FAWKNER MEMORIAL PARK
1187 HUME HIGHWAY, FAWKNER, MORELAND CITY
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Statement of Significance
What is significant?
Fawkner Memorial Park at 1187 Hume Highway, Fawkner is significant. The following features and elements contribute to the significance of the place:
- The cemetery layout, which is based upon the original plan prepared by Charles Heath.
- The buildings, structures and features designed by or under the direction of Charles or Frank Heath including the Tearooms and its associated formal landscape setting including terraces and mature Elms (Ulmus procera) and Canary Island Palms (Phoenix canariensis), the Garden of Remembrance 1 and Rose Urn Garden and associated mature plantings including a Pin Oak (Quercus palustris), Cedar (Cedrus sp.), Lemon-scented Gums (Corymbia citriodora) and Cypresses (Cupressus sp.), Garden of Remembrance 2, the bridges over Merlynston Creek at Fourth, Sixth and Seventh avenues, the Jewish Chapel and the Islamic/Muslim Chapel, the Charles Heath Fountain (as constructed c.1952 excluding the 1994 additions) and the R.J. Hardy Memorial Fountain.
- The formal landscape setting along Fourth Avenue comprising mature English Elms (Ulmus procera) between First Crescent and Fourth Crescent with a central plantation comprising mature red standard roses.
The remnant mature plantings along Second Avenue (Quercus robur and Cupressus sp.), Fifth Avenue (Ulmus procera), Second Crescent (Cupressus macrocarpa), and the extension of Fourth Crescent east of the Jewish Chapel (Cupressus macrocarpa)
- The traditional and picturesque cultural landscape within the area generally to the south of Merlynston Creek, which comprises the earliest memorials set within mature trees. The significant mature plantings include exotic trees of the genus Pinus, Cupressus, Quercus, Ulmus, Fraxinus and Phoenix canariensis, as well as some remnant and introduced native species, predominantly Eucalypts.
- The former mortuary carriage
- The 'Old Pioneers cemetery' and the John Batman memorial
- The Jewish Pioneers cemetery
- The entry gates, relocated to this site from the Melbourne Fish Markets.
How is it significant?
Fawkner Memorial Park is of local historic, social, architectural and aesthetic significance to Moreland City.
Why is it significant?
Fawkner Memorial Park is historically significant as one of two 'modern railway' cemeteries established in Victoria in the early twentieth century, which represented a new approach to cemetery planning. Unlike the other example at Springvale, which has lost its railway connection, the strong association to the railway is still demonstrated at Fawkner by the railway station and the rare example of a mortuary carriage, now on display adjacent to the station. (Criteria A).
Fawkner Memorial Park is historically significant as the repository of the remains relocated from the first Melbourne General Cemetery in North Melbourne. The Old Pioneers and Jewish Pioneers sections are of particular significance for the association with Melbourne's pioneers, and the associated gravestones are significant for being among the State's earliest funerary artefacts. The John Batman monument is of historical significance for its associations with man often referred to a Melbourne's founder and has important associations with organisations such as the Old Pioneers and the Australian Natives Association, which lobbied for its erection and held annual ceremonies at the memorial over many decades. (Criteria A & H).
