Newtown Heritage Study Review 2008 - City of Greater Geelong

City of Greater Geelong 

Newtown Heritage Study Review 

2008 

Volume 1 

Prepared by: City of Greater Geelong 

ADOPTED July 2009

City of Greater Geelong 

Newtown Heritage Study Review 2008 

Volume 1 

Adopted July 2009 

Prepared by: City of Greater Geelong 

Front cover: Panorama of Geelong, Chilwell from Newtown Hill 

Copyright E. de Balk, 1866 

Geelong Heritage Centre Collection GRS 2009/2020

Newtown Heritage Study Review, July 2009 – Volume 1 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

VOLUME 1 

Page 

Executive Summary 1 

Maps 4 

SECTION 1 

1.0 Introduction and Methodology 18 

1.1 The Study Team 18 

1.2 Acknowledgments 19 

1.3 The Project Description 19 

1.4 The Project Output and Outcomes 20 

1.5 Post Project Implementation 20 

1.6 The Study Area 21 

1.7 Selected Heritage Studies 21 

1.8 Terminology 22 

1.9 Methodology 22 

1.9.1 Preliminary Research 22 

1.9.2 Fieldwork 23 

1.9.3 Individual Heritage Places Researched, Assessed and 

Documented 23 

1.9.4 Heritage Precincts 24 

1.10 Scope of Works 24 

1.10.1 Heritage Places 24 

1.10.2 Heritage Precincts 24 

1.10.3 Individual Heritage Places 25 

1.10.4 Existing Individual Heritage Places 26 

1.11 Assessment of Significance 26 

1.11.1 Basis of Assessment 26 

1.11.2 Assessment Criteria for the Register of the National Estate 27 

1.12 Precinct Evaluation Criteria 29 

1.13 Precinct Significance Integrity Thresholds 30 

1.14 Levels of Significance 31 

1.15 Recommendations 32 

1.15.1 Statutory Protection 32 

1.15.2 Reference Documents 32 

1.15.3 Heritage Places 32 

1.15.4 HERMES and Victorian heritage database 32 

SECTION 2 

2.0 Aberdeen Heritage Precinct 33 

2.1 Precinct Boundaries 33 

2.2 Contextual Background 33 

2.3 Physical Evidence 35 

2.3.1 Building Character and Appearance 35 

2.3.2 Urban Design and Engineering Infrastructure 38 

2.3.3 Landscaping 38 

2.4 Statement of Significance 39 

2.5 Aberdeen Street Heritage Precinct Map 40 

2.6 Aberdeen Street Precinct Historical Figures 41 

2.7 Contemporary Photographs 50 

Prepared by City of Greater Geelong 

i


SECTION 3 

3.0 Eyre Heritage Precinct 53 








3.5 Eyre Heritage Precinct Map 65 

3.6 Eyre Precinct Historical Figures 66 


SECTION 4 

4.0 Hermitage Heritage Precinct 85 


4.2 Historical Evidence 85 

4.2.1 The Initial Years 85 

4.2.2 Early Land Holdings and Developments 85 

4.2.3 Establishment of the Borough of Newtown and Chilwell 87 

4.2.4 Street Names 87 






4.5 Hermitage Heritage Precinct Map 95 

4.6 Hermitage Heritage Historical Figures 96 


SECTION 5 

5.0 William and Margaret Street Heritage Precinct 113 








5.5 William and Margaret Street Heritage Precinct Map 124 

5.6 William and Margaret Street Precinct Historical Figures 125 


SECTION 6 

6.0 Shannon Avenue Heritage Precinct 144 








6.5 Shannon Avenue Heritage Precinct Map 154 

6.6 Shannon Avenue Precinct Historical Figures 155 



ii


SECTION 7 

7.0 Clarkes Hill Heritage Precinct 179 







7.4 Statement of Cultural Significance 189 

7.5 Clarkes Hill Heritage Precinct Map 190 

7.6 Clarkes Hill Precinct Historical Figures 191 


SECTION 8 

8.0 Bareena Estate Heritage Precinct 207 








8.5 Bareena Estate Heritage Precinct Map 219 

8.6 Bareena Estate Historical Figures 220 


SECTION 9 

9.0 Mercer’s Hill Heritage Precinct 239 



9.3 Mercer’s Hill Heritage Area 239 






9.6 Mercer’s Hill Heritage Precinct Map 246 

9.7 Mercer’s Hill Historical Figures 247 


SECTION 10 

10.0 Cairns Avenue Heritage Precinct 263 



10.3 Cairns Avenue Heritage Area 263 






10.6 Cairns Avenue Heritage Precinct Map 269 

10.7 Cairns Avenue Historical Figures 270 



iii


SECTION 11 

11.0 Fairview Heritage Precinct 282 








11.5 Fairview Heritage Precinct Map 291 

11.6 Fairview Historical Figures 292 


SECTION 12 

12.0 Bona Vista Heritage Precinct 311 



12.3 Bona Vista Heritage Area 311 






12.6 Bona Vista Heritage Precinct Map 318 

12.7 Bona Vista Historical Figures 319 


SECTION 13 

13.0 Bibliography 334 

13.1 Primary Sources 334 

13.1.1 Official Publications and Reports 334 

13.1.2 Maps and Plans 336 

13.1.3 Images 336 

13.2 Unpublished Material (manuscripts, reports, thesis, 

conference papers etc) 336 

APPENDICIES 

Appendix 1 Newtown/Chilwell Project Charter 337 

Appendix 2 Burra Charter 347 

Appendix 3 Heritage Precinct Maps 358 

Appendix 4 Criteria for the Register of the National Estate 360 


iv


1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

INTRODUCTION 

The City of Greater Geelong has prepared the Newtown Heritage Study, dated 

August 2008. 

The review has assessed all buildings, landscapes and engineering 

infrastructure in the area bounded by Shannon Avenue, Latrobe Terrace, 

Aberdeen Street and West Fyans Street, Newtown that are currently located 

outside the existing Heritage Overlay areas identified in the Greater Geelong 

Planning Scheme. 

This Report comprises the first of three (3) Volumes. This Volume includes the 

supporting background, statements of significance, heritage area maps and 

historical figures for each of the nominated heritage precinct areas in Newtown. 

Volume 2 is the Inventory of Places within each of the heritage areas, including 

the significance status of each place and identifies the style/era within these 

areas. 

Volume 3 includes the heritage citations for individual places of significance in 

Newtown, outside the proposed heritage areas. 

Study Area 

The study area includes all of the area bounded by Aberdeen Street, LaTrobe 

Terrace, West Fyans Street and Shannon Avenue, Newtown. 

Prepared by City of Greater Geelong 1


HERITAGE PLACES 

Introduction 

The study area includes 11 heritage overlay areas (heritage precincts), 

together with 31 individual heritage places located outside the heritage 

precincts. 

Heritage Precincts 

The following breakdown provides an indication of the number of heritage 

places assessed, according to their location and level of significance: 

Precinct 

Name 

No Local 

Significance 

No 

Contributory 

Significance 

Aberdeen 0 21 4 

Eyre 7 39 12 

Hermitage 5 6 6 

William 

and 

Margaret 

Street 

1 46 12 

Shannon 3 27 4 

Avenue 

Clarkes 

2 51 13 

Hill 

Bareena 6 66 32 

Estate 

Mercers 

3 12 4 

Hill 

Cairns 

0 22 12 

Avenue 

Fairview 4 32 11 

Bona 

0 22 2 

Vista 

Total 31 344 112 

Total 487 sites within the 11 heritage precinct areas. 

No 

Non- 

Significance 

A study area map including the heritage precincts can be found at section 3.1 

of this report 

Individual Heritage Places 

The following is a list of potential places of individual significance located 

outside the heritage precinct areas: 

• 21 Aberdeen Street “Felicita”; 

• 23 Aberdeen Street; 



• 31-61 Aberdeen Street 

(St John’s Lutheran 

School); 

• 84 Aphrasia Street; 



• 35/37 Cumberland Street 

(duplex pair); 

• 39 Cumberland Street; 

• 318 LaTrobe Terrace; 

• 364/366 LaTrobe Terrace; 

• 18 Marshall Street; 

• 8 Mercer Parade; 


• 104 Nicholas Street; 




• 2 Noble Street 

(Sawyers Arms Hotel); 

• 288 Pakington Street; 







• 336 Pakington Street 

(Cremorne Hotel); 

• 366A Pakington Street; 

• 46 Retreat Road 

• 11 Stinton Avenue; 


• 35 Stinton Avenue 

Other individual places of significance are included, and identified within the 

respective heritage precincts. Places identified as having local significance, but 

without detailed heritage citations, will be included within a heritage precinct 

until resources allow for their further assessment and subsequent inclusion in 

the Greater Geelong Planning Scheme as part of a future amendment 

Recommendations 

It is recommended that the heritage places identified, assessed and 

documented according to the Australia ICOMOS Burra Charter and the Criteria 

for the Register of the National Estate (as prescribed in the VPP Practice Note: 

Applying the Heritage Overlay) be considered for the following statutory 

protection: 

• 11 heritage precinct areas for the Greater Geelong Planning Scheme (to 

be included in the Schedule to the Heritage Overlay to Clause 43.01 of 

the planning scheme). 

• 31 places outside the heritage precinct areas for the Greater Geelong 

Planning Scheme (to be included in the Schedule to the Heritage Overlay 

to Clause 43.01 of the planning scheme). 

All places will be mapped in the relevant planning scheme HO maps. 

As an interim measure, all the places including individual heritage places and 

precinct areas recommended for inclusion in Clause 43.01 Heritage Overlay in 

the planning scheme should be included in an interim heritage control during 

the preparation of a formal planning scheme amendment. 

It is recommended that the Newtown Heritage Review Study (all Volumes) be 

included as Reference Documents in the “References” sections of Clauses 

21.16 and 22.20, and in the relevant sections of each local heritage precinct 

policy in the Greater Geelong Planning Scheme. 

All places identified in the Study will be subject to the planning policies in 

Clause 21.16 Cultural Heritage and Clause 22.20 Cultural Heritage to the 

planning scheme. In addition places identified in the heritage precinct areas 

will be subject to the relevant policy to be prepared for each precinct. This is in 

addition to the policies in the State Planning Policy Framework Clause 15.11 

Heritage. 

HERMES & Victorian Heritage Database 

All data from the Newtown Heritage Study Review Volume 2 Inventory are 

recommended to be included on the HERMES database. This will allow for 

filtered information to be made available to the public online. 



HERITAGE PRECINT MAP 



Study Area Including Proposed Heritage Precincts 



Heritage Area Maps 

























SECTION 1 

1.0 INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY 

This heritage precinct review of the Newtown/Chilwell areas has been 

undertaken by Council as part of the adoption of the Medium Density Housing 

Strategy. 

The study also has been prepared in response to identified gaps in the 

previous Newtown Heritage Study undertaken in 1991, given the subsequent 

demolition/removal of significant buildings and a level of community support 

for a heritage review to be undertaken. 

The heritage review was conducted and prepared in-house from February 

2008 and has been completed with some input from Council’s Heritage 

Advisor. 

The review has assessed all buildings, landscapes and engineering 

infrastructure in the area bounded by Shannon Avenue, Latrobe Terrace, 

Aberdeen Street and West Fyans Street, Newtown that are currently located 

outside the existing Heritage Overlay areas identified in the Greater Geelong 

Planning Scheme. 

