The Categories, Awards and Commendations Are As Follows

INDIGO HERITAGE AWARDS 2015

At the conclusion of the deliberations of the Indigo Shire Council Heritage Advisory Committee Jury, the following is the list of finalists for the 2015 Indigo Shire – National Trust of Australia (Victoria) Heritage Awards.

This information and detail is confidential and embargoed until after 8.00pm (2000 hours) on Friday 29 May 2015.

The Categories, Awards and Commendations are as follows:

CATEGORY 1 – CREATIVE USE OF AN HERITAGE PLACE AWARD: This Award encourages adaptive re-use of an heritage place. Adaptive reuse is a process that changes a disused or redundant place to a different purpose. Nominations should demonstrate adaptive re-use of an heritage place having minimal impact on its significance and/or setting.

RECIPIENT: “THE WICKED VILLA” LUXURY ACCOMMODATION, RUTHERGLEN

NOMINATED BY: John and Laurel Nowacki

PROJECT: “The Wicked Villa” at The Wicked Virgin is a one of a kind, exclusive little two story villa sits at the top of an olive grove with views that sweep the farmlands and vineyards of the Rutherglen district. The structure reclaims a century old, derelict but substantial red brick building and has created a vibrant Villa for Tourists to the region.

Once a Still House, then a silo followed by a new life as a junk shed. The red brick structure has been reclaimed and redesigned as the ”Wicked Villa” maintaining the integrity of the brick structure in its rural setting offered challenges in design and development. The walls of the new section have been clad with corrugated iron from the old shearing shed; an old fence from the Shearing Shed became the slatted timber floor and maintains the agricultural aspect.

“The Wicked Villa” now sits comfortably in a precinct where “recycle” has been a key direction of development of the site. A Cellar Door (once a shearing shed), an olive oil and wine processing shed (once a winery and then a hayshed) and a derelict gold mining poppet head on site shows the sites heritage and the necessary practical evolution of aspects of Rutherglen.

COMMENDATION: LAKE MOODEMERE VINEYARDS CELLAR DOOR

1 | P a g e NOMINATED BY: Michael and Belinda Chambers

PROJECT: The restoration and adaptive structural work to convert the original uninhabited 1850’s homestead to Cellar Door.

Work to re-purpose the building the building includes restoration of the original 1850’s structure, restoration of the main building including retention of its original features; addition of a new warehouse and toilets with sensitivity to the buildings style and its surrounding environment.

The historically and regionally important building application Pise de Terre has been completely restored, maintained and made visible thus increasing awareness not only of the Phoenician building technique, but also the work of architect McKnight who introduced and advocated its application in the Rutherglen Region.

The adaptive reuse of the homestead had introduced many people, both tourists and local residents, to Lake Moodemere Reserve with its rich indigenous history and recreational value. By opening the homestead to the public with the inclusion of historical displays, the history of 6 generations of Chambers’ winemaking in Rutherglen has been shared.

CATEGORY 2 – NEW WORK/DEVELOPMENTWITHIN AN HERITAGE PLACE AWARD: This award encourages sympathetic /empathetic design of new buildings or structures within heritage conservation areas or within a cultural heritage landscape. Nominations should demonstrate fulfilment of local guidelines and the Burra Charter.

RECIPIENT: NAM SHING LANE, BEECHWORTH 3747 – Seven Housing Lot Subdivision and Parkland Development

NOMINEES: Ms Gina BLADON, Mr Matt PAHLERT, Ms Jane and Mr Toby DARVALL

PROJECT: The vision for the development, located off Jardine Street, Beechworth, is that the project enhances the existing built, natural and cultural landscape of Beechworth including the amenity of the surrounding neighbourhood. The owners are especially mindful of the significance of the Beechworth Chinese Gardens, which border the southern boundary of the property.

Specific to the site, is the design and construction of a lane entrance of Jardine Street that includes landscaped garden, a story board and sculpture using recycled materials; tree planting both sides of the meandering laneway leading to that a private enclave of lots on an infill parcel of land close to the town centre. The private no through laneway has signage that requires cars to give- way to pedestrians and bicycles, transforming the laneway into a community space for residents to socialise and for children to play. A public reserve has been gifted to Council for use as public access to the revitalised Chinese Gardens.

This unique design feature avoids the current suburban development approach by creating a “Laneway setting”, a landscaped drainage system and clear guidelines that discourage project home buildings whilst supporting design guidelines which encourage strong environmental and aesthetic architectural design and use of natural materials.

