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MANYUNG RECREATION CAMP
35 SUNNYSIDE ROAD MOUNT ELIZA, MORNINGTON PENINSULA SHIRE

All information on this page is maintained by Heritage Victoria. Click below for their website and contact details.
Victorian Heritage Register
MANYUNG RECREATION CAMP SOHE 2008
MANYUNG RECREATION CAMP SOHE 2008
MANYUNG RECREATION CAMP SOHE 2008
1 manyung recreation camp cabins june00
manyung recreation camp plan
Camp Manyung Plan
Before Photograph - Reference F3921 2014
Before Photograph - Reference F3921 2014
After Photograph - Reference F3921 2016
After Photograph - Reference F3921 2016
After Photograph - Reference F3921 2016
After Photograph - Reference F3921 2016
Before Photograph - Reference F3921 2014
Before Photograph - Reference F3921 2014
On this page:

Statement of Significance

What is significant?
Camp Manyung is of significance to the State of Victoria for the following reasons:

- Camp Manyung is one of the longest operating youth camps in Victoria. It provides evidence from the late 1920s onwards of aspects of Victoria's camping history. It has great social value for its associations with several generations of Victorian campers. Many remember Camp Manyung as a special place where the YMCA camp experience changed their lives.

- The Camp Manyung complex is one of two permanent camps which demonstrates the YMCA's involvement in the welfare of young people and their families over more than 70 years in Victoria. In its scale and grand vision for future development, Camp Manyung demonstrates the strong commitment of the YMCA to youth camping in Victoria. It is the only remaining early Victorian property managed today by the YMCA as the city headquarters has been demolished and Camp Buxton is now in private ownership.

- Camp Manyung is a rare example of a purpose built, permanent seaside youth camp in Victoria. A number of innovative programs were introduced at Camp Manyung, including leadership training courses and family camps.

- Although imperfectly realised, Camp Manyung demonstrates aspects of its ambitious original design concept by notable architect, Eric Nicholls in conjunction with the YMCA's Ivor Burge. Burge wanted Camp Manyung to meet American YMCA camp ideals. Nicholls' design demonstrates the influence of his employer and later business partner, one of Australia's most prominent architects, Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin in its use of formal geometry and informal landscapes, architectonic motifs and low cost construction methods. It also exhibits some key aspects of the Garden City design movement. Aspects of the original landscape design by David Mathews, curator of Footscray Gardens, may remain.

- Camp Manyung is a rare example of a large youth camp complex built by voluntary labour (with the help of architect Griffin who designed the concrete brick making machine). 

- It is a rare example of a Victorian youth camp complex which provided affordable holiday accommodation. 

- Camp Manyung was associated historically with a number of prominent Victorians. These included its founder, Thomas Baker, founder of the Australian branch of Kodak and of the Alice and Thomas Baker Institute of Medical Research; Ivor Burge, Physical Director of the Melbourne YMCA and Camp Director at Manyung, who became important in the sporting history of Victoria (and indeed, Australia); the notable architects Eric Nicholls and Walter Burley Griffin; and the cycling champion, Hubert Opperman, who often demonstrated his skills at Camp Manyung. It was associated also with two prominent Melbourne businessmen, Bruce Small and Jack Handley.

Camp Manyung also has high local historical and social significance:

- Camp Manyung was associated with the development of Mt. Eliza from the 1920s as an important Victorian seaside resort.
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    • Permit Exemptions

      MANYUNG RECREATION CAMP - 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:

      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.
      2. Should it become apparent during further inspection or the carrying out of alterations 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 alteration shall cease and the Executive Director shall be notified as soon as possible.
      3. If there is a conservation policy and plan approved by the Executive Director, all works shall be in accordance with it.
      4. Nothing in this declaration prevents the Executive Director from amending or rescinding all or any of the permit exemptions.
      Nothing in this declaration exempts owners or their agents from the responsibility to seek relevant planning or building permits from the responsible authority where applicable.

      Exteriors of registered buildings
      *Painting of previously painted walls, posts, and roofing in the same colour.
      *Treatments to stabilise and protect timber structures.
      *Removal of existing external aerials, airconditioning, heating and water heating plant, plumbing and ducting .

      Interiors or registered buildings
      *Painting of previously painted walls and ceilings provided that preparation or painting does not remove evidence of the original paint or other decorative scheme.
      *Removal of paint from originally unpainted or oiled joinery, doors, architraves, skirtings and decorative strapping.
      *Refurbishment of existing toilets and bathrooms including removal, installation or replacement of sanitary fixtures and associated piping, mirrors, wall and floor coverings.
      *Installation, removal or replacement of electrical wiring provided that all new wiring is fully concealed and any original light switches, pull cords, push buttons or power outlets are retained in-situ.
      *Installation, removal or replace of bulk insulation in the roof space.
      *Installation, removal or replacement of smoke detectors, sprinkler systems and exit signs.

      Non-registered buildings:
      *Any internal works.

      Landscape:
      *The replanting of plant species to conserve the landscape character.
      *Management of trees in accordance with Australian Standard; Pruning of amenity trees AS 4373.
      *Removal of plants listed as Noxious Weeds in the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994.
      *Repairs, conservation and maintenance to hard landscape elements, asphalt and gravel paths and roadways, rock edging, fences and gates, other than in the Outdoor Chapel.
      *Installation, removal or replacement of garden watering and drainage systems.
      *Plant labelling and interpretive signage.

      Sports Fields:
      *All maintenance works to provide for quality turf and a safe playing surface.
      *The erection and removal of temporary structures necessary for the staging of sports events.

      Permit Exemption Policy

      MANYUNG RECREATION CAMP - Permit Exemption Policy

      The registered buildings listed in the extent are of primary significance. Permit applications will be required for any alterations to the registered buildings apart from maintenance which replaces like with like. Exemptions have been given for a variety of non intrusive works and for refurbishment of wet areas to maintain the use and liveability of the buildings

      For non registered buildings any internal alterations are exempted. Permit applications will still be required for additions, demolition or construction of new buildings.

      The purpose of registering the land is to protect those elements of the landscape which relate to the 1920s period planting and layout. Exemptions are made for general maintenance and repair.

Public contributions

Note: Developments may span multiple time periods
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