This report comprises the first of three (3) Volumes. This Volume includes the 

supporting background, statements of significance, heritage area maps and 

historical figures for each of the nominated heritage precinct areas in 

Newtown. 

Volume 2 is the Inventory of Places within each of the heritage areas, 

including the significance status of each place and style/era within these 

areas. 

Volume 3 includes the heritage citations for individual places of significance in 

Newtown, outside the proposed heritage areas. 

The volumes of this study are intended to be included as Reference 

Documents in the Greater Geelong Planning Scheme. 

The first two Volumes of this study – including the significance status of the 

places within the heritage areas comprising the Inventory of Places in Volume 

2 - have been independently peer-reviewed by Dr David Rowe of Authentic 

Heritage Services Pty Ltd of Geelong. 

1.1 The Study Team 

The study team comprised: 

• Kevin Krastins, Heritage Planner as the Project Manager and Principal 

Author. 

• Ms Susie Zada of Zades Pty Ltd, the historian who was responsible for 

undertaking the historic research. 

• Dr David Rowe who peer-reviewed some of the documents. 



1.2 Acknowledgments 

Council sincerely appreciates the assistance, guidance and considerable 

support provided by Dr David Rowe - Heritage Consultant and Heritage 

Advisor and officers in the City of Greater Geelong including Cameron 

Brenton - Co-ordinator Economic Development, Terry Demeo - Manager 

Planning Strategy and Economic Development, Tim Hellsten - Co-Ordinator 

Projects and Rick Whiteworth - SIS Administrator. The valuable help of Ms 

Karen Wyld - Cartographer, City of Greater Geelong, is also appreciated. 

The staff of the Geelong Heritage Centre, and in particular, Mr Mark Beasley 

(Archivist), Cheryl Timbury and Melody McDonald, for their excellent 

assistance and support. 

Mr Ian McGlachlan from Barwon Water for his valuable assistance and loan 

of the early sewerage and drainage maps, and plans including Field Books. 

1.3 The Project Description 

The heritage precinct review sought to: 

• Build on the recent strategic heritage planning studies undertaken by 

Council, including the Geelong Region Historic Buildings and Objects 

Study (3 volumes) prepared by Allan Willingham 1986 and the City of 

Newtown Urban Conservation Study 1991 (further assessments were 

added as additional Volumes 5 (a) and (b) of the Newtown Urban 

Conservation Study prepared by Richard Peterson and Daniel Catrice in 

1996), prepared by Context P/L and Ors; 

• Review all buildings, landscape and engineering infrastructure in the area 

bounded by Shannon Ave, Latrobe Terrace, Aberdeen Street and West 

Fyans Street, Newtown that are currently located outside the existing 

Heritage Overlay areas as identified in the Greater Geelong Planning 

Scheme. 

• Photograph every property within the study area excluding those 

properties currently included with a Heritage Overlay. 

• Undertake historical research on real estate agent plans and subdivision 

plans to determine subdivision dates and building construction; 

• Prepare supporting background material including historical context and 

concise statement of significance; 

• Identify the significance status of all buildings within the proposed 

heritage areas including potential places of individual significance, 

contributory heritage places and places of no significance within the new 

heritage precinct areas; 

• Prepare a heritage overlay area that is consistent in its planning and 

approach with the other 33 discreet heritage overlay areas in the Geelong 

region as set out in the Greater Geelong Planning Scheme and apply the 

heritage provisions of Clause 43.01 of the Greater Geelong Planning 

Scheme to the Heritage Overlay area; and 

The heritage precinct review seeks to provide a strategic direction for 

development consistent with both local and state planning policies. The 

review utilises current state and local policy development and data from 

recent studies. 



The identification of the heritage areas is dealt with as part of the State 

Planning Policy Framework in Clause 15.11 of the Greater Geelong Planning 

Scheme. The policy states that planning authorities should have regard to the 

Local Government Heritage Guidelines (Department of Planning & Housing, 

1991). These guidelines were prepared some years before the introduction of 

the new format planning schemes and the Victoria Planning Provisions, but 

contain useful advice on the preparation of heritage amendments and the 

conservation of Victoria’s post contact cultural heritage. 

In relation to heritage areas the Guidelines state that: 

A heritage area might encompass a small urban or suburban area, a town or 

a landscape of cultural significance. A heritage area might be significant 

because: 

• the area itself, or the places within it have intrinsic heritage value; 

• the area is composed of places that individually have little or no intrinsic 

value but which are important for what they tell us as a group or collection 

of places. 

Heritage areas, particularly those of a large size, are also likely to include 

places that have little or no intrinsic value and are not contributory to the 

significance of the area. Within a heritage area, the primary objective is to 

ensure the conservation of those elements that contribute to the area’s 

significance. The removal or alteration of non-contributory elements or the 

development of their sites, while requiring a planning permit, is usually not a 

major concern. The objective is to ensure that where development does 

occur, it occurs in a manner that is appropriate to the significance, character 

and appearance of the heritage area. 

1.4 The Project Output And Outcomes 

The project output and outcomes include: 

• Identification of potential heritage precinct areas and contributory heritage 

places outside the existing heritage overlay areas in Newtown/Chilwell. 

• All heritage areas of cultural significance marked on the base maps to be 

bound into the report. 

• Inclusion of the heritage precinct areas with a Heritage Overlay to the 

Greater Geelong Planning Scheme. 

• Inclusion and preparation of individual citation sheets for properties 

located outside the heritage precinct areas. 

• Preparation of local planning policies to support appropriate forms of 

development within the heritage precinct areas. 

Details of the Project Charter that relate to this Study are included as 

Appendix 7.1. 

1.5 Post Project Implementation 

The Study will be implemented as follows: 

• Preparation of a revised local policy section in the LPPF based on the 

recommendations of the Newtown Heritage Review. 

• Preparing any Planning Scheme Amendments in relation to local policy 

and overlays reflecting the recommendations of the Newtown Heritage 

Review or undertaking further strategic work to support scheme change 

recommendations. 



1.6 The Study Area 

The study area includes all of the area bounded by Aberdeen Street, LaTrobe 

Terrace, West Fyans Street and Shannon Avenue, Newtown as per the 

following below. 

1.7 Selected Heritage Studies 

Comprehensive Heritage Studies within the Geelong region have been 

completed for the Newtown area, including: 

• City of Newtown Urban Conservation Study 1991, Volumes 1-4, prepared 

by Context Pty Ltd in association with Brian Stafford, Richard Peterson 

and Carlotta Kellaway. 

• Citation sheets for all individual heritage places prepared by Richard 

Peterson, Architect and Daniel Catrice Historian in 1996. 

• A publication by Allan Willingham entitled Geelong Region Historic 

Buildings and Objects Study, 3 Volumes, Geelong Regional Commission, 

1986, identified 61 key sites in Newtown including various sites within the 

study area included in Volume 3. This volume includes heritage citations 

for these 61 selected properties that have been included in the Greater 

Geelong Planning Scheme with heritage protection. 



1.8 Terminology 

The terminology of The Australia ICOMOS Charter for the Conservation of 

Places of Cultural Significance (The Burra Charter) is used throughout this 

study. Refer to Appendix 7.2 for a copy of the Burra Charter. The 

identification and documentation of potential post-contact places of cultural 

significance has been interpreted using the definitions provided in the Burra 

Charter. Some of the critical definitions identified in the Burra Charter and 

used in this study are: 

Article 1.1: 

Article 1.2: 

Place means site, area, building or other work, group of 

buildings or other works, together with associated contents 

and surroundings. Place includes structures, ruins, 

archaeological sites and landscapes modified by human 

activity. 

Cultural significance means aesthetic, historic, scientific or 

social value for past, present or future generations. 

1.9 Methodology 

1.9.1 Preliminary Research 

Review of existing City of Newtown Urban Conservation 

Study 1991. 

The Study recommended 13 heritage precinct areas and 6 

individual places of “A” or State level of Significance and 54 of 

“B” or Regional level of Significance. Places of “C” and “D” 

level of Significance where listed in the Street Schedule 

(Volume 4). No detailed citations sheets were initially prepared 

for the “C” level places. This was subsequently undertaken in 

a further assessment in 1996. The Study comprised of 4 

volumes namely: 

• Volume 1 Conserving Newtown’s heritage. 

• Volume 2 Urban Character. 

• Volume 3 Heritage Places and Areas. 

• Volume 4 Street Schedule. 

Preliminary historical research involved reviewing: 

• All major relevant documentation relating to the broad 

context of the study area, both in Victoria and Australia, in 

the form of publications, reports, manuscripts, journals, 

thesis and archival material from the Geelong Heritage 

Centre. 

• The Barwon Water database, Detail Sewerage Plans, 

Individual Plans of Drainage 

• The Newtown and Chilwell rate books and maps, 

• The collection of subdivision plans that are available at the 

Geelong Heritage Centre. 

• Other resources including local histories, directories and 

photo collections. 



Preliminary architectural research involved a review of: 

• Allan Willingham's Geelong Region Historic Buildings and 

Objects Study 

• The City of Newtown Urban Conservation Study 1991 

prepared by Context P/L and Ors. 

• Major documentary material related to architectural (and 

other) publications, reports, thesis, journals and archival 

material relevant to the study area, leading towards the 

development of a bibliography. 

• Historic and contemporary maps of the study area from the 

Geelong Heritage Centre and the City of Greater Geelong. 

These were copied and studied as a basis for undertaking 

the field survey of the study area. 

Preliminary archaeological research: 

• Discussions with Mr Jeremy Smith regarding the Victorian 

Heritage Inventory at Heritage Victoria particularly around 

the potential of gold mining activity and whether any sites 

were recorded on the inventory in Mercer’s Hill. 

1.9.2 Fieldwork 

Research: 

• All relevant historical and contemporary maps were 

examined, and used to organise the study area into 

manageable and numbered survey areas. A field survey 

(by car and particularly on foot) including a photographic 

record of all properties (excluding those there were already 

included with a Heritage Overlay in Clause 43.01 to the 

Greater Geelong Planning Scheme) was undertaken and 

recorded. Comprehensive Record Sheets were used to 

systematically record relevant details about the potential 

heritage precinct: description, cadastral location, brief 

history, address/location stylistic character, architectural 

features, condition, integrity, engineering infrastructure. 

Brief notes (where applicable) and photographs of 

buildings, relics, gardens, trees, fences, gates, etc. were 

made during this survey. 

Potential Heritage Precincts: 

• Initial potential precinct areas were mapped and further 

refined, and are detailed below to identify the 11 potential 

heritage precincts within the study area. 

1.9.3 Individual Heritage Places Researched, Assessed & 

Documented 

This aspect of the study involved: 

Further analysis of the Individual Heritage Places: 

• All places were analysed and assessed. The format and 

content of the Record Sheet is consistent with citation 

sheets used in recent heritage studies prepared for 

Council. 

Documentary Research: 



• The references provided on the Record Sheets, together 

with historical maps and/or plans, rate books, directories, 

local historical manuscripts and notes, and historical 

photographs were researched and tabulated onto research 

datasheets and/or compiled as part of individual research 

packages for each heritage place. 

Documentation & Assessment: 

• The descriptions, histories, comparative lists and 

statements of cultural significance for each individual 

heritage place were then carried out. Importantly, the 

statements of cultural significance were developed 

according to the Australia ICOMOS Burra Charter and the 

Australian Heritage Commission’s Assessment Criteria of 

the Register of the National Estate as prescribed in VPP 

Practice Note: Applying the Heritage Overlay. See Section 

4 for the Assessment Criteria. 

