surface services such as plumbing, electrical cabling, surveillance systems, pipes or fire services. 
    • Repair and maintenance of car park, paving, footpaths and driveway. 
    • Removal or replacement of external signage, letterboxes and the like provided the size and location remains the same. 

    
    Gardening, trees and plants

    • The processes of gardening including mowing, pruning, mulching, bedding displays, removal of dead shrubs, planting and replanting of garden beds, disease and weed control and maintenance to care for existing plants. 
    • Removal of noxious weeds. 
    • Management and maintenance of trees including formative and remedial pruning, removal of deadwood and pest and disease control. 
    • Removal of tree seedlings and suckers without the use of herbicides. 
    • Emergency tree works to maintain public safety provided the Executive Director, Heritage Victoria, is notified within seven days of the removal or works occurring. 
    • Installation of physical barriers or traps to enable vegetation protection and management of possums and small vermin. 
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