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HENDERSON HOUSE
43 - 45 MORELAND STREET FOOTSCRAY, MARIBYRNONG CITY

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Victorian Heritage Register
HENDERSON HOUSE SOHE 2008
HENDERSON HOUSE SOHE 2008
HENDERSON HOUSE SOHE 2008
1 henderson house footscray front view
henderson house footscray bluestone building
henderson house footscray verandah detail
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Statement of Significance

What is significant?
 Henderson House was constructed in Moreland Street, Footscray on the Saltwater (Maribrynong) River in 1872-3 for Samuel Henderson. Known as Henderson's Piggery, it was part of an extensive quadrangular complex which included a factory for ham and bacon curing, and an associated residence. The house and attached curing works building remain from this original complex.

The township of Footscray developed at the site of the first punt across Saltwater (Maribrynong) River, which allowed direct travel to the west from Melbourne from 1839. The area developed as an industrial centre in the 1870s and this resulted in the construction of factories particularly along the river. A number of Melbourne's more offensive industries, such as meatworks, were established in Footscray and in surrounding regions. Between 1870 and 1872, Samuel Henderson occupied, and then owned, a curing and slaughter house on the Melbourne Road, which had been established in the late 1860s by William Smith, ham curer.

In 1872-3 Henderson relocated his operations to new premises he had built in a convenient location between Maribrynong Street on the west bank of the Saltwater River and Moreland Street. The extensive complex of buildings was constructed around a courtyard and consisted of a house, a main factory building and other associated buildings, including a boiler house and chimney. A lithograph, executed by S. T. Gill in 1873, records these buildings as well as a formal geometric garden which extended down to the river front.

The main buildings were constructed of coursed rubble bluestone, with cream brick dressings as quoining around openings, and had slate roofs. The Italianate house, sited to face the river, was designed with an elevated verandah, a central entrance flanked by polygonal bays and a basement below.

By 1874 Henderson had sold the property and it has since had a number of owners and uses. Swallow and Ariell, biscuit manufacturers, occupied the site from the 1920s, and Lempriere and Company Limited, metal merchants, from the late 1950s. Many of the buildings were demolished in the late 1960s and the residence and adjoining curing building remain.

The Footscray City Council purchased the site in the late 1970s and it has been adapted for use as the Footscray Community Arts Centre.

How is it significant?
 Henderson House, Footscray is of historical and architectural significance to the State of Victoria.

Why is it significant?
 Henderson House, Footscray is of historical significance for its association with the development of principal river frontages for industrial use in Victoria in the nineteenth century. It is a rare surviving example and is illustrative of the development of this location in Melbourne as a busy industrial centre and, in particular, as the selected location for such offensive industries as meatworks.

Henderson House is of architectural significance as a rare and partly extant example of a combined residential and industrial complex.

[Online Data Upgrade Project 2007]

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    • History

      HENDERSON HOUSE - History

      Henderson House was constructed in Moreland Street, Footscray on the Saltwater (Maribrynong) River in 1872-3 for Samuel Henderson. Known as Henderson's Piggery, it was part of an extensive quadrangular complex which included a factory for ham and bacon curing, and an associated residence. The house and attached curing works building remain from this original complex.

      The township of Footscray developed at the site of the first punt across Saltwater (Maribrynong) River, which allowed direct travel to the west from Melbourne from 1839. The area developed as an industrial centre in the 1870s and this resulted in the construction of factories particularly along the river. A number of Melbourne's more offensive industries, such as meatworks, were established in Footscray and in surrounding regions. Between 1870 and 1872, Samuel Henderson occupied, and then owned, a curing and slaughter house on the Melbourne Road, which had been established in the late 1860s by William Smith, ham curer.

      In 1872-3 Henderson relocated his operations to new premises he had built in a convenient location between Maribrynong Street on the west bank of the Saltwater River and Moreland Street. The extensive complex of buildings was constructed around a courtyard and consisted of a house, a main factory building and other associated buildings, including a boiler house and chimney. A lithograph, executed by S. T. Gill in 1873, records these buildings as well as a formal geometric garden which extended down to the river front.

      By 1874 Henderson had sold the property and it has since had a number of owners and uses. Swallow and Ariell, biscuit manufacturers, occupied the site from the 1920s, and Lempriere and Company Limited, metal merchants, from the late 1950s. Many of the buildings were demolished in the late 1960s and the residence and adjoining curing building remain.

      The Footscray City Council purchased the site in the late 1970s and it has been adapted for use as the Footscray Community Arts Centre.

      The draft statement of significance and the above history were produced as part of an Online Data Upgrade Project 2007. Sources were as follows:
      Allan Willingham. Conservation Report of Henderson's Building, Footscray. 1981
      C. Kellaway. Research into Henderson's Piggery, Footscray. 1980
      J. Lack. A History of Footscray, 1991
      The Williamstown Chronicle. 11 January 1873

      Permit Exemptions

      HENDERSON HOUSE - 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:

      General Conditions: 1. 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. General Conditions: 2. 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. Note: All archaeological places have the potential to contain significant sub-surface artefacts and other remains. In most cases it will be necessary to obtain approval from the Executive Director, Heritage Victoria before the undertaking any works that have a significant sub-surface component.

      General Conditions: 3. If there is a conservation policy and planall works shall be in accordance with it. Note:A Conservation Management Plan or a Heritage Action Planprovides guidance for the management of the heritage values associated with the site. It may not be necessary to obtain a heritage permit for certain works specified in the management plan.

      General Conditions: 4. Nothing in this determination prevents the Executive Director from amending or rescinding all or any of the permit exemptions. General Conditions: 5. Nothing in this determination exempts owners or their agents from the responsibility to seek relevant planning or building permits from the responsible authorities where applicable. Minor Works : Note: Any Minor Works that in the opinion of the Executive Director will not adversely affect the heritage significance of the place may be exempt from the permit requirements of the Heritage Act. A person proposing to undertake minor works must submit a proposal to the Executive Director. If the Executive Director is satisfied that the proposed works will not adversely affect the heritage values of the site, the applicant may be exempted from the requirement to obtain a heritage permit. If an applicant is uncertain whether a heritage permit is required, it is recommended that the permits co-ordinator be contacted.

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