1.9.4 Heritage Precincts 

Research: 

• Newtown and Chilwell Rate Books. 

• Geelong Waterworks and Sewerage Trust Field Books 

(1912). These books show the outline of houses 

constructed prior to 1912 as well as individual Plans of 

Drainage that show the house outline and other particular 

features ranging in dates from 1917 to present. 

• Geelong Waterworks and Sewerage Trust Detail Plans that 

show the outline of the house on a broader, street by street 

level. 

• Auction Notices and Subdivision Plans. 

• Secondary References. 

Documentation & Assessment: 

• During the research process, each potential precinct area 

was assessed according to the criteria for the Australian 

Heritage Council. Three main categories were used to 

determine the significance of these areas, with these 

categories being: Urban Design, Neighbouring Buildings 

and Landscaping. Historical maps and plans were also 

used during the fieldwork process. 

1.10 SCOPE OF WORKS 

1.10.1 Heritage Places 

The study area includes 11 heritage overlay areas (heritage 

precincts), together with 31 individual heritage places located 

outside the heritage precincts. 

1.10.2 Heritage Precincts 

The following breakdown provides an indication of the number 

of heritage places assessed, according to their location and 

level of significance: 



Precinct Name 

No Local No 

No 

Significance Contributory Non- 

Significance Significance 

Aberdeen 0 21 4 

Eyre 7 39 12 

Hermitage 5 6 6 

William and Margaret 1 46 12 

Street 

Shannon Avenue 3 27 4 

Clarkes Hill 2 51 13 

Bareena Estate 6 66 32 

Mercers Hill 3 12 4 

Cairns Avenue 0 22 12 

Fairview 4 32 11 

Bona Vista 0 22 2 

Total 31 344 112 

Total 487 sites within the 11 heritage precinct areas. 

Maps of the heritage precincts areas are included in Appendix 7.3 also at the 

end of the Executive Summary. 

1.10.3 Individual Heritage Places 

The following is a list of potential places of individual significance 

located outside heritage precinct areas: 

• 21 Aberdeen Street 


“Felicita”; 



• 2 Noble Street 


(Sawyers Arms Hotel); 



• 31-61 Aberdeen Street 


(St John’s Lutheran 


School); 





• 331-333 Pakington 


Street; 

• 35/37 Cumberland Street 

(duplex pair); 

• 336 Pakington Street 

(Cremorne Hotel); 

• 39 Cumberland Street; 

• 366A Pakington Street; 

• 318 LaTrobe Terrace; 

• 46 Retreat Road 

• 364/366 LaTrobe Terrace; • 11 Stinton Avenue; 

• 18 Marshall Street; 





Other individual places of significance are included, and identified within the 

respective heritage precincts. No detailed citation sheets have been prepared 

for these places as they are proposed to be included with a heritage overlay. 

Places identified as having local significance, but without detailed heritage 

citations, should be considered as having contributory heritage status until 



resources allow for their further assessment and subsequent inclusion in the 

Greater Geelong Planning Scheme as part of a future amendment. 

1.10.4 Existing Individual Heritage Places 

Within the proposed heritage areas are 4 places currently identified in the 

Schedule to the Heritage Overlay with individual heritage overlays. It is 

recommended that where the Schedule controls for these individual places are 

identical to those of the proposed heritage areas, they be removed from the 

Schedule (this does not remove or diminish the heritage status or significance of 

these affected places, but it ensures that the Schedule accords with the Victoria 

Planning Provisions). 

1.11 Assessment of Significance 

1.11.1 Basis of Assessment 

This study has used the principles of the Australia ICOMOS Charter for 

the Conservation of Places of Cultural Significance (the Burra Charter) 

and its Guidelines as the basis to all of the assessments in this study. 

The Burra Charter defines cultural significance by aesthetic, historic, 

scientific and social values. These values are also largely prescribed in 

the VPP Practice Note: Applying the Heritage Overlay which states: 

All places that are proposed for planning protection, including places 

identified in a heritage study, should be documented in a manner that 

clearly substantiates their scientific, aesthetic, architectural or 

historical interest or other special cultural or natural values The 

documentation for each heritage place includes a statement of 

significance that clearly establishes the importance of the place. 

The Burra Charter Criteria 

Article 2.2: 

Article 2.3: 

Aesthetic value: includes aspects of sensory perception 

for which criteria can, and should be stated. Such criteria 

may include consideration of the form, scale, colour, 

texture and material of the fabric; the smells and sounds 

associated with the place and its use. 

Places of aesthetic value may: 

• demonstrate a high degree of creative or technical 

accomplishment; 

• demonstrate important designs or visual qualities. 

Historic value: encompasses the history of aesthetics, 

science and society, and therefore, to a large extent, 

underlies all of the terms set out in this section. 

A place may have historic value because: 

• it is of importance for its association with events, 

developments or cultural phases which have had a 

significant role in the occupation and evolution of the 

community; 

• it illustrates part of the evolution or pattern of the 

cultural heritage; 

• it is an example of rare, endangered or uncommon 

aspects of the cultural heritage; 



• it has a strong association with the life or work of a 

person or group of people of significance to the cultural 

heritage; 

• it is an important representative of the range of places 

which make up the cultural heritage of a community; 

• it has been influenced by an historic figure, event, 

phase or activity. 

Article 2.4: 

Scientific value: or research value of a place will depend 

upon the importance of the data involved, on its rarity, 

quality or representational value, and on the degree to 

which the place may contribute further substantial 

information. 

A place may have scientific value because: 

• it illustrates some technological, creative, technical or 

scientific processes or advances; 

• it is of importance for information contributing to an 

understanding of the history of human occupation and 

the cultural history of the area. 

Article 2.5: 

Social value: embraces the qualities for which a place 

has become a focus of spiritual, political, national or other 

cultural sentiment to a majority or minority group. 

A place may have social value because: 

• it is highly valued by a community for reasons of 

religious, spiritual, cultural, educational or social 

associations; 

• it is recognised by the community as having public 

value or is held in high esteem for its associations 

with the whole or part of the community whose history 

or culture is interwoven with the history of the place; 

• it forms a particular and significant component of the 

heritage of a local area; 

• it demonstrates a distinctive way of life or custom that is 

no longer in use or is in danger of being lost or is of 

exceptional interest. 

1.11.2 Assessment Criteria for the Register of the National Estate 

The following simplified criteria – based solely upon the Burra Charter and 

Criteria for the Assessment of Cultural Significance of the Register of the 

National Estate (Appendix 7.4) were adopted for this study. Each relevant 

National Estate Code has been cross-referenced on the Records Sheets for 

each heritage place. The criteria are: 



Value Type Value National 

Estate 

Code 

Aesthetic • demonstrates a high degree of creative or 

technical accomplishment and/or involves the 

major characteristics of a specific type of place, 

ie. representative of a particular architectural 

style; 

D.2, E.1 

• demonstrates important design or visual D.2 

qualities; 

• historic townscapes, streetscapes, cultural E.1 

landscapes; 

• demonstrates a high degree of integrity and F.1 

design excellence; 

Historic • is of importance for its association with events, A.4 

developments or cultural phases which have 

had a significant role in the occupation and 

evolution of the community; 

• is an example of rare, endangered or 

uncommon aspects of the cultural heritage; 

B.2 

• has a strong association with the life or work of 

a person or group of people of significance to 

the cultural heritage; 

H.1 

• close association with individuals who have had 

a long and significant impact on the place; 

H.1 

• has been influenced by an historic figure, event, A.4 

phase or activity, significant to the history of the 

nation, state, region or local community; 

• may have historic value as the site of an C.2 

important event; 

• is of importance for information contributing to C.2 

an understanding of the history of human 

occupation and the cultural history of an area; 

Scientific • illustrates some technological, creative, F.1 

technical or scientific processes or advances; 

• is of importance for information contributing to C.2 

an understanding of the history of human 

occupation and the cultural history of an area , 

and has a strong presumption of archaeological 

research potential; 



Value Type Value National 

Estate 

Code 

Social • is highly valued by a community for reasons of 

religious, spiritual, cultural, educational or social 

associations; 

G.1 

• is recognised by the community as having public G.1 

value or is held in high esteem for its 

associations with the whole or part of the 

community whose history or culture is 

interwoven with the history of the place; 

• forms a particular and significant component of 

the heritage of a local area; 

G.1 

• demonstrates a distinctive way of life or custom 

that is no longer in use or is in danger of being 

lost or is of exceptional interest; 

G.1 

(Burra Charter value) (According to the Criteria for the Register of the National Estate) 

1.12 Precinct Evaluation Criteria 

The evaluation criteria developed and utilised in this Heritage Study have been 

established according to the Heritage Criteria of the Register of the National 

Estate, as prescribed in the VPP Practice Note: Applying the Heritage Overlay. 

The Criteria below was adopted for all precincts in this study, with particular 

emphasis being placed on those features and qualities that contributed to the 

overall heritage and visual character of each particular area. 

The architectural qualities of the individual house, and the predominantly single 

storey, weatherboard, interwar Bungalow characteristics of the houses in the 

precincts are of the most significance. 

The establishment of the boundaries of each of the precincts listed in the 

following section was dependent upon: important visual connections of particular 

heritage places within the precinct and the potential impact of these visual 

connections with other buildings, landscapes, urban foci and views. In 

conjunction with the Assessment Criteria for the Register of the National Estate 

and the Significance & Integrity Thresholds (Sections 1.13 and 1.14), the 

following approach was adopted, consistent with recent heritage studies 

prepared for Council: 

Guide to determining the extent of significant fabric in a permit 

a. Neighbouring Buildings 

• Building use, ie residential, commercial 

• Building type, ie detached, semi-detached 

• Number of storeys 

• Scale of Buildings 

• Setbacks 

• Appropriate signage (where applicable) 

• Roof form & pitch, ie. gabled/hipped/flat & range of pitch 

• Architectural style &/or age of buildings 

• Building construction/cladding 

ie walls - horizontal weatherboard – brick 

ie roofs - painted/unpainted, galvanised corrugated iron - terracotta 

tile, cement tile, etc 



ie windows - types and construction 

• Eaves characteristics 

ie wide or narrow (range) - Exposed rafters 

• Early chimneys 

• Early front door characteristics 

ie timber & glazed, four panel timber, etc 

• Appropriate architectural detailing (including verandah detailing) 

• Range of front and side setbacks, and access/location of driveway 

ie front – side, rear 

• Height range and type, design & location appropriateness of fences 

b. Urban Design 

• Historical development 

• Street & allotment pattern and average size/s (where applicable) 

• Significant Urban Focii 

• Significant Views 

• Engineering infrastructure 

ie early kerbing, early paving, verges, footpaths, etc 

• Appropriate street furniture and post boxes 

• Overhead power lines 

• Treelines 

• Public Gardens 

• Median Strips 

• Nature Strips 

1.13 Precinct Significance Integrity Thresholds 

The integrity thresholds for places in precincts are as follows: 

• Date range of area including subdivision date(s) 

• Date range of streets in the area 

• Percentage contribution to the area of buildings in 

each street in the heritage overlay 

• Integrity to the creation date of contributory 

buildings 

− Predominantly Intact 

− Moderately Intact 

− Altered (original character & appearance clearly discernible) 

− 

− 

Substantially altered 

whether the building has been relocated (and contributes to the 

significant development period for the precinct) 

The integrity of places within precincts (when viewed from the public realm) may 

include to varying degrees the following, such that the place is discernible to its 

creation date 

• Overall form & composition 

• Construction materials 

• Building details 

• Verandahs 

• Front windows and doors 

• Fence details 

Places with later additions may continue to contribute to the significance of the 

precinct if: 

• The additions are recessive and do not dominate over the building, 

streetscape or area 



Non significant buildings within heritage precincts are those that do not 

contribute to the significant development periods in the area or are of such low 

integrity/intactness that they do not meet the threshold for inclusion. These 

buildings also include recently constructed buildings. In general terms, buildings 

need to be of at least the “altered” integrity category to be assessed as being of 

contributory significance. 

