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RESIDENCE
STAWELL STREET TARRAVILLE, WELLINGTON SHIRE

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Victorian Heritage Register
Residence Stawell Street Tarraville small
Residence Stawell Street Tarraville small
Residence Stawell Street Tarraville small
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Residence Stawell Street Tarraville
Residence Stawell Street Tarraville
Residence Stawell Street Tarraville
Residence Stawell Street Tarraville
Residence Stawell Street Tarraville
Residence Stawell Street Tarraville
Residence Stawell Street Tarraville
Residence Stawell Street Tarraville
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Statement of Significance

What is significant?

The timber Residence, Stawell Street, Tarraville belonged to local storekeeper, Thomas H. Smith. Though its exact date of construction is unknown, it is most likely to have been constructed in the 1840s.

In 1841, John Reeve was granted land on the eastern bank of the Tarra River as a Special Survey. Farm allotments of various sizes in the 'Tarra Vale Estate', also known as 'Reeves Special Survey', were advertised for lease in September 1843, located on lightly timbered, rich alluvial flats. Within the estate, Reeve's township was named Tara Ville or Tarraville. Tarraville township was surveyed in mid-1843 and located at the south-west corner of the estate, adjacent to the later government township (also known as Tarraville). By 1845, it contained a licensed hotel, 'good stores' and various tradesmen and was deemed 'flourishing' by a newspaper correspondent in 1847. Tarraville was well placed to supply Tasmania (from Port Albert) with cattle and sheep, and it was important in supplying the Gippsland goldfields in the 1850s. Its population grew on the basis of this trade, increasing from 99 to 339 between 1848 and 1857 - the largest town in Gippsland in the 1850s.

The Residence is located on what was Loughnan Street in the township on the Special Survey estate and is one of only two buildings remaining from this township. Thomas H. Smith had arrived in Tarraville by 1850, as he was listed in the Victoria Directory of 1851. Smith's residence and shop were first cited in the 1856 electoral roll, the year Smith purchased the allotment from Reeve, and he was rated for this residence between 1863 and 1874.

The Residence, Stawell Street, Tarraville, is a weatherboard building with a pit-sawn hardwood frame and cladding and a high hipped roof. It has an asymmetrical facade, which faces what was the yard, rather than the street. The Residence comprised one large room and two smaller rooms. Internal walls were clad in lath and plaster, some of which remains in the smaller rooms. Other early internal features include ogee moulding on internal doorways, shingles in the roof, and a cedar fanlight, recently removed for repair from above the front door. A pear tree, believed to date from the 1860s, remains near the house and the area surrounding the house has the potential for archaeological relics from its early occupation.

How is it significant?

The Residence, Stawell Street, Tarraville is of historical, architectural, archaeological and aesthetic significance to the State of Victoria, and is also of State significance for its rarity.

Why is it significant?
The Residence at Stawell Street, Tarraville is of historical significance as an early remnant of a once flourishing, commercially and geographically important town in South Gippsland. The construction techniques and materials indicate evidence of the area's early trade links with Tasmania, the basis of the area's growth.

The Residence at Stawell Street, Tarraville is of significance for its construction methods and materials, which indicate it dates from the 1840s, and is a rare example of pre-Separation and pre-gold rush settlement in Gippsland.

The Residence, Stawell Street, Tarraville is of aesthetic significance as an example of an early, simple residential building form in Victoria, dating from the pre-Separation and pre-gold rush era in Victoria.

The Residence at Stawell Street, Tarraville is of architectural significance for its demonstration of construction methods and materials which are unusual for the State of Victoria, and which indicate it dates from the 1840s.

The site is of archaeological significance for its potential to reveal relics relating to the pre-Separation and pre-gold rush era occupation of the site and early settlement in Gippsland in the mid-nineteenth century.

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    • Assessment Against Criteria

      RESIDENCE - Assessment Against Criteria

      ASSESSMENT AGAINST CRITERIA

      a. Importance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria's cultural history.

      The Residence at Stawell Street, Tarraville is of historical significance as an early remnant of a once flourishing, commercially and geographically important town in South Gippsland. The construction techniques and materials indicate evidence of the area's early trade links with Tasmania, the basis of the area's growth.

      b. Possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Victoria's cultural history.