Fawkner Memorial Park is historically and socially important for its representation of burial practices, religious affiliations, values and tastes during twentieth century. The Jewish Chapel and Islamic Chapel are significant as evidence of the growth of non-Christian denominations during the twentieth century. Fawkner Memorial Park is particularly significant as the site of Victoria's first 'modern' crematorium, which played an important role in making cremation an accepted burial practice in Victoria. Although the original crematorium has been demolished, the columbariums and memorial gardens provide evidence of the growing popularity of cremation during the 1930s. Fawkner Memorial Park is also significant as the place where the first public Mausoleums were established in Victoria. (Criteria A & G)
Fawkner Memorial Park is architecturally and aesthetically important as a fine example of a 'memorial lawn' cemetery, which is notable for its sophisticated layout that demonstrates prevailing nineteenth-century Picturesque and Classical ideals about cemetery design, as well as influence of the 'garden suburb' movement that emerged in the early twentieth century. This value is significantly enhanced by the central focus of the Charles Heath fountain, the buildings, structures bridges designed by Charles or Frank Heath, the mature trees along the main axial roads and throughout the various sections, and the large collection of gravestones and other examples of funerary art which form a major visual element of the cemetery landscape. The Tearooms and the associated formal gardens, Garden of Remembrance and Rose Urn Garden are especially notable as a particularly intact ensemble that is one of the finest twentieth century formal cemetery landscapes in Victoria. (Criteria D, E & F)
Fawkner Memorial Park is of historical and aesthetic significance for its rich and remarkable collection of monuments dating from the 1850s onwards, which demonstrate changing customs and attitudes associated with the commemoration of death. Many monuments are notable for their fine or unusual design. The collection charts the lives and deaths of many ordinary as well as prominent Victorians. The large number of graves to notable Victorians reflects the increasing importance of the Cemetery as the main burial area for the northern suburbs of Melbourne in the early twentieth century. (Criteria A, D & E)
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FAWKNER MEMORIAL PARK - Physical Description 1
The Fawkner Memorial Park is a large cemetery situated on a 176 hectares site, which straddles the Upfield Railway line - most of the site is on the west side of the railway, with a narrow section between the railway and Sydney Road, which forms the eastern boundary. It is bounded on the north by Box Forest Road (A later extension known as the Northern Memorial Park is to the north of Box Forest Road), to the south by Boundary Road, while Sussex Street forms part of the west boundary. Merlynston Creek runs through the centre of the site.
As noted in the History the layout of the Park is based on the original plans prepared by Charles Heath in 1906 and 1913 and includes formal and informal elements. The main entrance from Sydney Road leads to a roundabout just to the west of the railway from which five roads radiate outwards, the central road leading to the crematorium. Fawkner Railway Station is situated just to the south of the main entrance, opposite the Tearooms.
Built landscape
The built structures within the Park comprise a variety of buildings associated with the development from the early twentieth century to the present day. The significant structures, however, are those that were designed by or under the direction of Charles or Frank Heath in the period from 1906 to 1957. They are:The tearooms, mortuary carriage and associated formal landscaped area. The tearooms, situated adjacent to Fawkner Railway Station, is small pavilion in the style of a miniature Italian Provincial villa. The building is approximately square in plan, with full-height arched openings symmetrically placed on all four sides. The walls are constructed in pale tapestry brickwork, with the plinth and mouldings of an unusual speckled terracotta faience, and the hipped roof is clad with terracotta tiles. Some of the openings have been filled in with non-matching split-face concrete masonry. Between the tearooms and Fawkner Station is a formal garden which comprises a central lawn flanked by pathways of square concrete pavers. Adjacent to the station is a terrace with wall constructed of the same tapestry brickwork with wrought iron or rendered balustrades surmounted by Classical urns. Centrally placed steps lead to the station (unfortunately, this entrance has now been blocked and the station entrance is now to the north). The restored mortuary carriage is placed within this area under a simple enclosure. The formal layout of the garden is enhanced by mature trees (see below).
The Garden of Remembrance 1 and 2. The Garden of Remembrance 1, constructed in 1933, is situated adjacent to the Tearooms. It comprises a Columbarium constructed of pale brick with memorial plaques along its internal lengths on the north, west and east sides, and some niches and statuary. The entrance gates (on the east side) are wrought iron, as is the eastern boundary fence, and is bounded by concrete entrance pillars with further statuary and inlaid commemorative plaques. A second gateway at the south end, comprising two arched openings, connects to the Rose Urn Garden. Since the 1950s formal memorial beds containing standard roses have been added. The garden also contains a number of significant trees as described below.
The Garden of Remembrance 2, constructed c.1950, is situated to the south of the tearooms adjacent to the railway line. It comprises an irregular-shaped Columbarium of similar design using pale bricks. The earliest memorials date from the mid to late 1940s.
The Rose Urn Garden. Situated just to the south of (and connected to) the Garden of Remembrance 1, this is a sunken garden with low, cream brick retaining walls. It is rectangular in plan with a central rectangular pond. There are steps at either end. It is planted with rows of standard roses, predominantly red within the sunken section and paler colours elsewhere. A line of mature Cypresses define the southern boundary of the garden. The earliest memorials date from 1939.