1.14 Levels of Significance: 

The values of A = State or National significance, B = Regional significance, C = 

Local significance, D = Contributory significance and Not Significant were used. 

The definitions for each significance value are: 

National 

Places that are considered significant to the nation. 

They meet the Criteria of the Register of the National Estate and the Criteria of 

the Heritage Council of Victoria, but most importantly, these places make an 

outstanding contribution to Australia's cultural heritage. 

State - A 

Places that are considered significant to the State of Victoria. 

They meet the Criteria of the Heritage Council of Victoria and the Criteria of the 

Register of the National Estate. 

Regional - B 

Places that are considered significant to the Geelong Region (within the 

boundaries of the City of Greater Geelong). 

They meet the Criteria of the Register of the National Estate. These places 

identify with the specific heritage values of the particular community/suburb. 

Local - C 

Places that are considered significant to a local area, (whether individually 

significant or as a contributor to the urban character and/or heritage value 

of the area). 

They meet the Criteria of the Register of the National Estate. These places 

identify with the specific heritage values of the particular community/suburb. 

Contributory - D 

Places that demonstrate the heritage values of the heritage area, but 

would fail to meet the threshold for heritage significance if located outside 

the heritage area. 

Not Significant 

Places considered not to have heritage significance. 



1.15 RECOMMENDATIONS 

1.15.1 Statutory Protection 

It is recommended that the heritage places identified, assessed and 

documented according to the Australia ICOMOS Burra Charter and the 

Criteria for the Register of the National Estate (as prescribed in the VPP 

Practice Note: Applying the Heritage Overlay) be considered for the 

following statutory protection: 

• 11 heritage precinct areas for the Greater Geelong Planning Scheme 

(to be included in the Schedule to the Heritage Overlay to Clause 43.01 

of the planning scheme). Copies of maps can be found at the end of this 

section. 

• 31 places outside the heritage precinct areas for the Greater Geelong 

Planning Scheme (to be included in the Schedule to the Heritage Overlay 

to Clause 43.01 of the planning scheme). 

All places will be mapped in the relevant planning scheme HO maps. 

As an interim measure, all the places including individual heritage places 

and precinct areas recommended for inclusion in a Heritage Overlay in 

the planning scheme be included in an interim heritage control through 

Clause 43.01 Heritage Overlay during the preparation of a formal 

planning scheme amendment. 

1.15.2 Reference Documents 

It is recommended that the Newtown Heritage Review Study (all 

Volumes) be included as Reference Documents in the “References” 

sections of Clauses 21.16 and 22.20 and in the relevant sections of each 

local heritage precinct policy in the Greater Geelong Planning Scheme. 

1.15.3 Heritage Places 

All places identified in the Study will be subject to the planning policies in 

Clause 21.16 Cultural Heritage and Clause 22.20 Cultural Heritage to the 

planning scheme. In addition places identified in the heritage precinct 

areas will be subject to the relevant policy to be prepared for each 

precinct. This is in addition to the policies contained in the State 

Planning Policy Framework Clause 15.11 Heritage. 

1.15.4 HERMES & Victorian Heritage Database 

All data from the Newtown Heritage Study Review Volume 2 Inventory 

are recommended to be included on the HERMES database. This will 

allow for filtered information to be made available to the public online. 



SECTION 2 

2 Aberdeen Heritage Precinct 

2.1 Precinct Boundaries 

The Aberdeen Heritage Precinct is located between 117 -153 Aberdeen 

Street in Newtown. The precinct also consists of properties at 2 to 6 

Cumberland Street (evens) and 42, 42, 43 and 45 George Street, Newtown in 

the Parish of Moorpanyal, County of Grant. 

2.2 Contextual Background 

Historical Evidence (refer to historical figures at the rear of this section) 

The initial Years 

In 1837, Newtown and Chilwell formed part of the earliest suburbs in the 

Geelong area, then under the control of New South Wales. Earlier that year, 

Governor Bourke of New South Wales visited Geelong with Government 

Surveyor, Robert Hoddle. It was at this time when Newtown was described 

by early visitors as a delightful place for a village. 1 As a result of Hoddle’s 

visit, Henry Wilson Smythe was sent over from Sydney with instructions to 

survey a site between “Corio Bay and the Barwon River for a township and 

streets”. The plan drawn up by Smythe was revised by Hoddle and signed by 

him on the 21 st August 1838. 2 

The first land sale on 3 October 1839, made available land bound by today’s 

Shannon Avenue, Aberdeen and Pakington Streets and the Barwon River, 

mostly 25 acre blocks, except for the irregular river allotments of Section V, 

Parish of Moorpanyal. 3 Sales by auction and private contract continued 

slowly throughout 1841. The area was first known as New Town. 

The first Crown owners acquired land from 1840. G F Read was the first 

purchaser of Allotment 4, Section 7, Parish of Moorpanyal, County of Grant at 

the Crown land sales in Melbourne, 26 th August 1840. The allotment 

contained 25 acres located on the west side of Frederick Street (now 

Cumberland Street) and had a frontage to what is now Aberdeen Street 

(Figure 2.01). 4 

Residential Developments 

As part the McLeods Estate in the 1850’s land fronting the southern side of 

Aberdeen Street (between Frederick Street (Cumberland Street) and George 

Street) was subdivided for residential development. The lot sizes to the 

frontage are small between 35 feet to 41 feet and it would appear that this 

plan did not eventuate (Figure 2.02). 5 A subdivision plan prepared by 

Gibbons and Grist Surveyors dated c. 1858 shows land between Pakington 

Street (known as Great North Road) and Cumberland Road (referred to as 

Frederick Street) and Skene Street and Great Western Road (Aberdeen 

Street) (Figure 2.03). 6 The plan identifies some buildings within Skene Street. 

1 City of Newtown and Chilwell Centenary 1858-1958 page 3. 

2 The Earlier Days of Newtown and Chilwell 1858-1958 page 5. 

3 Model Borough “An Introduction to old Newtown and Chilwell” by Gladys Seaton p 13. 

4 Moorpanyal Parish Plan, Source: Geelong Heritage Centre, 1989. 

5 N McLeods Subdivision Plan 1850’s. 

6 Plan of Subdivision prepared by Gibbons and Grist Surveyors 1858. 



An undated sales plan (most likely to be c. 1889) of Geelong Town Properties 

indicates land sales in Aberdeen Street (between Pakington Street and 

Frederick Street (now Cumberland Street) and land in Skene Street (Figure 

2.04). This plan indicates “Fittons Cottage” located on the south-west corner 

of Aberdeen Street and Frederick Street and “St James School” on the 

opposite corner (east side of Frederick Street), southern side of Aberdeen 

Street. The allotment on the south east corner of Frederick Street and 

Aberdeen Street was shown on a Robert Balding map of the Geelong, South 

Barwon and Newtown in 1864. The Balding map of the Borough of Newtown 

and Chilwell c. June 1864, shows Aberdeen Street, George Street, 

Cumberland Street and an unnamed road south of Eureka Street (north side 

of Aberdeen Street) parallel with George Street and Skene Street (Figure 

2.05) 7 . No physical evidence of these buildings appear to survive today. 

Subdivision plan LP8891 dated 1922 indicates the subdivision of seven 

allotments in Aberdeen Street west side of Frederick (Cumberland Street) 

(Figure 2.06). 

Aberdeen Street Heritage Area 

It was from the early 20 th century when dwellings in this precinct were 

constructed. The first house in the area was constructed in 1908 at 141 

Aberdeen Street, with other houses constructed prior to World War 1. Yet, it 

was after the war when residential activity increased with 14 houses 

constructed between 1923 and 1931. The area is closely situated to 

Newtown State School No 1887 in Aberdeen Street which may have given 

further impetus for residential development. The increase in population may 

also have resulted from the opening of the tram route along Aberdeen Street 

in 1912. Aberdeen Street was also a major traffic route from the City centre 

to Fyansford and beyond to the Western District and Ballarat. 

History of Street Names 8 

Aberdeen Street 

Aberdeen Street was named by Alexander J. Skene, District Surveyor, who 

was born in Aberdeen, which is close to Skene- the native home of the Skene 

clan. It was previously called Great Western Road. 

Cumberland Street 

Cumberland Street was named after the English county North End. It was 

previously known as Frederick Street and the name was changed on 21 

November 1956. 

Building Owners and Construction Dates 

A table of the original construction dates of the dwellings and the original 

owners is given as follows. This data has been collated from various 

Directories, Geelong Water and Sewerage Trust Field Books and Rate Books. 

These relate to the historical evolution to the era including Victorian, 

Federation/Edwardian and Interwar dwellings. 

7 Map of the Town of Geelong, Boroughs of South Barwon and Newtown and Chilwell 30 June 

1864. 

8 Compiled from W Morrow and I Wynd Street Names of Geelong, unpublished database. 



Property Address Date of Construction Original Building Owner 

117 Aberdeen Street c. 1923 Frederick H Lewis 

119 Aberdeen Street c. 1925 Michael J Denno 

121 Aberdeen Street c. 1923 Michael J Denno 

123 Aberdeen Street c. 1923 Caroline E Brown 

125 Aberdeen Street c. 1924 Anthony Rowley 

127 Aberdeen Street c. 1930 Thomas W Bigmore 

129 Aberdeen Street c. 1923 Charles J Taylor 

131 Aberdeen Street c. 1911 W M McRorie 

135 Aberdeen Street c. 1923 John Lindros 

137 Aberdeen Street c. 1924 John W Carr 

141 Aberdeen Street c. 1908 Edward Chant 

143 Aberdeen Street c. 1931 Gilbert R Hill 

147 Aberdeen Street c. 1912 John Ince 

149 Aberdeen Street c. 1921 with a later Patrick Francis Minogue 

addition 

151 Aberdeen Street c. 1926 George Robinson 

153 Aberdeen Street c. 1927 George Shanks 

2 Cumberland Street c. 1924 Edwin Chant 

4 Cumberland Street c. 1910 Alfred Carter 

6 Cumberland Street c. 1911 Thomas Mills 

43 George Street c. 1912 Matthew Slaughter 

45 George Street c. 1912 Matthew Slaughter 

6 The Lairds Way Vacant site - 

The table shows that most houses were built from the early 20 th century 

commencing in 1908 with a marked number built from the 1920s. It appears 

that the First World War halted residential progress. The Geelong Water and 

Sewerage Trust Detail Plans (96 and 98), dated 1964 and 1915 show the 

dwellings in the heritage area at that time (Figure 2.07 and 2.08). 

The Aberdeen Heritage Precinct was originally a working class area. It 

included residents such as Anthony Rowley, butcher of 125 Aberdeen Street 

and Hugh J Lawler of 6 Cumberland Street, painter. Some middle class 

residents included Frederick H Lewis, engineer of 117 Aberdeen Street, and 

R Gilbert, manager who resided at 143 Aberdeen Street. 

