RESIDENCE
42 WALLACE AVENUE TOORAK, STONNINGTON CITY
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Statement of Significance
The residence at 42 Wallace Avenue Toorak was built in 1936 to the design of noted architect Marcus W Martin as the family home of oil magnate Sir Hamilton Sleigh, the founder of Golden Fleece petroleum. Marcus Martin was probably the most popular architect amongst the wealthy Toorak establishment in the inter-war years and produced many buildings which exhibited his hallmark of restrained modernism. The white painted brick mansion dominates its corner site and combines a stylised suggestion of Richardsonian Romanesque with an otherwise modern exterior. The use of Moderne detailing over an essentially Georgian building form was a feature of Martin's mature work. The sitting room and library have steel framed bow windows. The substantially intact interior features a double storey hall with a stair and balcony with a wrought iron balustrade manufactured by the important firm of Caslake. The service wing has been modernised for family use.
How is it significant?
42 Wallace Avenue Toorak is architecturally, historically and socially significant to the State of Victoria.
Why is it significant?
42 Wallace Avenue Toorak is architecturally significant as an important example of a fine domestic design from the 1930s. It is an important design by Marcus W Martin, the most popular of architects in that decade amongst the wealthy residents of South Yarra and Toorak. The house represented the epitome of his personal brand of temperate modernism a house which was modern in aspects of appointment and comfort, but which avoided overt modernistic stylism in favour of restrained period form and detailing. The impressive size of the house, reflecting the wealth and social position of his client, made it one of the major domestic commissions of Martin's career. The house has a distinctive form and character to its exterior and is important for its landmark status within its environment. The interior, in particular the hall, library, powder room, dining room, sitting room and master bedroom, remains substantially intact to its original design and is an important exemplar of a refined 1930s interior. Both the interior and exterior retain fine pieces of Caslake wrought iron believed to be amongst the best work of that notable firm.
42 Wallace Avenue Toorak is historically and socially significant for its long associations with the family of prominent businessman Sir Hamilton Sleigh, and for its prominent landmark siting on the corner of Bruce Street. As a crucial element of inter-war Toorak the house shares in the significance of the Toorak Village area as the very heartland of Victoria's elite and a nationally recognised byword for wealth and influence.
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RESIDENCE - History
Associated People: Sir Hamilton SleighRESIDENCE - Assessment Against Criteria
Criterion A
The historical importance, association with or relationship to Victoria's history of the place or object.Criterion B
The importance of a place or object in demonstrating rarity or uniqueness.Criterion C
The place or object's potential to educate, illustrate or provide further scientific investigation in relation to Victoria's cultural heritage.Criterion D
The importance of a place or object in exhibiting the principal characteristics or the representative nature of a place or object as part of a class or type of places or objects.Criterion E
The importance of the place or object in exhibiting good design or aesthetic characteristics and/or in exhibiting a richness, diversity or unusual integration of features.Criterion F
The importance of the place or object in demonstrating or being associated with scientific or technical innovations or achievements.Criterion G
The importance of the place or object in demonstrating social or cultural associations.Criterion H
Any other matter which the Council considers relevant to the determination of cultural heritage significanceRESIDENCE - 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.
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.
5. 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.
Exterior
* Minor repairs and maintenance which replace like with like.
* Removal of extraneous items such as air conditioners, pipe work, ducting, wiring, antennae, aerials etc, and making good.
* Installation or repair of damp-proofing by either injection method or grouted pocket method.
* Regular garden maintenance.
* Installation, removal or replacement of garden watering systems.
* Laying, removal or replacement of paving in the back and side gardens and the courtyard.
Interior
* 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.
* Installation, removal or replacement of carpets and/or flexible floor coverings.
* Installation, removal or replacement of curtain track, rods, blinds and other window dressings.
* Installation, removal or replacement of hooks, nails and other devices for the hanging of mirrors, paintings and other wall mounted artworks.
* Refurbishment of bathrooms, toilets and or en suites (except for the powder room) including removal, installation or replacement of sanitary fixtures and associated piping, mirrors, wall and floor coverings.
* Installation, removal or replacement of kitchen benches and fixtures including sinks, stoves, ovens, refrigerators, dishwashers etc and associated plumbing and wiring.
* 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. Note: if wiring original to the place was carried in timber conduits then the conduits should remain in-situ.
* Installation, removal or replacement of bulk insulation in the roof space.
* Installation, removal or replacement of smoke detectors.RESIDENCE - Permit Exemption Policy
The importance of this place resides in the integrity of its architectural design both externally and internally. That integrity has been somewhat compromised in the service areas of the house but is otherwise substantially intact. The white painting of the brickwork is thought to be original and if this is found to be so then it should not be altered.
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