Untitled - Surf Coast Shire

Surf Coast Shire Heritage Study Stage 2B 2007-08
Place No.
L930
PLACE NAME :
ADDRESS :
House
058 Smith Street, Lorne
Assessment: December 2008
Historic Theme(s):
Towns (Coastal Towns)
Housing (Holiday Houses)
Condition Fair
Integrity Substantially Intact
Photograph Date/No. 141107-44
CURRENT HERITAGE STATUS ON STATUTORY REGISTERS:
Victorian Heritage Register:
Heritage Inventory:
Local Planning Scheme:
CURRENT HERITAGE STATUS ON OTHER REGISTERS:
Register of the National Estate - Database No:
National Trust (Victoria) Register:
RECOMMENDED LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE:
PRECINCT NAME (If Located within a Precinct)
Local
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Recommended for inclusion in the Victorian Heritage Register
Recommended for inclusion in the Victorian Heritage Inventory
Recommended for inclusion as a Heritage Overlay in the Planning Scheme
Schedule to the Heritage Overlay
External Paint Controls Should Apply
Internal Alteration Controls Should Apply
Tree Controls Should Apply
Fences &/or Outbuildings of Note
Comments
Extent of Heritage Overlay: whole site.
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE:
The house at 58 Smith Street, has significance as a predominantly intact, modest and contextually rare
surviving example of a Late Victorian style in Lorne and as a legacy of the residential developments in
Lorne in the late 19th century for prominent Melbourne and Western District families. Built in 1895-96 for
Robert J. Stirling, it has longer term associations with the Peel family of "Tower Hill", Inverleigh, as their
seaside retreat. The house represents one of only five known surviving Late Victorian dwellings in Lorne
constructed in the 1890s. The house appears to be in fair condition.
The house at 58 Smith Street is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level (AHC D.2). It demonstrates
original design qualities of a Late Victorian style. These qualities include the hipped roof form that
traverses the site, together with the double hipped (M) roof that projects at the rear, return verandah and
Dr David Rowe: Authentic Heritage Services Pty Ltd & Wendy Jacobs: Architect & Heritage Consultant 1

Surf Coast Shire Heritage Study Stage 2B 2007-08
PLACE NAME : House
ADDRESS : 058 Smith Street, Lorne
Place No.
L930
Assessment: December 2008
the rear skillion wing. Other intact qualities include the elevated single storey height, horizontal timber
weatherboard wall cladding, corrugated profile sheet metal roof cladding, rendered brick chimney with
projecting cornice, narrow eaves, square timber verandah posts, decorative timber verandah brackets and
simple timber fretwork valance, capped timber balustrade, timber framed double hung windows and the
timber framed doorway with sidelights and highlights.
The house at 58 Smith Street is historically significant at a LOCAL level (AHC A.4, H.1). It is associated
with residential developments in Lorne at a time when its popularity as a seaside resort was becoming
more well known. Built in 1895-96, it has long term associations with the Peel family of "Tower Hill",
Inverleigh. Like many 19th and early 20th century homes, the dwelling at 58 Smith Street reflects the
seaside lifestyle of many prominent Melbourne and Western District families who had holiday homes in the
town.
Overall, the house at 58 Smith Street is of LOCAL significance.
DESCRIPTION:
The house at 58 Smith Street, Lorne, is set on sloping land at the south-west corner of Smith Street and
Fern Avenue. The front is characterised by an open grassed area with small perimeter shrubs, and an
introduced horizontal timber paling fence with steel agricultural gate at the corner. At the rear is a
substantial open grassed yard with some mature trees.
The elevated single storey, horizontal timber weatherboard, Late Victorian styled dwelling is characterised
by a hipped roof form that traverses the site, together with a double hipped (M) roof that projects at the
rear, return front verandah and a rear skillion wing. These roof forms are clad in red corrugated
Colorbond. An early rendered brick chimney with projecting cornice adorns the roofline. Narrow
overhangs are a feature of the eaves.
An early feature of the design is the return verandah. It is supported by square timber posts having
decorative timber brackets and simple timber fretwork valance. A capped timber balustrade forms the
perimeter to the verandah which is accessed by timber steps at the front.
Other early features of the design include the timber framed double hung windows and the timber framed
doorway with sidelights and highlights.
HISTORY
General Background
In 1869, the township of Lorne was surveyed by A.C. Allan and named after the Marquis of Lorne.
residential allotments overlooking Loutit Bay (to the east of the central township area today) formed part of
another survey of the Lorne Township by George C. Darbyshire in 1871.
From the 1890s, as Lorne became important as a premier Victorian seaside resort, several homes were
constructed as either permanent residences or holiday retreats. These houses, with associated bathing
boxes along the foreshore, illustrate the seaside retreat lifestyle of the occupants from the late 19th
century.
Dr David Rowe: Authentic Heritage Services Pty Ltd & Wendy Jacobs: Architect & Heritage Consultant 2