2.3 Physical Evidence 

2.3.1 Building Character & Appearance 

The Aberdeen Street Heritage Precinct is a residential area predominantly 

identified by detached dwellings. 

Height 

The dwellings in the heritage area are predominantly single storey in 

appearance and height (photos 2.01 -2.08) There are some two storey 

dwellings that have a single storey appearance as viewed from the street, 

with the two storey elements largely included in the roof gable or are well 

recessed from the front (photo 2.09) 

Form, Design and Scale, Construction and Finish 

The dwellings in the Aberdeen Street Heritage Precinct comprise early 20 th 

century and interwar eras (Federation, Edwardian, Interwar Bungalow and 

Interwar Californian Bungalow design buildings). 



There is a significant concentration of Federation and Edwardian dwellings 

interwar dwellings comprising interwar Californian Bungalow and interwar 

Bungalow styles in Aberdeen Street. 

Edwardian and Federation Style Buildings 

The early 20 th century era buildings are largely designed in Edwardian and 

Federation styles and reflect the following type: 

The Edwardian buildings in the precinct reflect the following key 

characteristics: 

• asymmetrical compositions and three dimensional composition of the 

overall form of the building. 

• Recessive hipped roof forms, and a gable and front verandah that 

projects towards the street some, with front verandahs formed under 

the main roof. Alternatively, broad hipped, gabled or gambrel roof 

forms. 

• Strapped and/or corbelled brick chimneys. 

• The verandahs are largely supported by timber posts and feature 

decorative timber fretwork valances and brackets. 

• Timber framed double hung windows and timber framed doorways with 

sidelights and highlights. 

• Timber joinery and roughcast gable infill. 

• Dwellings are constructed of horizontal timber weatherboards. 

• Galvanized corrugated steel (non-zincalume) roof cladding pitched at 

25-35 degrees. 

• Timber eave bracket and exposed rafters. 

• Timber window hoods. 

• Rounded picket fence or capped timber picket. 

Examples of Edwardian era buildings include 4 Cumberland Street (Photo 

2.06) and 43 George Street. 

The Federation era buildings in the precinct reflect the following key 




• Complex hipped and gable roof forms clad in slate or in Marseilles terra 

cotta tiles or galvanized corrugated steel (non-zincalume) roof cladding 

pitched at between 25-35 degrees. 

• Terra cotta roof ridge decoration and terra cotta finials. 

• Unpainted red brick construction. 

• Bowed projecting bay windows. 

• Timber framed or casement or double hung window 

• Dominant face red brick chimneys, commonly strapped with terra cotta 

pots. 

• Decorative timber fretwork, brackets and posts to verandahs. 



• Timber shingling. 

Examples of Federation dwellings include 123 Aberdeen Street and 131 

Aberdeen Street. 



Bungalow Style Buildings 

The interwar era dwellings are designed as interwar Bungalows and interwar 

Californian bungalows and include the following types: 

• A gable or hipped roof form that traverses the site, together with a 

minor gable and/or verandah that project towards the street frontage or 

at the side. 

• Timber framed double hung windows, arranged singularly, in pairs. 

• Verandahs are mainly supported by timber posts and brick piers, or 

solely with brick piers. 

• There are plain rectilinear brick chimneys, with some featuring 

rendered or soldier-coursed tops. 

• The gable infill comprises timber shingles. 

• Gable ventilator. 

• Street facing gable. 

• Constructed in horizontal timber weatherboards. 

• Low pitched roof forms between 25-35 degree roof pitch. 

• Wide eaves with exposed timber rafters. 

• Galvanized corrugated steel roof cladding. 

• interwar Bungalows with multiple hipped roof forms having front or side 

verandahs and several of the features listed for the interwar Californian 

Bungalows. 

There is a concentration of interwar Bungalows in Aberdeen Street between 

Cumberland Street and George Street. Typical example of an interwar 

Californian Bungalow include the timber dwellings at 135 Aberdeen Street 

(Photo 2.08) and 137 Aberdeen Street. An example of interwar Bungalow 

dwellings are at 125 Aberdeen Street (Photo 2.07) and 129 Aberdeen Street. 

Garages and Carports 

More than half of the properties fronting Aberdeen Street have vehicle access 

from Aberdeen Street. The properties at 121-129 Aberdeen Street have rear 

vehicle access from the rear right of way. Dwellings with front vehicular 

access have their carports or garages located to the rear of the existing 

dwelling and are therefore are not streetscape features. 

Significance of Dwellings 

Twenty one of the twenty four dwellings (87%) within the Aberdeen Street 

Heritage precinct are considered to have significance within the area. Further 

details and a photograph of each of the dwellings are provided in the 

Inventory of Places as Volume 2. 

The dwellings that have contributory significance (D) listing within the heritage 

precinct are: 

• 117 Aberdeen Street • 143 Aberdeen Street 





• 127 Aberdeen Street • 2 Cumberland Street 



• 135 Aberdeen Street • 43 George Street 

• 137 Aberdeen Street • 45 George Street 



• 141 Aberdeen Street 

The properties that are not considered to have significance within the precinct 

are at: 

• 133 Aberdeen Street (six • 42 George Street. 

units). 

• 40 George Street. • 6 The Lairds Way (vacant). 

2.3.2 Urban Design & Engineering Infrastructure 

Layout and Subdivision 

The layout of allotments within the Aberdeen Street Heritage precinct follow a 

traditional grid pattern subdivision. 

The allotment sizes are generally uniform within the street and the precinct as 

a whole. 

The allotment sizes in Aberdeen Street are typically 50 feet (15.24 metres). 

Some are slightly larger up to 70 feet (21.3 metres). 

Setbacks 

Throughout the precinct are regular front setbacks. Most dwellings form a 

consistent front setback pattern. 

All dwellings have side setbacks with clear visual building separation. 

Engineering Infrastructure 

The Aberdeen Street Heritage precinct has no early engineering 

infrastructure. There are, however, asphalt footpaths. 

Front Fences 

The streetscapes within the Aberdeen Street heritage precinct are identified 

by a substantial number of introduced front fences possibly due to the heavy 

traffic that frequents Aberdeen Street. 

In Aberdeen Street there are a number of high fences approx 1.8 metres in 

height and low fences approx 1.0 metres in height which are introduced. 

Appropriate style fences relating to the era of the building include the property 

at 109A and the recently constructed fence at 121 and 123 Aberdeen Street. 

There are also some properties with introduced brick and timber infill fences, 

low timber picket or other fences that do not relate to the design and 

construction of the interwar and postwar dwellings. 

Landmarks 

While located outside the heritage precinct the two storey commercial building 

located at the corner of Aberdeen Street and St James Street opposite the 

heritage precinct is visually connected to the heritage precinct and forms a 

strong local landmark. 

2.3.3 Landscaping 

There are street trees in Aberdeen Street but no grassed nature strips within 

the Aberdeen Street Heritage precinct. 

The setbacks to the properties include grassed areas, often bordered with 

flower beds or shrubbery and trees on the larger allotments. 



2.4 Statement of Cultural Significance 

The Aberdeen Street Heritage Precinct is significant for its select and notable 

concentration of intact Federation/Edwardian and especially interwar era 

dwellings. While the allotments fronting Aberdeen Street were initially laid out 

in the mid 19 th century, it was not until the early 20 th century and particularly 

during the interwar (c.1920-45) period when the area was transformed by the 

dwellings that survive today. These dwellings are predominantly single storey 

with detached compositions, hipped and gabled roof forms, front or return 

verandahs, corrugated sheet metal roof cladding, horizontal timber 

weatherboard wall cladding, timber framed windows and detailing consistent 

with Edwardian, Federation and interwar Bungalow styles. Also contributing 

to the significance of the area is the rear location of carports and garaging. 

The Aberdeen Street Heritage Precinct is architecturally significant at a 

LOCAL level (AHC criterion D.2). It demonstrates original and early design 

qualities associated with the residential development of the area from the 

early 20 th century. These qualities are expressed in the 

Edwardian/Federation and interwar Bungalow styled dwellings that are 

predominantly single storey in appearance and have detached compositions. 

The buildings include the following design characteristics: hipped and gabled 

roof forms (with simple or complex roof outlines having a pitch between 25 

and 35 degrees), front or return verandahs, corrugated galvanised steel roof 

cladding, horizontal timber weatherboard wall construction, brick chimneys 

(detailed to reflect the design era), brick cladding and brick verandah 

supports, narrow or wide eaves, timber verandah posts timber brackets 

and/or valances, timber framed windows arranged singularly, in pairs or bays, 

and the rear location of carports and garaging. Overall, these dwellings 

constitute 87% of the building stock in the area. 

The Aberdeen Street Heritage Precinct is historically significant at a LOCAL 

level (AHC criteria A.4, H.1). It is associated with important eras of residential 

development from the mid 19 th century but it was not until the early 20 th 

century and particularly after the First World War that the area was developed 

with the dwellings that survive today. The arrival of the tram route in 1912 

that extended from the city along Aberdeen Street to Pakington Street and 

along Aphrasia Street made land nearby more desirable for residential 

development. 

Overall, the Aberdeen Street Heritage Precinct is of LOCAL significance. 



2.5: Aberdeen Street Heritage Area Map 



2.6: Aberdeen Street Precinct Historical Figures 



Parish of Moorpanyal Plan 1850’s 

Figure 2.01 Parish of Moorpanyal Plan 1850’s 

Source: Geelong Heritage Centre. 



N. McLeods Subdivision Plan c. 1850’s 

Figure 2.02 N. McLeods Subdivision Plan dated 1850’s showing Aberdeen Street (Great Western 

Road) and George Street. 

Source: Geelong Heritage Centre Maps and Plans Collection. 



Grist and Gibbons Subdivision Plan c. 1858 

Figure 2.03 Gibbons and Grist Surveyors Plan dated 1858 showing Aberdeen Street (Great Western 

Road) and Skene Street. 

Source: Geelong Heritage Centre Maps and Plans Collection. 



Plan of Subdivision Geelong Town Properties c. 1889 

Figure 2.04 Plan of Subdivision Geelong Town Properties c1889 showing the subdivision along Skene 

Street and Aberdeen Street. 

Source: Geelong Heritage Centre Maps and Plans Collection, G15. 



Robert Balding Map of the Town of Geelong, and Boroughs of South Barwon 

and Newtown and Chilwell c. 1864 

Figure 2.05 Robert Balding Map of the Town of Geelong and the Boroughs of South Barwon and 

Newtown c. 1864 showing the subdivision along Skene Street and Aberdeen Street. 

Source: Planning Strategy Unit City of Greater Geelong. 



Plan of Subdivision 1922 LP8891 

Figure 2.06 Plan of Subdivision of part of Crown Allotment 4 Section 7 Parish of Moorpanyal County of 

Grant LP8891 June 1922, showing subdivision of land of seven allotments and excised parcel of land 

west of Cumberland Street (previously Frederick Street) fronting Aberdeen Street. 

Source: Subdivision Plans held by City of Greater Geelong. 



Geelong Waterworks and Sewerage Trust No 96 

Figure 2.07 Geelong Waterworks and Sewerage Trust Plans No 96 

Source: Barwon Water. 








2.7: Contemporary Photographs 



Photo 2.01 Streetscape view of Aberdeen Street 

looking west from Cumberland Street. 

Source: Kevin Krastins May 2008. 

