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FROGMORE
425-465 HAMILTON HIGHWAY FYANSFORD, GREATER GEELONG CITY

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Victorian Heritage Register
FROGMORE SOHE 2008
FROGMORE SOHE 2008
FROGMORE SOHE 2008
FROGMORE SOHE 2008
frogmore homestead hamilton highway fyansford bay window
frogmore homestead hamilton highway fyansford rear elevation oct1994
frogmore homestead hamilton highway fyansford side view
1 frogmore hamilton highway fyansford stables front view
frogmore appendix a.JPG
frogmore appendix b.JPG
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Statement of Significance

What is significant?
The exploration of Hamilton Hume and William Hilton Hovell into inland New South Wales and Victoria on route to the Port Phillip District in 1824-25 and the favourable reports of the land they had seen was a significant event in the colonization of Victoria. While Hume and Hovell discovered major inland rivers and first sighted the mountains of the Great Dividing Range in Victoria, it was the adventurous Launceston sealers, whalers and pastoralists who informally took up land to further their commercial interests on the southern coastal areas of Victoria. In 1835 two exploring parties, representing the interests of settlers John Batman and John Fawkner from Tasmania, established themselves in Port Phillip district.

John Batman, on behalf of the Port Phillip Association, carried out exploration in Port Phillip district in 1835 and later in the same year, John Helder Wedge, another member of the Port Phillip Association made an extensive survey of the area around Corio Bay. Wedge's discovery of the Barwon and Moorabool Rivers confirmed Batman's opinion that the district was of great potential for grazing, and in 1843, Captain John Montagu, a partner in the Port Phillip Association, established a large pastoral run on the Barwon River near Fyansford. Montagu later acquired property and administered the run until his death in 1853.

By 1856 Charles Wyatt had acquired Montagu's run and in October 1857 Geelong architect Edward Prowse called tenders for a bluestone house and outbuildings at Charles Wyatt's Frogmore. In 1859 Wyatt, who had been trained in horticulture at the Frogmore Royal Gardens at Windsor,established a nursery at the edge of the Barwon River escarpment on his holding. By the 1850s, Fyansford had developed into a centre of a vine and fruit growing district and the Geelong area became the largest nineteenth century grape-growing region in Victoria and one of the largest in Australia. It was reported however, that by about 1870, the Frogmore vineyard had showed signs of sickness and in 1877 the presence of the deadly vine disease phylloxera on a neighbouring property had been definitely identified for the first time in Australia. Frogmore was suspected as being the initial site of the disease. By January 1878, thirteen vineyards in the Geelong district had been identified a carrying the disease and orders issued for their destruction. Charles Wyatt had apparently underestimated the seriousness of the situation at Fyansford and was shocked to discover on his return from an extended stay in Tasmania that his vineyard and vine nursery had been entirely destroyed, having read about it in the newspapers. He was particularly disturbed by the destruction, as he claimed that he had stocked one hundred and fifty varieties in his vineyard, including many that were resistant to phylloxera and other diseases.

While the disease spelt the end of the nineteenth century viticulture in the Geelong area, the diversity of plants at Wyatt's nursery ensured its survival. An 1874 catalogue for the Frogmore Nursery listed the general nature of stock held at Frogmore, including fruit trees, ornamental and forest trees, shrubs, ornamental climbers, and a wide variety of plants and bulbs. After Wyatt's death in 1885, the nursery was leased by James Matthew for three years, and after that Frogmore was held by a St Kilda nurseryman W J Lobb. By the turn of the century, the celebrated nursery which had reputedly supplied most of the trees in the parks and gardens of Geelong and the elms along St Kilda Road, was in decline. In 1907, Frogmore was bought by Andrew Condie and it appears that the nursery function was discontinued during his ownership. The property has changed hands a number of times since the end of Condie's ownership and has generally been used for grazing or agistment purposes.

How is it significant?
Frogmore is of architectural, historical and archaeological significance to the State of Victoria.

Why is it significant?
Frogmore is of historical significance as the site of Charles Wyatt's celebrated Frogmore Nursery, one of the earliest nurseries in the state. Frogmore is significant in the botanical development of the region and the state and of interest for being among the earliest sites in Australia to be identified with the disastrous outbreak of the vine disease phylloxera. The significance of the site is enhanced by the survival of remnants of early planting and the survival of two rare Juniperus thurifera trees, which are the only known remaining trees of this species apart from those at the Geelong Botanical Gardens.