The Jewish Chapel. Situated in a small reservation at the intersection of First Avenue and Fourth Crescent near the southern boundary of the Park this small symmetrically planned rendered building with a gabled roof and four overscaled square pillars on each corner was constructed c.1918. The main, eastern, entrance is recessed and has double doors with circular-patterned screen to the top section. Identical double doors are in the western elevation. A Star of David is set onto the wall above both entrances. There are two high set oculus windows in the side elevations - three of these have the Star of David in leadlight. The interior is plain and contains some furniture including low timber benches and memorial plaques set on the walls.
The Islamic Chapel. Situated just to the south-east of the intersection of Second Avenue and Fourth Crescent this is a small gabled building constructed in red brick with a tiled roof. There is a round head timber door set within an arched rendered opening in the eastern elevation and two small square windows in each side elevation. It has a decorative stringcourse under the eaves and gable ends, which is supported by corbelling along the side elevations.
The bridges over Fourth, Sixth and Seventh Avenues. The bridges are all single-span of reinforced concrete constructed and have similar classical detailing including the use of urns as decorative features. The two earlier bridges, at Fourth (constructed by 1927) and Sixth Avenue (constructed by 1920), are most similar in design and layout comprising balustrades with three panels each with decorative insets containing two larger circles connected by a smaller central circle. The balustrades are flanked by angled wing walls either side of the entrances, while Classical urns are placed on hexagonal pillars at the intersection of the balustrade and the wing walls and the ends of the wing walls. At the Sixth Avenue bridge, a low bench is set into one wing wall. The Seventh Avenue bridge, constructed c.1939, is of a different design comprising a high balustrade with an integral and recessed seating area, accessed by steps. Other detailing includes consoles and recessed panels above the seating and in the square columns.
The Charles Heath Fountain. Situated in the roundabout at the main entrance to the cemetery this comprises the original structure, constructed c.1952, which is the large concrete parabolic dish forming the base - the two metal inverted disks above this were added c.1994. Early shots show the fountain surrounded by a gravel garden planted with succulents.
The RJ Hardy Memorial. Situated near the intersection of Second Avenue and First Crescent, this is a small Moderne-influenced structure constructed of narrow bricks that contains a drinking fountain (no longer working) and a low planter box planted with Buxus. A brass plaque includes a dedication to Cr. Hardy 'This fountain commemorates the memory of Cr. R.J. Hardy J.P. who was for 21 years a member of the Board of Managers. Fawkner Memorial Park March 1940'.
The Park also contains a wide array of funerary monuments including gravestones, vaults, memorial walls and avenues, as well as more recently constructed mausoleums, including Victoria's first public mausoleum, constructed in 1994. The diversity of monument styles reflects the varied social groups and backgrounds of those buried here.
Of particular note is the Old Pioneers Section, where the remains and associated monuments of more prominent internments from the first Melbourne General Cemetery were relocated from in 1922. These include a number of early Melbourne pioneers, most notably John Batman. The Batman memorial is an obelisk placed centrally within the section within a plantation of standard roses aligned along the axis of Third Avenue. The Jewish Pioneers section comprises a small area enclosed by a recent fence, which contains several headstones lying flat on the ground, oriented north-south.
The road system comprises fully constructed roads (Second, Fourth, Sixth & Seventh avenues and Fourth Crescent) as well as unsealed roads (First, Second & Third Crescent, First and Third avenues). The informal character of the unsealed roads, which in some cases (e.g. First Avenue) is complemented by plantings of native trees appears to most closely resemble the early images of the cemetery during the 1920s and 30s.
Vegetation
Fawkner Cemetery is a most picturesque cultural landscape, which is the result of the continuous development of the grounds over a 100 year period. A wide range of plants and planting styles is evident on the site, reflecting both changing tastes and approaches to management, as well as the availability of resources, since the cemetery's opening.Typical early plantings throughout the site include various species of Conifer, which are typical cemetery trees because of their dark sombre appearance, which was consistent with Victorian-era concepts of mourning. Others include exotic trees such as Elms (Ulmus sp.), Common Oaks (Quercus robur), Lombardy Poplars (Populus nigra 'Italica') and Palms (Phoenix canariensis and Trachycarpus fortunei) that are typically used in early twentieth century landscapes. There are also some significant remnant indigenous trees, particularly at the western end of the site.