Photo 2.02 Streetscape view of Cumberland Street 

looking south from Aberdeen Street. 


Photo 2.03 Streetscape view of west side of 

Cumberland Street. 


Photo 2.04 view south side of Aberdeen Street 

looking east from George Street. 


Photo 2.05 George Street looking south from 

Aberdeen Street. 


Photo 2.06 View of 4 Cumberland Street. 




Photo 2.07 125 Aberdeen Street- interwar 

Bungalow. 


Photo 2.08 135 Aberdeen Street inter war 

Californian Bungalow. 


Photo 2.09 view along Aberdeen Street from 

George Street. 




SECTION 3 

3 Eyre Heritage Precinct 

3.1 Precinct Boundaries 

The Eyre Heritage Precinct is comprised of properties within the area 

bounded by Aberdeen Street (south side generally between Pakington 

Street and Shannon Avenue), Cumberland Street (part), Skene Street (part), 

Manning Street (part), Pescott Street (part) and Chadwick Street (part), 

Newtown. The heritage precinct is located within the Parish of Moorpanyal, 

County of Grant. 

3.2 Contextual background 

Historical Evidence (refer to historical figures at the rear of this section) 

The initial Years 

In 1837, Newtown and Chilwell formed part of the earliest suburbs in the 

Geelong area, then under the control of New South Wales. Earlier in that 

year, Governor Bourke of New South Wales visited Geelong with Government 

Surveyor, Robert Huddle. As a result of that visit, Henry Wilson Smythe was 

sent over from Sydney with instructions to survey a site between “Corio Bay 

and the Barwon River for a township and streets”. The plan drawn up by 

Smythe was revised by Hoddle and signed by him on the 21 st August 1838. 1 

In 1837, Chilwell with its grassy slopes extending to the Barwon River and its 

magnificent red gum trees studded along the river valley, and New Town, with 

its commanding view of Corio Bay and Point Henry presenting one of the 

finest panoramas in the district was described by early visitors to Geelong as 

a delightful place for a village. 2 

Residential Developments 

The first sale, 3 October 1839, made available land bounded by today’s 

Shannon Avenue, Aberdeen and Pakington Streets and the Barwon River, 

mostly 25 acre blocks, except for the irregular river allotments of Section V, 

Parish of Moorpanyal. 3 Sales by auction and private contract continued 

slowly throughout 1841 (Figure 3.01). The area was first known as New 

Town. 

Edward Curr was the first purchaser of Allotment 6, Section VII, Parish of 

Moorpanyal, County of Grant (located on the eastern side of 

Cumberland/Frederick Street) which cost him £100 at the Crown land sales in 

Melbourne October 3, 1839. The allotment contained 25 acres and had a 

frontage of one thousand links to what is now Pakington Street (Figure 

3.02). 4 

E B Addis purchased on 30 January 1841, Allotment 5, Section VII, Parish of 

Moorpanyal, County of Grant at the Crown land sales in Melbourne (located 

on the eastern side of Cumberland/Frederick Street), on an allotment 

containing 25 acres and a frontage to what is now Aberdeen Street. 5 

1 The Earlier Days of Newtown and Chilwell 1858-1958 page 5. 

2 City of Newtown and Chilwell Centenary 1858-1958 page3. 

3 Model Borough “An Introduction to old Newtown and Chilwell” by Gladys Seaton p13. 

4 P.L. Brown, ‘Building and Early History of the Hermitage’, Geelong Advertiser, 21 December 

1960. 

5 Moorpanyal Parish Plan, Source: Geelong Heritage Centre, 1989. 



J P Fawkner was the first purchaser of Allotment 3, Section VII, Parish of 

Moorpanyal, County of Grant at the Crown land sales on 26 August, 1840. 

The allotment contained 25 acres located on the west side of Frederick Street 

(now Cumberland Street). 6 

An early resident was A.J Eyre, appointed Clerke to the Bench on 4 October 

1839. On an early plan, from the 1840’s or 1850’s, his name was written 

across two and half acres on the south-eastern corner of Skene and Frederick 

(now Cumberland) Streets (Figure 3.03). 7 

During 1844, subdivision of suburban land became more common. Both 

Ashby (Geelong West) and Newtown were sold in this way, sometimes in 

building sites, others in one acre lots. The activity led to an increase in the 

population. By 1846, New Town had a population of 256 and Irish Town 

(further south between Belfast Street and Pakington Street) with 135. 

It was from the 1850’s that land in this area soon began to be subdivided. N. 

McLeod subdivided his estate into residential allotments with frontages to 

Aberdeen Street, Frederick Street (now Cumberland Street) and Skene Street 

(Figures 3.05 and 3.06). 8 

The subdivision plan prepared by Gibbons and Grist Surveyors dated 1858 

indicates further subdivision of land between Pakington Street (known as 

Great North Road) and Cumberland Road (referred to as Frederick Street) 

and Skene Street and Great Western Road (Aberdeen Street) (Figure 3.04). 9 

James Austin was the owner of this land in 1858. There are a number of 

buildings shown on the plan including a chapel on the south east corner of 

Frederick Street and Great Western Road, a residence probably at 66 Skene 

Street and two other buildings to the east of this building fronting Skene 

Street. Another building is located on the south west corner of Skene Street 

and Frederick Street. 

By June 1864 other secondary streets, including Cumberland, Blessington, 

Charles (now Chadwick), Park and Hermitage Streets had been laid out as 

shown on the map of the Borough of Newtown and Chilwell (Figure 3.07). 10 

At the turn of century the pace of development was slow with occasional 

building blocks released when larger properties were divided. This did not 

encourage uniformity. Parts of Newtown at the turn of century seemed to be 

hardly built on. 11 

Between 1906-1915 the average rate of house construction was a little over 

thirty per year. 12 In the twenty and thirties it was about forty per year, with a 

noticeable decline in building permits in 1930. 

Eyre Heritage Area 

In addition to the land sales offered by N. Mcleod’s Estate and the Gibbons 

and Grist plan of 1858, further residential development occurred after other 

subdivisions in the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries. The Plan of Subdivision 

6 Ibid 

7 Model Borough “An Introduction to old Newtown and Chilwell” by Gladys Seaton p14. 

8 N McLeods Subdivision Plan 1850’s. 

9 Plan of Subdivision prepared by Gibbons and Grist Surveyors 1858. 

10 Map of the Town of Geelong and Boroughs of South Barwon and Newtown and Chilwell, 

1864. 

11 Ibid p 28. 

12 Ibid p 30. 



of Geelong Town Properties (Figure 3.08) probably dated 1889 shows 

allotments for sale along Aberdeen Street between Frederick Street and 

Pakington Street and to the north in Geelong West (Virginia Street and 

Virginia Terrace). The undated (probably 1910-12) Plan of subdivision for 

Kenwith Estate shows seven allotments fronting the east side of Park Street 

(now Pescott Street), three allotments fronting Retreat Road and eight 

allotments on the west side of Manning Street (Figure 3.09). 13 This plan 

shows a residence known as “Kenwith” House on a large allotment referred to 

as Allotment No 1 fronting Retreat Road (an image of the Victorian styled 

Kenwith House is shown on the sales plan), with a large parcel of vacant land 

to the north referred to as Allotment No 11 (now known as Kenwith Reserve). 

Houses are marked on the plan on the west side of Park Street. No physical 

evidence remains of the residence of A. J Eyre or “Kenwith” House today. 

Land in the area was considered to be ideal for residential development, as 

declared in the description on the “Kenwith” real estate plan 1910-12 as 

follows: 

“This estate comprises one of the picked positions in Geelong. Gas, 

Water and Electric Light mains pass this property. Very close to the 

approved Electric Tram route. New residences going up all round.” 

At a similar time as shown on the Overton Estate subdivision plan of 1909, 

there were eight residential allotments fronting Manning Street, and a large 

undeveloped allotment fronting Skene Street (south side) (Figure 3.10). 

Physical evidence shows that the area largely developed in the early 20 th 

century, as most (but not all) of the dwellings which survive today were built 

between 1909 and 1935. 

Commercial activity 

Shops were built in the Eyre heritage precinct to serve the needs of the 

people living locally in Newtown. In the period 1850-1880 the following 

commercial development was entered in the Council rate books. 14 

Gold Diggers Hotel 

The Gold Diggers Hotel was first listed in the rate books from 1854 and 

licensed to William Lindsay. In 1895 Mary Breheny was listed as licensee in 

1895. In 1922 Mary J Breheny was listed as the publican. 

Shops 

William Bennett, Thomas Parker, John O’Neill, Charles Wilkinson, Robert 

Stow, Edward Fowler, E. Farrell, William Hill, John Hobbs, William Matthews, 

James Hart, and John Cotton all operated shops in Skene Street. Other 

shopping strips at this time included Clarendon Street, Russell Street, 

LaTrobe Terrace and Pakington Street all located south in Chilwell. 

Baker 

There was a baker operated by Robert Cottle in Frederick Street (Cumberland 

Street) and Anderson Bros in Aberdeen Street. 

Butcher 

13 Kenwith Sales Plan c. 1910-12. 

14 The Earlier days of Newtown and Chilwell complied by Charles S Walker 1958 p42. 



John Hobbs in Skene Street and Thomson Bros, corner of Skene and 

Cumberland Street were the local butchers in the precinct. 

Boot Repairs 

Steve Hadley operated a boot repair shop in Skene Street. 

Libraries 

The first reported library in Newtown was situated in the Mechanics Institute 

located in Skene Street in 1860 near the Gold Diggers Arms Hotel located on 

the south east corner of Skene Street and Pescott Street. It was called the 

Newtown Mechanics Institute and its opening was celebrated by a service 

held at St James Schoolroom which is shown as a Chapel on Figure 3.04. 

The Institute found it difficult to carry on and after several years ceased 

operation. 15 

History of Street Names 16 

Aberdeen Street 

Aberdeen Street was named by Alexander J. Skene, District Surveyor, who 

was born in Aberdeen, which is close to Skene- the native home of the Skene 

clan. It was previously called Great Western Road. 

Cumberland Street 

Cumberland Street was named after the English county north end. It was 

previously known as Frederick Street the name changed occurred on 21 st 

November 1956. 

Kenwith Grove 

Kenwith Grove is a small street that is located on the east side off Pescott 

Street. This street provided access behind the former historic property, 

known as “Kenwith” that was once occupied by Mr E.H. Wilson, but probably 

built by Charles Nantes, first mayor of Newtown and Chilwell. 

Little Pescott Street 

Little Pescott Street was previously known as Little Park Street. 

Manning Street 

The Overton Estate 1909 had William Herbert Manning as its trustee, so the 

only street in the subdivision apparently took his name. 

Pescott Street 

Formerly Park Street, its name change was reported in the Geelong 

Advertiser 1 st September 1964, when duplicated street names were being 

adjusted. It no doubt carries the name of Thomas Pescott, a builder, who was 

also a leading pioneer of the Newtown Wesleyan Church. Trevor and John 

Pescott are direct descendants. 

Retreat Road 

The 1858 Directory of Geelong shows that Retreat Road was named at that 

time. There is no reference appeared to it in the 1854 Directory so it must be 

assumed that it was named between the two dates. It is known that ‘The 

Grove’, located in Retreat Road, was the site of volunteer encampments 

during the Russian scare of the 1850s and an army drill hall was situated 

north of that site until relatively recently; therefore it is possible that the road 

15 Ibid p43. 

16 Compiled from W Morrow and I Wynd Street Names of Geelong, unpublished database. 



obtained its name from the Army’s use of the word ‘retreat’ - the place to 

which troops retired at night when ‘retreat’ was sounded. 

