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RESIDENCE
70 JULIA STREET PORTLAND, GLENELG SHIRE

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Victorian Heritage Register
RESIDENCE SOHE 2008
RESIDENCE SOHE 2008
RESIDENCE SOHE 2008
1 residence 70 julia street portland front view
dr grier residence julia street portland north end she project 2003
dr grier residence julia street portland rear east side she project 2003
dr grier residence julia street portland west side she project 2003
dr grier residence julia street portland upstairs balustrade she project 2003
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Statement of Significance

What is significant?

In December 1800, Lieutenant James Grant on board the Lady Nelson sighted a wide bay which he named Portland Bay after a Secretary of State, the Duke of Portland. The bay had an abundance of seals and whales and by the early 1830s, sealers and whalers had established a whaling station and trading port on the bay. As the richness of the pastoral hinterland became apparent, other settlers took up land in the area. It soon became apparent that the combination of fine grazing land, the substantial numbers of whales and seals and a good sheltered harbour made the location an outstanding prospect for a permanent township. On the favourable advice of Foster Fyans, the Police Magistrate for Geelong, the government commenced the set out of a new township in 1840.

In an attempt to deter further congestion of the already overcrowded Victorian goldfields, ships were being diverted from Melbourne to outlying colonial ports. In 1852, the first immigrant ships to sail directly from Great Britain arrived in Portland. Dr Charles Grier, a licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and the Surgeon Superintendent aboard the John Davies, was apparently so impressed with Portland that he resigned his commission, left the ship and commenced medical practice in the town. In 1855-56 Grier erected his house in Julia St to the design of local engineer and architect John Barrow. Barrow has been identified as the architect through the discovery of pencil notes left by workmen on the back of a door which refer to Barrow in less than complimentary terms. Grier left Australia in 1866. The house passed through various ownerships until 1927 when dairyman Frederick Sharpe purchased the property. The Sharpe family held the house until 1981.

This fine axed ashlar basalt structure is a Victorian Georgian style building with a modest string course and elongated pilasters supporting a restrained cornice and parapet. The twelve-pane double hung sash windows have simple surrounds and there is a bracketed cornice over the door opening. The hipped roof, which was originally clad in slate, is now corrugated iron. The house still retained its original cedar staircase and marble fireplaces in 1990.

How is it significant?

The residence at 70 Julia St Portland is of architectural significance and historical significance to the State of Victoria.

Why is it significant?

The residence at 70 Julia St Portland is of architectural significance for the unusual expression in a residential building of a giant order pilaster and cornice on the face of an otherwise typical Victorian Georgian style townhouse. It is one of few designs attributed to the Portland engineer and architect John Barrow.

The residence is of historical significance for its association with the commercial development of Portland in a period when immigrant ships were being diverted to Portland in an attempt to reduce overcrowding on the goldfields. Dr Grier is an important figure in the early social history of Portland.

[Online Data Upgrade Project 2005]

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    • History

      RESIDENCE - History

      Heritage Inventory History of Site: The plaque reads, "No. 70 Julia Street. Built 1873. Residence and surgery of Doctor Charles Grier, Surgeon - Superintendent of the immigrant ship 'John Davies'" [Note: Recent research indicates that the date on the plaque of 1873 is incorrect. The following history accurately dates the building. Terry Sawyer 13/04/2005 ]

      In December 1800, Lieutenant James Grant on board the Lady Nelson sighted a wide bay which he named Portland Bay after a Secretary of State, the Duke of Portland. The bay had an abundance of seals and whales and by the early 1830s, sealers and whalers had established a whaling station and trading port on the bay. As the richness of the pastoral hinterland became apparent, other settlers took up land in the area. It soon became apparent that the combination of fine grazing land, the substantial numbers of whales and seals and a good sheltered harbour made the location an outstanding prospect for a permanent township. On the favourable advice of Foster Fyans, the Police Magistrate for Geelong, the government commenced the set out of a new township in 1840.

      In an attempt to deter further congestion of the already overcrowded Victorian goldfields, ships were being diverted from Melbourne to outlying colonial ports. In 1852, the first immigrant ships to sail directly from Great Britain arrived in Portland. Dr Charles Grier, a licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and the Surgeon Superintendent aboard the John Davies, was apparently so impressed with Portland that he resigned his commission, left the ship and commenced medical practice in the town. In 1855-56 Grier erected his house in Julia St to the design of local engineer and architect John Barrow. Barrow has been identified as the architect through the discovery of pencil notes left by workmen on the back of a door which refer to Barrow in less than complimentary terms. Grier left Australia in 1866. The house passed through various ownerships until 1927 when dairyman Frederick Sharpe purchased the property. The Sharpe family held the house until 1981.

      The draft statement of significance and the above history were produced as part of an Online Data Upgrade Project 2005. Sources were as follows:
      Portland Guardian, 12 Nov 1855 [courtesy Gwen Bennett]
      Personal communication, 29 March 2005 Gwen Bennett
      Gwen Bennett. Portland; Now & Then…1993
      Portland Observer, 24 Aug 1976, p 4
      Australian Heritage Commission. Register of the National Estate

      Permit Exemptions

      RESIDENCE - 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. General Conditions: 2. Should it become apparent during further inspection or the carrying out of works 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 works shall cease and Heritage Victoria shall be notified as soon as possible. Note: All archaeological places have the potential to contain significant sub-surface artefacts and other remains. In most cases it will be necessary to obtain approval from the Executive Director, Heritage Victoria before the undertaking any works that have a significant sub-surface component.

      General Conditions: 3. If there is a conservation policy and planall works shall be in accordance with it. Note:A Conservation Management Plan or a Heritage Action Plan provides guidance for the management of the heritage values associated with the site. It may not be necessary to obtain a heritage permit for certain works specified in the management plan.

      General Conditions: 4. Nothing in this determination prevents the Executive Director from amending or rescinding all or any of the permit exemptions. General Conditions: 5. Nothing in this determination exempts owners or their agents from the responsibility to seek relevant planning or building permits from the responsible authorities where applicable. Minor Works : Note: Any Minor Works that in the opinion of the Executive Director will not adversely affect the heritage significance of the place may be exempt from the permit requirements of the Heritage Act. A person proposing to undertake minor works must submit a proposal to the Executive Director. If the Executive Director is satisfied that the proposed works will not adversely affect the heritage values of the site, the applicant may be exempted from the requirement to obtain a heritage permit. If an applicant is uncertain whether a heritage permit is required, it is recommended that the permits co-ordinator be contacted.

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