      The Residence at Stawell Street, Tarraville is of significance for its construction methods and materials, which indicate it dates from the 1840s, and is a rare example of pre-Separation and pre-gold rush settlement in Gippsland.

      c. Potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of Victoria's cultural history.

      The site is of archaeological significance for its potential to reveal relics relating to the pre-Separation and pre-gold rush era occupation of the site and early settlement in Gippsland in the mid-nineteenth century.

      d. Importance in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of cultural places or environments.

      e. Importance in exhibiting particular aesthetic characteristics.

      The Residence, Stawell Street, Tarraville is of aesthetic significance as an example of an early, simple residential building form in Victoria, dating from the pre-Separation and pre-gold rush era in Victoria.

      f. Importance in demonstrating a high degree of creative or technical achievement at a particular period.

      The Residence at Stawell Street, Tarraville is of architectural significance for its demonstration of construction methods and materials which are unusual for the State of Victoria, and which indicate it dates from the 1840s.

      g. Strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group for social, cultural or spiritual reasons. This includes the significance of a place to Indigenous peoples as part of their continuing and developing cultural traditions.

      h. Special association with the life or works of a person, or group of persons, of importance in Victoria's history.

      Plaque Citation

      RESIDENCE - Plaque Citation

      This residence, most likely dating from the 1840s, features early construction methods and materials. It was built on an allotment of John Reeve's Special Survey Tarra Vale estate, and is a remnant of the once flourishing trading town.

      Permit Exemptions

      RESIDENCE - 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:

      If there is any uncertainty as to whether or not a permit or permit exemption under s.66 of the Heritage Act is required, the owner must contact Heritage Victoria.

      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 plan endorsed by the Executive Director, all works shall be in accordance with it. Note: The existence of a Conservation Management Plan or a Heritage Action Plan endorsed by the Executive Director, Heritage Victoria 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.

      Regular Site Maintenance : The following site maintenance works are permit exempt under section 66 of the Heritage Act 1995: a) regular site maintenance provided the works do not involve the removal or destruction of any significant above-ground features or sub-surface archaeological artefacts or deposits; b) the maintenance of an item to retain its conditions or operation without the removal of or damage to the existing fabric or the introduction of new materials; c) cleaning including the removal of surface deposits, organic growths, or graffiti by the use of low pressure water and natural detergents and mild brushing and scrubbing; d) repairs, conservation and maintenance to plaques, memorials, roads and paths, fences and gates and drainage and irrigation. e) the replacement of existing services such as cabling, plumbing, wiring and fire services that uses existing routes, conduits or voids, and does not involve damage to or the removal of significant fabric. Note: Surface patina which has developed on the fabric may be an important part of the item's significance and if so needs to be preserved during maintenance and cleaning. Note: Any new materials used for repair must not exacerbate the decay of existing fabric due to chemical incompatibility, obscure existing fabric or limit access to existing fabric for future maintenance. Repair must maximise protection and retention of fabric and include the conservation of existing details or elements.

      Minor Works: Note: Any Minor Works that in the opinion of the Executive Director will not adversely affect the heritage significance of the place must be exempt from the permit requirements of the Heritage Act. A person proposing to undertake minor works may 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.

      Permit Exemption Policy

      RESIDENCE - Permit Exemption Policy

      PERMIT POLICY

      The purpose of the Permit Policy is to assist when considering or making decisions regarding works to the place. It is recommended that any proposed works be discussed with an officer of Heritage Victoria prior to making a permit application. Discussing any proposed works will assist in answering any questions the owner may have and aid any decisions regarding works to the place. It is recommended that a Conservation Management Plan is undertaken to assist with the future management of the cultural significance of the place.

      The extent of registration protects the whole site. The addition of new buildings to the site may impact upon the cultural heritage significance of the place and requires a permit. The purpose of this requirement is not to prevent any further development on this site, but to enable control of possible adverse impacts on heritage significance during that process.

      The significance of the place lies in its rarity and intactness as an early Residence likely from the 1840s. All of the registered building is integral to the significance of the place and any external or internal alterations that impact on its significance are subject to permit application.

Public contributions

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