Skene Street 

Skene Street was named after Alexander Skene (1820-1894), Government 

Surveyor who took charge of the Geelong district survey office in 1843. He 

lived in a house called Skene House which was at the south west corner of 

Skene and George Streets in a large block of land see Figure 3.03. 

Building Owners & Construction Dates 

A table of the original construction dates of the dwellings and the original 

owners is given. 

This data has been collated from various Directories, Geelong Water and 

Sewerage Trust Field Books and Rate Books. These relate to the historical 

evolution to the era including Late Victorian, Federation/Edwardian and 

Interwar dwellings and commercial buildings. 

Property Address Date of Construction Original Building Owner 

105 Aberdeen Street c. 1935 Robert Lavery 

107 Aberdeen Street c. 1910 Michael V Broderick 

109 Aberdeen Street c. 1907 Henry N Denmead 

109A Aberdeen Street c. 1921 Walter V Stott 

111 Aberdeen Street c. 1903 Henry C Treyvaud 

5 Cumberland Street c. 1915 Theophilus H Gane 

7 Cumberland Street c. 1915 Stanley A Wood 

10 Little Pescott Street & 10 

Kenwith Grove 

c. 1909 Part of Kenwith House 

Estate. 

17 Manning Street c. 1911 Frank Higgins 

19 Manning Street c. 1912 Edith Daniel 

21 Manning Street c. 1916 Joseph Kelly 

23 Manning Street c. 1915 Miss Hobbs 

11 Pescott Street c. 1911 David Creighton 

13 Pescott Street c. 1918-19 Frederick Wood 

15 Pescott Street c. 1909 Alice Coulson 

17 Pescott Street c. 1909 Donald McDonald 

19 Pescott Street c. 1911 W P Chrisfield 

67 Skene Street c. 1912 Gunn 

69 Skene Street c. 1909 Edward J Howells 

71 Skene Street c. 1909 James Dixon 

73 Skene Street c. 1909 Val Noseda 

75 Skene Street c. 1910 Mrs E Cotton 

77 Skene Street c. 1910 Charles Akstedt 

79 Skene Street c. 1910 Smart 

81 Skene Street c. 1915 Walter C Kernot 

83 Skene Street c. possibly 1934 John Hook 

87 Skene Street (Gold c. 1864 with 20 th century William Lindsay c. 1854 

Diggers Arms Hotel) 

additions 

89 Skene Street- shop c. possibly 1938 Gipsy and Mavis Young 

91 Skene Street c. 1937 William R Denmead (owner?) 

97 Skene Street c. 1911 George Smart 

99 Skene Street c. 1911 Harry Hedges 

101 Skene Street c. 1910 George Brown 

103 Skene Street c. 1918 Barthy L Hollard 

105 Skene Street (shops) c. 1933-34 Corio Trading Co 

88 Skene Street c. 1909 Robert J Dew 

94 Skene Street c. possibly pre 1895 C A & J E Hobbs 

100 Skene Street c. possibly 1922 John Littleton 

102 Skene Street c. 1941 Mary A Gray 

104 Skene Street c. 1924 May Kennedy 



106 Skene Street c. 1940 George P Brunton 

108 Skene Street c. 1915 extended 1921 Charles Pearson 

110 Skene Street c. 1921 Henry N Denmead 

112 Skene Street c. 1915 extended c. 1921 Charles Piper 

114 Skene Street c. pre 1895 extended by William Robbins 

1912 

126 Skene Street (shop) c. 1953 1950 Chas R O’Neill 

Early Owners 

By the early 20 th Century, the Eyre Heritage Precinct was made up of a mix of 

residents of varying socio-economic circumstances. 

The middle class residents included dealer, managers, engineer, clerk, 

farmer, publican, including manager Leslie A F Horne from 105 Aberdeen 

Street, Michael Vincent Broderick, commercial traveller from 107 Aberdeen 

Street and George Smart, dealer from 97 Skene Street. 

The working class was comprised of mechanics, dressmaker, builders, 

cement miller, butcher, printer, hairdresser, bricklayer, painter, bootmaker, 

carpenter and postal sorter. These residents included Mr Smart of 77 Skene 

Street who was a builder, R A Eastman of 81 Skene Street, cement miller , 

R J Dew of 88 Skene Street, painter and W Robbins of 114 Skene Street, 

bootmaker. 

3.3 Physical Evidence 

3.3.1 Building Character & Appearance 

The Eyre Heritage Precinct is predominantly a residential area with some 

commercial activity, comprised of 46 dwellings, one hotel and carpark 

associated with the hotel (located opposite the subject site), three shops (one 

attached with a dwelling), a Council reserve known as Kenwith Reserve and a 

naval clubroom in Skene Street. 

Height 

The dwellings in the heritage area are predominantly single storey in 

appearance and height (Photo 3.05, Photo 3.08 and Photo 3.14) apart from 

the more recent two storey dwellings at 9 and 21 Pescott Street, 84 Skene 

Street and a greatly altered dwelling that has a two storey extension at 15 

Pescott Street. The Gold Diggers Arms Hotel is an early and prominent two 

storey brick building, located on the corner of Pescott Street and Skene Street 

(Photo 3.07). The hotel is an important atypical landmark in the area. The 

other commercial shops are single storey in height. 

Form, Design and Scale 

Residential Buildings 

The dwellings in the precinct have largely been constructed in the 

Federation/Edwardian era, although these are two intact Victorian era houses, 

together with a contextually small number of interwar Bungalows. 

The two 19 th Century era dwellings are Victorian and Late Victorian in style at 

94 Skene Street and 111 Aberdeen Street they are characterised by: 

• Symmetrical facades. 

• Hipped and/or gabled roof forms with a 30-35 degree pitch. 


• Ogee form or half round gutters. 

• Square edged timber weatherboard cladding. 

• Cast iron verandah valances with timber posts. 



• timber framed front doorways (with timber framed sidelights and 

highlights). 

• narrow eaves (with decorative timber brackets). 

• corbelled brick chimney. 

• timber framed double hung windows (arranged singularly, paired or as 

tripartite windows), 

The early 20 th century era buildings are largely designed in Edwardian and 

Federation styles and reflect the following type: 

The Edwardian buildings in the precinct reflect the following key 




• Recessive hipped roof forms, and a gable and front verandah that 

projects towards the street some, with front verandahs formed under 

the main roof. Alternatively, broad hipped, gabled or gambrel roof 

forms. 

• Strapped and/or corbelled brick chimneys. 

• The verandahs are largely supported by timber posts and feature 

decorative timber fretwork valances and brackets. 

• Timber framed double hung windows and timber framed doorways 

with sidelights and highlights. 


• Most of these dwellings are constructed of horizontal timber 

weatherboards. 

• Galvanized corrugated steel (non-zincalume) roof cladding pitched at 

30-35 degrees. 

• Timber eave bracket and exposed rafters. 


• Rounded picket fence or capped timber picket. 

Examples of brick Edwardian buildings include 81 and 99 Skene Street and 

examples of Edwardian timber dwellings include 21 Manning Street (Photo 

3.17) and 77 Skene Street (Photo 3.20). 

The Federation era buildings in the precinct reflect the following key 




• Complex hipped and gable roof forms clad in slate or galvanized 

corrugated steel (non-zincalume) roof cladding pitched at 25 to 35 

degrees. 

• Unpainted red brick construction. 

• Bowed projecting bay windows. 

• Timber framed or casement or double hung window 

• Dominant face red brick chimneys, commonly strapped with terra cotta 

pots. 

• Decorative timber fretwork, brackets and posts to verandahs. 



• Timber shingling. 

Examples of more elaborate Federation dwellings include 107 Aberdeen 

Street and 67 Skene Street (Photo 3.18). 



The interwar era dwellings are designed as interwar Bungalows and interwar 

Californian bungalows and include the following types: 

• A gable or hipped roof form that traverses the site, together with a 

minor gable and/or verandah that project towards the street frontage 

or at the side. 

• Timber framed double hung windows, arranged singularly, in pairs. 

• Verandahs are mainly supported by timber posts and brick piers, or 

solely with brick piers. 

• There are plain rectilinear brick chimneys, with some featuring 

rendered or soldier-coursed tops. 

• The gable infill comprises timber shingles. 

• Gable ventilator. 

• Street facing gable. 

• Constructed in horizontal timber weatherboards. 

• Low pitched roof forms. 

• Wide eaves with exposed timber rafters. 


• interwar Bungalows with multiple hipped roof forms having front or 

side verandahs and several of the features listed for the interwar 

Californian Bungalows. 

Examples of interwar dwellings are located at 109A Aberdeen Street, 13 

Pescott Street and 83 Skene Street. 

Commercial Buildings 

The Eyre Heritage Precinct is also defined by 4 commercial buildings. The 

earliest is the Gold Diggers Hotel, 87 Skene Street, initially built in c. 1854. It 

has been remodelled on a number of occasions and now reflects a 

streamlined interwar cream brick façade surmounted by a parapet. 

The other buildings have been built in the interwar and post war periods. The 

Corio Trading Co building at 105 Skene Street has a distinctive curved façade 

that addresses its corner location. A cantilevered parapet (with early pressed 

metal soffit) projects over the footpath. The building is dominated by a curved 

parapet with Art Deco-like parrallel line motifs defined by the projecting - 

courses of brickwork. On the west facing façade is early signage which reads 

“[B]utcher”. 17 Early metal framed shopfront windows with tile surrounds 

comprise the façade below the verandah. A similar but more streamlined 

building located at 124 Skene Street, constructed of cream brick and lacking a 

verandah, it is a standard representation of a surburban post war building. 

Also distinctive is the interwar shop at 89 Skene Street, with its Spanish 

Mission parapet defined by the rendered parapet capped with terra cotta 

cordova tiles. The building has an early canterlevering verandah, timber 

framed shopfront windows, door opening and tile surrounds. 

Residential Garages and Carports 

A majority of the properties fronting Aberdeen Street, Skene Street and 

Pescott Street have vehicle access from the rear right of way. In other cases, 

the garage or carports are either detached or attached towards the rear of the 

dwelling, accessed by side driveways from the front of the properties. There 

is a more recent carport projecting forward of the front building line at 17 

17 The letter “B” is missing from the sign. 



Manning Street. Generally the location of carports and garages are not 

streetscape features in the Eyre Heritage Precinct. 

Significance of Dwellings/Commercial buildings 

Forty five (45) places of the fifty three (53) places (or 85%) within the Eyre 

Heritage Precinct are considered to have significance within the area. 

The buildings and places include multiple residential dwellings, one hotel, 

three shops (one attached with a dwelling), naval clubroom and Kenwith Park. 

The precinct also has six buildings that have potential individual significance. 

Further details and a photograph of each of the dwellings are provided in the 

Inventory of Places as Volume 2. 

The properties that are considered to have individual Local Significance (C) 

are: 

• 107 Aberdeen Street. 

• 10 Kenwith Grove & 10 Little Pescott Street (Pescott Park). 

• 67 Skene Street. 

• 87 Skene Street (Gold Diggers Arms Hotel) including Stone Pine tree 

at No’s 5 and 7 Pescott Street. 

• 89 Skene Street (Shop). 

• 105 Skene Street (Shop/Office). 