In considering a name for the development and realising that thousands of Chinese miners spent considerable time in the region, extensive research was undertaken of Beechworth’s history to identify a Chinese person whose contribution to the community deserved greater recognition and acknowledgement. The owners settled upon Mr William Nam Shing. He was known for helping others without seeking acknowledgement and was an early benefactor of the old Ovens & Murray Hospital. Mr Nam Shing is buried in the Church of England Section B, Grave No: 425 at Beechworth Cemetery.

CATEGORY 3 – RESTORATION OF AN HERITAGE PLACE AWARD : This award recognises best practice restoration work that returns fabric to a known earlier state or conserves integrity. Nominations should demonstrate application of the Burra Charter.

RECIPIENT:CHILTERN GOODS SHED

NOMINATED BY: CHILTON GOOD SHED COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT

PROJECT: Restoration and refurbishment for adaptive re-use of the formerly derelict railway goods shed to a multiple purpose community facility.

Built in 1875, the Chiltern Goods Shed is historically and architecturally significant to the State of Victoria being an important representative example of the “Creswick” style of station buildings as part of the era of ‘light’ railway lines. The buildings are a reminder of the pre-eminence of Chiltern and north-east Victoria’s gold mining district with all the wealth, population and development that the gold era brought.

3 | P a g e The formerly derelict building has been transformed from an empty shell into what is now a unique and vibrant community arts and exhibition space, tourism facility and cycling hub. The completed works primarily restored the building providing office, kitchen, display and general purpose spaces; accessible access, toilets and showers, and specialised fittings including bike hanging racks and lockers to cater to the growing cycling phenomena in north east Victoria.

The work has been undertaken by VicTrack and funded through the Victorian Government’s Community Use of Vacant Rail Buildings Program, which aims to revitalise and breathe new life into disused railway buildings across Victoria to make affordable space available for community use.

VicTrack worked very closely Indigo Shire Council who have taken on the head lease of the building an surrounding parcel of land and have established a Management Committee comprising Chiltern Tourism Development Inc, who were also the driving force together with other community shareholders

COMMENDATION: 46 to 48 Ford Street, Beechworth 3747

NOMINATED BY: Ms Heide Freeman and Mr Jin Didolis

PROJECT: The refurbishment project of the ground floor shops and first floor dwelling was undertaken between July 2014 and April 2015 at numbers 46 and 48 Ford Street, Beechworth VIC 3747 the former home of the Freeman Family. The joint property now accommodates two businesses. Internal and external work over the nine months includes re-plastering, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, repairs using recycled building materials, floor sanding and sealing and painting following removal of asbestos and timber and other materials damaged by fire.

CATEGORY 4 – SPECIALIST HERITAGE TRADE SKILLS AWARD

RECIPIENT:Mr VINCENT WEBB

PROJECT: Design and construction of “Carringbush” Homestead at Baarmutha Winery, 1184 Diffey Road, Beechworth VIC 3747.

This replica Beechworth Granite traditional homestead style residence was built using the most advanced power tools along with traditional methods of stone cutting and dressing techniques of the past. Having first built a small home in Jardine Street, Beechworth that out grew the family with three boys, the opportunity to build “Carringbush” became a reality after purchasing 44 acres on Diffey Road.

The design of the new house is based upon the size and dimensions of the old Governor’s Quarters at the Old Beechworth Goal (overlooking High Street). The 198 square metre four bedrooms home is built on a concrete slab with a steel stud framed structure. The house has verandas on all four sides, has 1kW grid connected solar system and the aim is to add a wind generator for power needs of the house and the Baarmutha Winery. Water harvesting and grey water recycling are also in place.

The Beechworth Granite was sourced from Castagna Winery at Ressom Lane, Beechworth where stone was being removed to make way for future vineyards. It is estimated that from 180 to 200 ton of granite was transported to Diffey Road ranging in size from basketballs to small cars.

All stone was hand split using traditional tools, cut to size with a custom made 9 inch diameter irrigated diamond blade fitted to a Lucas Spot Timber Mill on site. The granite blocks were cut to the traditional sizes of 290mm x 450mm x 200mm and the long door and window lintels measure 1.8m x 290mmx 200mm.

All stone was dressed to remove diamond blade or synthetic marks and all mortar is tuck pointed. It would be remiss not to acknowledge that Derek Isles, Master Stone Mason has also mentored, encouraged and provided advice to Vinny Webb during this four year project.

Construction of the house was completed over fours working in time made available from his full time job as power line worker. He is also winemaker of Baarmutha Wines.

Note: Ashlar is finely dressed (cut, worked) masonry, either an individual stone that has been worked until squared or the masonry built of such stone. It is the finest stone masonry unit, generally cuboid or less frequently trapezoidal. Precisely cut “on all faces adjacent to those of other stones”, ashlar is capable of very thin joints between blocks, and the visible face of the stone may be as quarry-

5 | P a g e faced or feature a variety of treatments: tooled, smoothly polished or rendered with another material for decorative effect.