Frogmore is of architectural significance as a typical example of Victorian Italianate bluestone villa and as an early example of the design of the important Geelong architect Edward Prowse.

Frogmore is of archaeological significance for its potential to reveal archaeological material relating to the early structures and occupation of the Frogmore nursery.

[Online data upgrade project 2005]

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    • History

      FROGMORE - History


      The exploration of Hamilton Hume and William Hilton Hovell into inland New South Wales and Victoria on route to the Port Phillip District in 1824-25 and the favourable reports of the land they had seen was a significant event in the colonization of Victoria. While Hume and Hovell discovered major inland rivers and first sighted the mountains of the Great Dividing Range in Victoria, it was the adventurous Launceston sealers, whalers and pastoralists who informally took up land to further their commercial interests on the southern coastal areas of Victoria. In 1835 two exploring parties, representing the interests of settlers John Batman and John Fawkner from Tasmania, established themselves in Port Phillip district.

      John Batman, on behalf of the Port Phillip Association, carried out exploration in Port Phillip district in 1835 and later in the same year, John Helder Wedge, another member of the Port Phillip Association made an extensive survey of the area around Corio Bay. Wedge’s discovery of the Barwon and Moorabool Rivers confirmed Batman’s opinion that the district was of great potential for grazing, and in 1843, Captain John Montagu, a partner in the Port Phillip Association, established a large pastoral run on the Barwon River near Fyansford. Montagu later acquired property and administered the run until his death in 1853.

      By 1856 Charles Wyatt had acquired Montagu’s run and in October 1857 Geelong architect Edward Prowse called tenders for a bluestone house and outbuildings at Charles Wyatt’s Frogmore. In 1859 Wyatt, who had been trained in horticulture at the Frogmore Royal Gardens at Windsor, established a nursery at the edge of the Barwon River escarpment on his holding. By the 1850s, Fyansford had developed into a centre of a vine and fruit growing district and the Geelong area became the largest nineteenth century grape-growing region in Victoria and one of the largest in Australia. It was reported however, that by about 1870, the Frogmore vineyard had showed signs of sickness and in 1877 the presence of the deadly vine disease phylloxera on a neighbouring property had been definitely identified for the first time in Australia. Frogmore was suspected as being the initial site of the disease. By January 1878, thirteen vineyards in the Geelong district had been identified a carrying the disease and orders issued for their destruction. Charles Wyatt had apparently underestimated the seriousness of the situation at Fyansford and was shocked to discover on his return from an extended stay in Tasmania that his vineyard and vine nursery had been entirely destroyed, having read about it in the newspapers. He was particularly disturbed by the destruction, as he claimed that he had stocked one hundred and fifty varieties in his vineyard, including many that were resistant to phylloxera and other diseases.

      While the disease spelt the end of the nineteenth century viticulture in the Geelong area, the diversity of plants at Wyatt’s nursery ensured its survival. An 1874 catalogue for the Frogmore Nursery listed the general nature of stock held at Frogmore, including fruit trees, ornamental and forest trees, shrubs, ornamental climbers, and a wide variety of plants and bulbs. After Wyatt’s death in 1885, the nursery was leased by James Matthew for three years, and after that Frogmore was held by a St Kilda nurseryman W J Lobb. By the turn of the century, the celebrated nursery which had reputedly supplied most of the trees in the parks and gardens of Geelong and the elms along St Kilda Road, was in decline. In 1907, Frogmore was bought by Andrew Condie and it appears that the nursery function was discontinued during his ownership. The property has changed hands a number of times since the end of Condie’s ownership and has generally been used for grazing or agistment purposes.

      Sources:
      E Haynes. A Study of selected Nineteenth Century Nurserymen and the sites they operated from. 1993
      D Beaurepaire. The Stepping Stone. A History of the Shire of Bannockburn .1981.
      I Wynd. So Fine a Country. A History of the Shire of Corio .1981.
      D Dunstan. Better Than Pommard! A History of Wine Making in Victoria. 1994.
      R Aitken & M Looker [eds]. The Oxford Companion to Australian Gardens. 2002
      Authentic Heritage Services. City of Greater Geelong Outer Areas Heritage Study Stage 2. 1998-2000.
      A Willingham. Geelong Region Historic Buildings and Objects Study, vol 1, sheet 12.

      Permit Exemptions

      FROGMORE - 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 Plan provides 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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