CAST IRON MILEPOSTS

LISMORE-SCARSDALE ROAD AND ROKEWOOD-SKIPTON ROAD CAPE CLEAR, GOLDEN PLAINS SHIRE

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Victorian Heritage Register

CAST IRON MILEPOSTS SOHE 2008

Statement of Significance

• Additional Place Information

  • History

    CAST IRON MILEPOSTS - History

    Victoria’s road network expanded following its separation from New South Wales and the gold rushes of the 1850s. Shires or local district road boards were largely responsible for building and maintaining local roads across Victoria. In the 1860s, the Shire of Grenville managed roads south-west of Ballarat. While the railway came to Ballarat in 1862, travel by coach was critical for travel between and beyond railway stations into more remote areas of western Victoria. During this era, stone mileposts were installed along major routes in Western Victoria. In the 1870s cast iron mileposts began to appear. 

    
    In June 1871, the need arose to measure up the Springdallah (now Pitfield) and Upper Western (now Geelong-Portland Road) main roads. An estimate was made for the erection of mileposts along the roads after Councillors Laidlan and Baird of the Grenville Shire Council successfully initiated the project. The contract was given to Patrick Monaghan & Co to supply and erect 15 mileposts. The mileposts were produced at James Hunt’s foundry in Ballarat. Hunt had deposited a patent for "an improved distance indicator" made of cast iron in 1871. 

    
     In 1942, after the fall of Pearl Harbour, the threat of a Japanese invasion prompted the removal of the mileposts and many were dug up and buried a few meters from their original location. In 1946 most of them were re-instated in their original locations. Since that time many of the cast iron mileposts have been removed and replaced by modern distance indicators.   

    Permit Exemptions

    CAST IRON MILEPOSTS - 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 

    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.  
    
    

    It is acknowledged that alterations and other works may be required to keep places and objects in good repair and adapt them for use into the future. However, under the Heritage Act 2017 a person must not knowingly, recklessly or negligently remove, relocate or demolish, damage or despoil, develop or alter or excavate all or any part of any part of a registered place without approval. It should be noted that the definition of ‘develop’ in the Act includes any works on, over or under the place. 
    
    

    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 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 section 38 of the Heritage Act) or after registration (under section 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 a registered place or registered object

    Under section 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 a registered place or registered object

    Under section 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.
    
    

    Archaeology

    There is no identified archaeology of State level significance at the place. However, any works that may affect historical archaeological features, deposits or artefacts at the place is likely to require a permit, permit exemption or consent. Advice should be sought from the Archaeology Team at Heritage Victoria.
    
    

    Aboriginal cultural heritage

    To establish whether this place is registered under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 please contact Aboriginal Victoria. The Heritage Act 2017 and the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 are separate pieces of legislation. Please be aware that both Acts are required to be satisfied and satisfying the requirements of one Act may not satisfy the requirements of the other. 
    
    

    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. 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.
    
    

    Other approvals

    Please be aware that approval from other authorities (such as local government) may be required to undertake works.
    
    

    Notes

    • 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 where applicable.

    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.
    • Should it become apparent during further inspection or the carrying out of works that original or previously hidden or inaccessible details of the place are revealed which relate to the significance of the place, then the exemption covering such works must cease and Heritage Victoria must be notified as soon as possible. 

     

    Permit Exemptions

    
    The following permit exemptions are not considered to cause harm to the cultural heritage significance of the cast iron mileposts.
    
    

    Milepost maintenance

    • Repainting in the same colour, finish and product type provided that preparation or painting does not remove evidence of earlier paint finishes or schemes. 
    • Repairs to foundations.   

    Road maintenance 

    • Maintenance and repair works to existing roadways, pathways, shoulders, medians and verges including works to the road surface, kerbs and channels, road line marking and drains. 
    • Maintenance to or removal of existing underground and overhead utilities. 
    • Repair and maintenance of light masts, signage, bollards and the like. 
    • Removal or replacement of existing light masts, signage, bollards and the like provided the size, location and materials remains the same. 

     

    Temporary structures 

    • The installation and/or erection of temporary elements associated with road works for a maximum period of six months after which time they must be removed and any affected areas of the place made good to match the condition of the place prior to installation. This includes:

    - Temporary protective barriers surrounding the mileposts during roadworks for a period no longer than six months. 

    - Temporary security fencing, scaffolding, hoardings or surveillance systems to prevent unauthorised access or secure public safety during roadworks. 

    - Temporary built or mobile structures such as portable toilets. 

    - Temporary infrastructure, including wayfinding/directional/instructional signage, lighting, public address systems, and the like in support of roadworks which do not require fixing into the ground within 5 metres of the milepost. 

    
    Landscape 

    • The processes of landscape maintenance including slashing and mowing. Protection is to be provided for the mileposts during this work. 
    • Installation of physical barriers or traps to enable vegetation protection and management of vermin such as rats, mice and possums. 
    • Management and maintenance of trees including pruning, removal of deadwood and pest and disease control. 
    • Emergency tree works to maintain public safety. 
    • Removal of environmental and noxious weeds in a manner which does not disturb the foundations of the mileposts.   
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