COMMENDATION: Mr DEREK ILES and Mr ATEN WESTON

NOMINATED BY: Ms HELEN McALPIN and Mr PIERRE MASCLEF

PROJECT: SPECIALIST TRADE SKILLS – RANDOM RUBBLE VENEER STONE MASONRY - “L’Oliveraie House”, 131 Greenwattle Road, Beechworth 3747

Construction started on this early colonial style home in June 2010 and was completed in March 2011. Built by Sean Cartledge (deceased), Derek Isles, Aten Weston and Dan Jensen, the energy efficient building is complete with verandas that surround the exterior, double-glazing, solar panels and gas boosted hot water and 100,000-litre tank to collect rainwater from the roof.

The intention of the owners in nominating Mr Derek Isles and Mr Aten Weston is to pay tribute to the workmanship, teaching and mentoring by Mr Iles who “has demonstrated excellence in the traditional trade of stonemasonry and his deep knowledge and skilful craftsmanship. We have observed how generously and skilfully Derek has imparted his knowledge to several young apprentices in the Shire and in particular to Aten Weston from Beechworth, about how to choose and then place the right granite stone for the task.

Mr Aten Weston is one of a number of young tradesmen in Indigo Shire whom Derek has trained to focus and complete a project of high artistic merit, by advocating and demonstrating the use of granite of the landscape to restore and augment the heritage and beauty of our Shire.”

Derek Isles learned his trade in his native England and is an important figure as an advisor and the restoration of stonework buildings, walls, landscaping and the renewal and restoration of the granite curbing and guttering in Indigo Shire that are examples of his artistic creativity and craft.

The granite masonry of Beechworth is a town trademark. The Shire is fortunate to have Derek bring his craft to Indigo Shire and to provide a legacy for the future of Aten Weston and many other skilled heritage tradesmen.

NOTE: The Random Rubble veneered stone external walls are finished in granite taken from the Greenwattle Road property and cover the structural walls of concrete blocks. The structural wall serves as a form on one side of the wall to make it really easy to lay up the stonework, provided the rocks have good flat edges to work with.

CATEGORY 6 – Open Heritage Award: This award recognises cultural heritage, natural heritage, individuals, groups and collections that contribute to Heritage within the Indigo Shire. It could be retaining an historic activity, an ongoing event, a cultural landscape reflecting historical or social context, a research project, a private or public collection of published works such as books, journals, photographs, maps or manuscripts, or articles such as toys, clothes, personal objects, household, gardening or farm implements. Nominations should demonstrate a contribution to Heritage through additional knowledge and understanding about where we live and our Shire’s history.

RECIPIENT: DAVID AND MARTHA VALENTINE, Research Officers, Rutherglen Historical Society

NOMINATED BY: Ms Mandy Jones

We have long honoured our fallen military personnel, as we should. We also celebrate our living Australian sons and daughters who have served in our Military, as that is our opportunity to give individual recognition in the present.

There has been minimal recognition for those who have silently suffered the after-effects of service. After-effects that lasted their life- times with their families. The consequences of WW1 service on those returned after surviving battles, as well as upon those who felt guilt for serving solely within Australian homeland, was both severe and generally unrecognised.

The fallen stopped suffering and we will never forget them. Those who survived went to their graves having suffered for the rest of their lives. It is simply fair and just for their additional lifelong sacrifice to be honoured.

While in recent decades there has been a recognition and visitation of overseas Australian war Cemeteries in Gallipoli, France and Belgium, there has been little public acknowledgement or organised visitation of the hundreds of thousands of the brave service personnel buried in our local cemeteries.

7 | P a g e To assist public acknowledgement and visitation of our “ANZACS at REST” in the Carlyle Cemetery, this self-guided visit booklet has been prepared.

COMMENDATION: THE AMALGAMATED MINERS ASSOCIATION BANNER

NOMINATED BY: THE CHILTERN ATHENAEUM TRUST

PROJECT: RECONSTRUCTION OF A HERITAGE ARTEFACT

The original banner stand was presented to the Amalgamated Miners’ Association, Chiltern and Indigo Branch No: 9 by the Honourable Isaac Isaacs on 9 November 1893. The banner was used in parades, as speeches and ceremonial presentations. The Banner Stand has long been held at the Chiltern Athenaeum but the original banner was mislaid or lost.

Initiated and managed by the late Rex Fuge OAM, the Athenaeum Trust agreed to have a copy of the banner reconstructed and a photograph of the original along with a description published in the Federal Standard newspaper provided valuable information about the banner. Facsimiles of the photograph and the newspaper article are on display at the Athenaeum.