• 124 Skene Street (Shop). 

The dwellings that have contributory significance (D) listing within the heritage 

precinct are: 

• 105 Aberdeen Street • 77 Skene Street 


• 109A Aberdeen Street • 81 Skene Street 


• 5 Cumberland Street • 88 Skene Street 


• 17 Manning Street • 94 Skene Street 




• 11 Pescott Street • 101 Skene Street 





• 69 Skene Street • 108 Skene Street 




The properties that are NOT considered to have significance within the 

precinct are at: 

• 13 Cumberland Street. • 86 Skene Street 



• 21 Pescott Street • 96-98 Skene Street (vacantcar 

park) 





• 84 Skene Street 

(residence) 

3.3.2 Urban Design & Engineering Infrastructure 

Layout and Subdivision 

The allotments within the Eyre Heritage Precinct follow a traditional grid 

pattern layout of subdivision. 

The allotment sizes vary significantly within each street and the precinct as a 

whole. 

The allotment frontage size varies generally between 30 feet (9.1 metres) to 

70 feet (21.3 metres) in Aberdeen Street to 40 feet (8 metres) to 50 feet 

(15.24 metres) in Skene Street. In Pescott Street the allotments have a 

frontage 50 feet (15.24 metres) and in Manning Street they vary between 33 

feet (10 metres) to 50 feet (15.24 metres). 

Setbacks 

Throughout the precinct are regular front setbacks. Most dwellings form a 

consistent front setback pattern. 

The shops and hotel are located on the street boundary. All residential 

dwellings are setback from the street frontage. 

Apart from very few dwellings that abut a side boundary, most dwellings have 

side setbacks with clear visual building separation. 

Engineering Infrastructure 

The Eyre Heritage Precinct retains very little early engineering infrastructure 

with the exception of the following locations: 

• Little Pescott Street (Photo 3.15) :a bluestone drain in the laneway 

between Pescott Street and Manning Street, 

• Pescott Street (Photo 3.12),: bluestone kerb and two pitcher wide 

bluestone channel including asphalt footpath. 

• Cumberland Street (Photo 3.10) on both sides between Aberdeen 

Street and Skene Street: Bluestone kerb and three pitcher wide 

bluestone channel including asphalt footpath, and 

• Manning Street (Photo 3.14): bluestone kerb and two pitcher wide 

bluestone channel including asphalt footpath. 

Crossovers to the private driveways are constructed of concrete. 

In Skene Street and Aberdeen Street there are more recent concrete kerb 

and channel (Photo 3.08 and Photo 3.16). Asphalt footpaths have been 

constructed in Skene Street, Pescott Street, Cumberland Street and 

Aberdeen Street (Photo 3.08, Photo 3.12 and Photo 3.16). 

There are overhead power lines in all the streets within the Eyre heritage 

precinct. 

Front Fences 

The streetscapes within the Aberdeen and Skene Street are identified by a 

substantial number of introduced front fences. Some relate to the period of 

the dwelling. 



In Aberdeen Street there are a number of introduced high timber and brick 

fences. Skene Street properties are characterised by a variety of fencing 

heights ranging from 1.0 metres to 2.0 metres. 

Most properties have introduced brick, corrugated iron sheeting and timber 

infill fences, low timber picket or other fences including landscaped hedging. 

Landmarks 

The two storey Gold Diggers Arms Hotel (Photo 3.07) at the corner of Skene 

Street and Pescott Street forms a local architectural and historical landmark. 

The interwar and post war shops located at the corner of Skene Street and 

Cumberland Street (Photo 3.01, Photo 3.02 and Photo 3.04) also form local 

landmarks but at a more modest scale. 

Recreational Park 

A local Council public park known as Kenwith Park is located at the rear of the 

Pescott Street, Manning Street and Skene Street properties (Photo 3.13). 

This land once formed part of the land associated with Kenwith House. The 

park includes grassed areas bounded by a post and rail fence and two 

asphalt tennis courts. The park has a small number of trees on the perimeter. 

3.3.3 Landscaping 

With the exception of a narrow nature strip and street trees in Manning Street 

there are no grassed nature strips and street trees within the Eyre Heritage 

Precinct. 

The setbacks to the properties include grassed areas, often bordered with 

flower beds or shrubbery and trees on the larger allotments. 

There is a large tree located at the rear of the Gold Diggers Arms Hotel 

fronting Pescott Street (Photo 3.09) known as a Stone Pine, (Pinus pinea). 

The tree is approximately 15 metres in height by 15 metres in canopy width. 

It has a trunk diameter estimated at about 1.25 metres at 1 metre above 

ground level. The Stone Pine is generally not uncommon or rare, however in 

the Newtown area the tree is rare given it’s species, age and size. The 

history of the tree is not known but it is likely to be about 100-120 years old, 

associated with the c. 1854 Gold Diggers Arms hotel on the same site. 18 

3.4 Statement of Cultural Significance 

The Eyre Heritage Precinct is significant for its notable concentration of 

Victorian, and particularly Edwardian/Federation, interwar and postwar 

buildings constructed between c.1864 and c.1953. Parts of the area were 

initially laid out from the 1840s and 1850s, but the precinct largely reflects 

important eras of building development from the late 19 th and early 20 th 

centuries and during the interwar period. The majority of the dwellings of 

heritage value are single storey and are typical examples of Edwardian, 

Federation, interwar and postwar Bungalow styles. Most are built of timber 

weatherboard wall construction with slate or more particularly corrugated 

sheet metal hipped and gabled roofs, and front or return verandahs. Carports 

and garages are located towards the rear. The precinct is also identified by a 

small number of commercial buildings that form local landmarks in Skene 

Street, including the Gold Diggers Hotel at 87 Skene Street, former shop at 89 

18 Advice received from Ian Rogers City of Greater Geelong 6 th March 2008. 



Skene Street, corner shops at 105 Skene Street and the shop at 125 Skene 

Street. Kenwith Park, which was laid out in c.1909, forms an important 

landscaped public park in the area, while the stone pine tree at the rear of the 

Gold Diggers Hotel represents another notable landscape feature. Also 

contributing to the significance of the area are the asphalt footpaths, as well 

as the bluestone kerbs and channels in Manning and Pescott Streets. 

The Eyre Heritage Precinct is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level 

(AHC criterion D.2). It demonstrates original and early design qualities 

associated with the residential development of the area from the late 19 th 

century but predominantly from the early 20 th century until c.1953. These 

qualities are expressed in the Victorian, but predominantly 

Edwardian/Federation and interwar Bungalow styled dwellings and post war 

commercial shops that are predominantly single storey in appearance. The 

buildings include the following design characteristics: hipped and gabled roof 

forms (with simple or complex roof outlines having a pitch between 25 and 35 

degrees for residential dwellings and flat roofs and/or pitched roofs for 

commercial buildings some with parapets), front or return verandahs (some 

commercial buildings have verandahs over street footpath), slate and 

corrugated galvanised steel roof cladding, horizontal timber weatherboard 

wall construction, brick chimneys (detailed to reflect the design era), brick 

cladding and brick verandah supports, narrow or wide eaves, timber verandah 

posts with decorative cast iron or timber brackets and/or valances, timber 

framed windows arranged singularly, in pairs or bays, and the rear location of 

carports and garaging. Overall, these dwellings constitute 85% of the building 

stock in the area. 

The Eyre precinct also demonstrates important visual qualities that reflect the 

historical and residential development of the area. These qualities include the 

layout of the roads, streets and allotment configuration. The two storey Hotel 

at the corner of Skene Street and Pescott Street forms a local landmark. The 

early bluestone kerb and channel in Manning Street and Pescott Street and 

asphalt footpaths also contribute to the significance of the place. The lack of 

a visual presence of garages and carports from the street frontages further 

retains the aesthetic heritage values of the area. 

The Eyre Heritage Precinct is historically significant at a LOCAL level (AHC 

criteria A.4, H.1). It is associated with important eras of residential and 

commercial development after the subdivision of the area from the c.1840s 

and 1850s and in the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries and during the interwar 

(c.1920-1953) period. Allotments in the first subdivision were sold from 

1850’s. However, it was especially from the Federation period with the 

construction of dwellings in Aberdeen, Manning and Skene Streets when the 

area was transformed into the residential neighborhood identified today. 

Further residential building development occurred during the interwar period 

as shown in the interwar Bungalows. Limited commercial developed occurred 

initially from c.1864 with the construction of the Gold Diggers Hotel. It was 

remodeled during the early 20 th century when a small number of shops were 

built in Skene Street to service the local residents. 

Overall, the Eyre Heritage Precinct is of LOCAL significance. 



3.5: Eyre Heritage Area Map 



3.6: Eyre Precinct Historical Figures 



Geelong Land Sales to 1841 

Figure 3.01 Geelong Land Sales 1841 showing land owners in Geelong West and Newtown and 

Chilwell 

Source: Geelong Heritage Centre 


Parish of Moorpanyal Plan 


Figure 3.02 Parish of Moorpanyal Plan 1850’s 




Portion of the Parish of Moorpanyal Newtown and Chilwell 1840-1851 

Figure 3.03 Portion of the Parish of Moorpanyal to illustrate Newtown and Chilwell 1840-1851, showing 

early residents. 

Source: Model Borough An Introduction to Old Newtown and Chilwell by Gladys Seaton pages 16-17. 



Gibbons and Grist Surveyors Plan 1858 

Figure 3.04 Gibbons and Grist Surveyors Plan dated 1858 showing Aberdeen Street (Great Western 

Road) and Skene Street. 




N McLeods map 1850’s 

Figure 3.05 N. McLeod’s Subdivision Plan dated 1850’s showing Aberdeen Street (Great Western 

Road) and George Street. 




N McLeods map 1850’s 

Figure 3.06 N. McLeod’s Subdivision Plan dated 1850’s showing Cumberland Street (Frederick Street) 

and George Street. 




Robert Balding Map of the Town of Geelong and Borough’s of South Barwon 

and Newtown and Chilwell c. 1864 

Figure 3.07 Robert Balding Map of the Town of Geelong and Borough’s of South Barwon and Newtown 

and Chilwell dated June 1864, showing the layout of streets in Aberdeen Street, Park Street, Charles 

Street, Retreat Street and Hermitage Street. 

Source: City of Greater Geelong Planning Strategy Unit 

Geelong Town Properties Plan of Subdivision 

Figure 3.08 Geelong Town Properties Sales Plan Properties c1889? showing Cumberland Street 

(Frederick Street), Skene Street and Aberdeen Street. 

Source: Geelong Heritage Centre G15. 



Kenwith Plan of Subdivision c. 1910-12 

Figure 3.09 Kenwith Sales Plan early 1910-12 showing Pescott Street (Park Street), Skene Street and 

Retreat Road. 

Source: Geelong Heritage Centre, Maps and Plans Collection K15 



“Overton” Estate Plan of Subdivision 1909 

Figure 3.10 Overton Sales Plan September 1909 showing Hermitage Road, Manning Street, Skene 

Street and Retreat Road. 

Source: Geelong Heritage Centre, Maps and Plans Collection N02 



Geelong Waterworks and Sewerage Trust Plan No 95 


Source: Barwon Water 





Source: Barwon Water 




Figure 3.13 Geelong Waterworks and Sewerage Trust Plans No 97 c. 1957 





Figure 3.14 Geelong Waterworks and Sewerage Trust Plans No 98 c. 1915

Newtown Heritage Study Review 2008 - City of Greater Geelong

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