The significant tree plantings, listed below, include three main types - the first is formal avenue plantings (usually of single species) which are based on the 1906 plan, and serve to reinforce and enhance the formal layout, the second type is the mature tree rows used to define boundaries between burial areas and along the perimeter areas, and the third are the informal single specimen plantings within the various denominational sections, many of which were planted in association with gravesites.
1. Fourth Avenue. This comprises approximately 18 pairs of mature English Elms (Ulmus procera) between First and Fourth Crescent - Planes were specified on the 1906 and it is not known whether these trees are a later replacement. The trees form an impressive avenue, which is complemented by the median planting of standard roses, in red only, and similar rose beds along the outside of the trees. There are young specimens of the same tree in the section between the roundabout and First Crescent, which may have replaced older trees.
2. Second Avenue. It appears that Second Avenue was lined with Oaks (Quercus robur) or Oaks alternating with Conifers (Cupressus sp.). Oaks were specified on the 1906 plan. Three large Oaks survive near the intersection with First Crescent, and on the south-east side between First Crescent and Second Crescent there is a relatively intact section comprising Oaks and Conifers.
3. Fifth Avenue. The constructed section of Fifth Avenue west of First Crescent is lined with mature English Elms, including a particularly large specimen on the north side. Elms were specified on the 1906 plan. A number of remnant Elms within the lawn area to east of First Avenue mark the alignment of the unconstructed section of Fifth Avenue leading back to the roundabout.
4. Second Crescent. The section between Fourth and Fifth Avenues, which contains a number of mature Monterey Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa).
5. Fourth Avenue extension. The mature Monterey Cypress lining the extension of Fourth Avenue east of the Jewish Chapel. One of these can be seen in an early photo of the chapel (see Chambers, 2006:99) and possibly date from c.1920s.
6. Garden of Remembrance 1. Significant trees within the garden include a Lemon Scented Gum (Eucalyptus citriodora), a Pin Oak (Quercus palustris) planted c.1937 in honour of the Palmer Family and a Cedar (Cedrus sp.), planted c.1938 for the Gray family.
7. Tearooms formal gardens. Significant plantings, which emphasise the formal symmetrical layout, including two Canary Island Palms (Phoenix canariensis) and four English Elms (Ulmus procera) planted adjacent to the lower terrace, as well as conifers along the upper terrace. Two Liquidambars (Liquidambar styraciflua) are also placed at either end of the tearooms.
8. Rose Urn Garden. The mature Monterey Cypress row that defines the south boundary of the garden, likely planted at the time the garden was established in 1939.
9. The mature Monterey Cypress row along the southern boundary of the cemetery, planted c.1930s/40s. Chambers (2006:105) records that Merlynston residents lobbied for a 'suitable screen or hedge' on the southern boundary as early as 1926.
10. Various specimens of Conifers (particularly Cupressus sempervirens and Cupressus torulosa) throughout the older denominational sections. Plantings in the 'Methodist A' section in the north-east also include various palms.
11. Several mature Canary Island Palms (Phoenix canariensis) surround the roundabout - early photos (c.1930) in Chambers (2006:137) show semi-mature examples in the roundabout (prior to the installation of the fountain) and within the central median of the access road on eastern side of the railway. It is therefore possible that these trees were relocated to their present positions.
12. The grove of Eucalypts adjacent to Merlynston Creek near the Crick and Joyce Chapels appears in early (c.1920s) photos (see Chambers, 2006:110) showing the original crematorium and chapel on that site. The north of the site, contains a number of remnant River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), some believed to have been Aboriginal Scar Trees. In the area adjacent to the railway line are further River Red Gums and remnant native grassland.Heritage Study and Grading
Moreland - City of Moreland - North of Bell Street Heritage Study
Author: Context Pty Ltd
Year: 2013
Grading: StateMoreland - City of Moreland Heritage Review
Author: Allen Lovell and Associates
Year: 1999
Grading: StateMoreland - Moreland City Council: Local Heritage Places Review
Author: Context Pty Ltd
Year: 2004
Grading:
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