A project was undertaken to source funding to carry out the work. Applications were submitted to a number of heritage, history and community Grants Programs and the Indigo Shire also contributed $500 towards the project.

The Banner has been reconstructed using sound methodology to reproduce a banner as near to its original as possible. The project also raised the importance of heritage in and around Chiltern and the important preservation of Indigo mining history through the consistent and dedicated work of the late Rex Fuge OAM.

The Athenaeum Trust wishes to acknowledge with gratitude the following: Meaghan Aitchison – Artist; Judy Dixon, Chilton – Researcher; Jill Firth, Chilton – Seamstress; Belinda Fraser, Tallangatta – Screen Printer for their work and dedication to the project.

CATEGORY 8 – 2015 INDIVIDUAL HERITAGE ADVOCACY AWARD: This new Award was introduced by the Indigo Shire Heritage Advisory Committee in 2014 to acknowledge outstanding contributions by an individual towards Heritage Advocacy in the Indigo Shire. RECIPIENT: Ms JUDY DIXON, HERITAGE & FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH, NOMINATED BY: The CHILTERN ATHENAEUM TRUST

Judy Dixon has been an active member of the Chiltern Athenaeum for over a decade. During this time, Judy has been a committed and integral member of the Museum, advocating for Chiltern and in the Indigo Shire through regular activities conducted by the Athenaeum. As well as contribute to the management of the Museum, Judy was a leader in many tours conducted by the Athenaeum to the three National Trust properties in Chiltern, to the cemeteries, the Museum and Chiltern Township. This role required a thorough knowledge of Chiltern and its surrounding heritage sites.

Through her patient and methodical research Judy transcribed 1000s of pages of the Federal Standard and Ovens & Murray newspapers to make it easier for others to find information and to contribute to Athenaeum projects.

Judy supported Rex Fuge as Chairman of The Athenaeum Trust, provided historically accurate information to visitors to the Museum or requests for information by the Shire and other bodies. She played an important role in the development of the book entitled “Chiltern Past and Present”, which is now in its 2nd Edition. The book was initiated by Dawn Fraser who applied and received funding to develop a book that describes some of the more noteworthy citizens of Chiltern and its past history and events.

Judy also led the development and writing of family histories, which have a major part of the Athenaeum’s work. She has a prodigious knowledge of research methodologies and data bases and advises others of these research tools and has completed over 50 family researches over many years.

Judy’s wisdom and intimate knowledge of the Chiltern area, its people and industries has been readily shared and provided to assist many in the preparation of displays, restoration of heritage artefacts for the Museum.

Judy supported Rex Fuge OAM as Chairman of the Chiltern Athenaeum Trust. She always provided historically accurate

9 | P a g e information to visitors, Indigo Shire personnel, family historians and many other organisations and individuals requesting information and we sincerely thank her for her dedication.

CATEGORY 9 – HERITAGE GOLD AWARD – HERITAGE ADVOCACY 2015 The Heritage Gold is a special Award presented at the discretion of members of the Indigo Shire Heritage Advisory Committee and the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) – North East Branch. The Award specifically recognises an outstanding contribution to Indigo Shire Cultural Heritage in any Award Category by an individual, community group, organisation or business.

NOMINEE: Mr REX BASIL FUGE, OAM

21 January 1935 to 6 September 2014

NOMNATED BY: Pamela Thomas, Indigo Shire Heritage Advisory Committee

This nomination is submitted on behalf of:

 the former Members and Representatives of the original North East Victoria Heritage Advisory Committee that was established by the Victoria State Government 35 years ago in 1980;  the current Members of the Indigo Shire Heritage Advisory Committee as well as all who served following the amalgamation of the Shires of Beechworth, Chiltern, Rutherglen and Yackandandah in 1994;  to celebrate and acknowledge the enormous contribution by Rex Basil Fuge OAM as heritage warrior and advocate, kind and thoughtful friend and mentor to many.

There is much written and spoken about this kind and generous man affectionately known in the local media as “Mr Chiltern”.

The Chiltern Athenaeum Trust is encouraged to ensure that someone writes his detailed biography in consultation with Rex’s wife Mary, his Daughter Leonie and Grandchildren Dianne and Connor and his Son Warren, extended family and friends.

End document – 28 05 2014 at 1345 hours

Ms Pamela Thomas Chairman Indigo Shire Heritage Advisory Committee and C/- 2 Surrey Lane Beechworth Vic 3747 Tel: 03 5728 2900 – Email: [email protected] – Mob: 0408 991 755