Surf Coast Shire Heritage Study Stage 2B 2007-08
PLACE NAME : House
ADDRESS : 058 Smith Street, Lorne
Place No.
L930
Assessment: December 2008
History of the House at 58 Smith Street
The site at 58 Smith Street originally formed part of Section 5 comprising 5 acres, 1 rood and 37 perches
first owned by A.E. Belcher from 6 April 1880. In 1894-95, the Winchelsea Shire Rate Books list the site
as "open land" comprising 2 roods. It was owned by Robert J. Stirling. In the following year, 1895-96, the
house is listed in the Rate Books, with the Net Annual Value of the property increasing from £2 in 1894-95
to £20 in 1895-96. By 1910-11, the property was owned and occupied by Margaret and Jessie Stirling and
then comprised 1 rood. In 1919-20, the property was acquired by Mrs Susan Peel of "Tower Hill",
Inverleigh and the Peel family continued to own it as a holiday retreat until after the mid 20th century.
In 1952-54, the Winchelsea Shire Rate Books list Charles Herbert Peel, farmer of Inverleigh as the owner.
He was the son of George Peel, pioneer of Inverleigh who established his "Tower Hill" farm on 10 acres of
land in 1856. Charles Peel lived all his life in his father's house, earning his living in the early days as
Inverleigh's first baker before taking over the family's farming pursuits. He died in 1964 and it may have
been at this time when the property at 58 Smith Street was sold.
COMPARATIVE:
Architecturally, the house at 58 Smith Street represents one of five surviving Late Victorian styled houses
constructed in Lorne in the 1890s. The other dwellings are:
*Ravenswood, 70 Smith Street (corner Bay Street) (HO74): built in the late 1890s for James Buick, the
house is a more substantial and elaborate example of the Late Victorian type. It features the similar
hipped roof forms and return verandah and timber construction as the dwelling at 58 Smith Street (the
timber fretwork valance is almost identical), but a bellcast tower at the side complete with widow's walk,
forms a local landmark.
*Wareen, 15 Fern Avenue (HO52): constructed in 1894 for Andrew Sanger, the dwelling was originally
situated at 226-228 Mountjoy Parade before being relocated to its current site in 2002. Wareen features a
similar hipped roof and return verandah composition as the dwelling at 58 Smith Street, together with the
timber construction and window design and construction. Wareen is directly comparable with the dwelling
at 58 Smith Street.
* "Valetta", 3 Fern Avenue (citation L392): built in 1891-92 for Edward Seymour, teacher and second
Principal at the Lorne State School. "Valetta" is of similar scale and composition as the dwelling at 58
Smith Street, with its hipped roof form, return verandah, timber construction and rudimentary detailing.
* "Cora Lynn Guest House", 22-28 Mountjoy Parade (not significant): possibly built in the 1890s, the Cora
Lynn Guest House originally shared a similar Late Victorian composition as the dwelling at 58 Smith
Street. However from the late 1990s the former Guest House has been substantially altered and adapted
and it does not possess the architectural integrity of the dwelling at 58 Smith Street.
* "Kyanga", 56 Smith Street (citation L931): built in 1891-92 to the west of the dwelling at 56 Smith Street,
"Kyanga" was designed in a Late Victorian Italianate style. It features a hipped roof form that traverses the
site, together with a projecting hipped roof and faceted bay window with conical roof. There is also a
return verandah that also encircles the projecting bay window.
Historically, the dwelling at 58 Smith Street has longtime associations with the Peel family of "Tower Hill",
Inverleigh. The property represents one of a number of 19th century seaside retreats for prominent
Melbourne or Western District families. Other properties with similar associations that were built in the
19th century include:
* Varna", 101-103 Smith Street (HO31): built in 1881 for Charles Beal and family, originally of Winchelsea.
Dr David Rowe: Authentic Heritage Services Pty Ltd & Wendy Jacobs: Architect & Heritage Consultant 3

Surf Coast Shire Heritage Study Stage 2B 2007-08
PLACE NAME : House
ADDRESS : 058 Smith Street, Lorne
Place No.
L930
Assessment: December 2008
*Lower & Upper Kincraig", 236 Mountjoy Parade & 127 Smith Street (HO77): built in 1888 for Miss Edith
Walker of Sydney to a design by the well-known Geelong architect, Joseph Watts, the property has
longtime associations as the holiday home of the Russell family of "Barunah Plains", Inverleigh, from 1904
-05 until after the mid 20th century. "Upper Kincraig" represents the servants' quarters and has been
subdivided from "Lower Kincraig". It continues to be owned by the Russell family.
*Wareen" 15 Fern Avenue (HO52): originally built in 1894 for Professor Andrew Sang, the house has
longer term associations with Edward Manifold and family of Camperdown.
* "Kyanga", 56 Smith Street: built in 1891-92 for Robert J. Stirling, the house has longer term associations
as a holiday retreat for Wilhemina Westerton of Malvern.
REFERENCES:
'George Peel' in Settlers of Inverleigh at http://www.inverleigh.info/History/Settlers/settlers.htm#peel.
Context Pty Ltd (with Dr Carlotta Kellaway), Surf Coast Shire Places of Cultural Significance Study Stage 2
- Lorne Area & Heritage Plan', prepared for the Surf Coast Shire, 2000.
Lorne Township Plan, Landscape Department Map, 1908, Geelong Heritage Centre, folio 7/67.
D. Rowe, 'Additional Lorne Heritage Assessments', prepared for the Surf Coast Shire, May 2003.
W.L. Koenig (comp.), "Lorne, The Loutitt or Loutit Bay of By-Gone Days' in The History of the Winchelsea
Shire, publication compiled in connection with the celebration to honour the 100th anniversary of the
founding of Victoria in 1834-35, 1933.
Victorian Heritage Register online.
Register of the National Estate online.
Winchelsea Shire Rate Books 1894-95, 1895-96, 1900-01, 1910-11, 1919-20, 1925-26, 1932-33, 1952-54,
Geelong Heritage Centre.
E.B. Gregory, M.L. Gregory & W.L. Keonig, Coast to Country: Winchelsea, A History of the Shire, Shire of
Winchelsea in conjunction with Hargreen Publishing Company, North Melbourne, 1985.
Context Pty Ltd & D. Rowe, Surf Coast Shire Heritage Assessments Database, 1998-2002.
Aerial image supplied by the Surf Coast Shire.
Dr David Rowe: Authentic Heritage Services Pty Ltd & Wendy Jacobs: Architect & Heritage Consultant 4