Back to search results

HEATHCOTE POWDER MAGAZINE
FOREST DRIVE HEATHCOTE, GREATER BENDIGO CITY

All information on this page is maintained by Heritage Victoria. Click below for their website and contact details.
Victorian Heritage Register
HEATHCOTE POWDER MAGAZINE SOHE 2008
HEATHCOTE POWDER MAGAZINE SOHE 2008
HEATHCOTE POWDER MAGAZINE SOHE 2008
1 heathcote powder magazine side view aug1997
heathcote powder magazine end view nov1984
heathcote powder magazine rear view
heathcote powder magazine slit window detail
On this page:

Statement of Significance

What is significant?

The Act to Regulate the Importation, Carriage and Custody of Gunpowder was passed in 1857 in a period when increasing deep mining for gold engendered a requirement for safe storage of large quantities of explosives. Under the Act, public powder magazines were financed by Government and administered locally. After 1857 over twenty five new magazines were erected in Victoria and older magazines extended. The McIvor diggings, with which the Heathcote Powder Magazine is associated, were a pivotal point of mining activities in the central goldfields area and ensured the development of Heathcote as a township. The Heathcote Powder Magazine was constructed by the Public Works Department in 1864, in high quality quarry faced local stone laid in coursed ashlar. Like several other magazines built during the 1860's, the Heathcote Powder Magazine features a brick vaulted space inside a buttressed rectangular building, with a small used entry and office space. The vault, buttressing and baffled air vents were a manifestation of the (erroneous) belief prevalent at the time that massive masonry would help to contain explosives. The gable roof over the vault was originally of slate. Sawn Oregon racks remain in the main room, together with a two door iron safe with decorative stencilling.

How is it significant?

The Heathcote Powder Magazine is of historic and architectural importance to the State of Victoria.

Why is it significant?

The Heathcote Powder Magazine is of historic significance as an example of a building type, which played an important part in the development of deep alluvial and quartz mining activities in the goldfields of Victoria in the late 1850s and the 1860s.

The Heathcote Powder Magazine is of architectural significance as a fine example of a rare building type. Set in the picturesque surrounds of the McIvor Range Reserve, the building demonstrates particularly fine stone masonry and brick vaulting work and is an excellent example of a Public Works department designed powder magazine.

Show more
Show less

    • History

      HEATHCOTE POWDER MAGAZINE - History

      Powder Magazines in Victoria were primarily intended to store explosives used in goldmining, quarrying and road-making. Publicly owned powder magazines were located outside many goldfields towns to avoid accidental explosions close to residential areas. By 1890 there were 22 public magazines in Victoria, but by 1921 all were closed, due to the decline in goldmining activity. They were replaced by a system of licensed private magazines.

      Powder Magazines were also constructed inside forts to store gunpowder and other explosives.

      Permit Exemptions

      HEATHCOTE POWDER MAGAZINE - 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:

      EXEMPTIONS FROM PERMITS:
      (Classes of works or activities which may be undertaken without a permit under
      Part 4 of the Heritage Act 1995)

      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 or object.
      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.
      If there is a conservation policy and plan approved by the Executive Director,
      all works shall be in accordance with it.
      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.

      Exterior:

      Reinstatement and making good of the fire damaged roof in materials and form
      to match the original.
      Minor repairs and maintenance which replace like with like.
      Regular landscape maintenance.

Public contributions

Note: Developments may span multiple time periods
Timeline browser

< to 1849
< - 1849
1850 to 1879
1850 - 1879
1880 to 1909
1880 - 1909
1910 to 1939
1910 - 1939
1940 to 1969
1940 - 1969
1970 to 1999
1970 - 1999
2000 to >
2000 - >