Recommendation of the Executive Director and Assessment of Cultural Heritage Significance Under Part 3, Division 3 of the Heritage Act 2017
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1 Recommendation of the Executive Director and assessment of cultural heritage significance under Part 3, Division 3 of the Heritage Act 2017 Name Sandown Park Racecourse Grandstand Location Sandown Park Racecourse, 591‐659 Princes Highway, Springvale Provisional VHR Number PROV H2391 Provisional VHR Categor(ies) Heritage Place Hermes Number 201829 Heritage Overlay City of Greater Dandenong, HO54 (entire racecourse site) Sandown Park Racecourse Grandstand (October 2018) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RECOMMENDATION TO THE HERITAGE COUNCIL: That the Sandown Park Racecourse Grandstand be included as a Heritage Place in the Victorian Heritage Register under the Heritage Act 2017 [Section 37(1)(a)]. ERIN WILLIAMS Acting Executive Director Recommendation Date: 10 January 2019 Advertising Period: 18 January 2019 – 18 March 2019 This recommendation report has been issued by the Executive Director, Heritage Victoria under s.37 of the Heritage Act 2017. It has not been considered or endorsed by the Heritage Council of Victoria. Name: Sandown Park Racecourse Grandstand Hermes Number: 201829 2 EXTENT OF NOMINATION Date that the nomination was accepted by the Executive Director 16 July 2018 Written extent of nomination The nomination is for the whole of the building known as the Sandown Racecourse Grandstand, including the original 1960s structure and 1976 addition, with a surrounding curtilage, to the extent of 56 metres to the east and 40 metres to the north and south, and 25 metres to the west. The distances have been determined to manage setting, views and potential development of and around the significant structure. This curtilage would also take in part of the main straight of the motor racing track. The extent of nomination of the Sandown Racecourse Grandstand is shown below, with B1 as the grandstand and L1 as the curtilage. Nomination extent diagram Is the extent of nomination the same as the recommended extent? Yes Name: Sandown Park Racecourse Grandstand Hermes Number: 201829 3 RECOMMENDED REGISTRATION All of the place shown hatched on Diagram 2391 encompassing part of Lot 1 on Title Plan 710223 to the extent of 56 metres from the eastern edge of the main grandstand building, 40 metres from the northern and southern edges and 25 metres from the western edge. The extent of registration of the Sandown Park Racecourse Grandstand in the Victorian Heritage Register affects the whole place shown on Diagram 2391 including the land, all buildings (including the exteriors and interiors), roads, trees and landscape elements. Name: Sandown Park Racecourse Grandstand Hermes Number: 201829 4 RATIONALE FOR EXTENT The recommended extent for the Sandown Park Racecourse Grandstand includes the entire grandstand and a curtilage. The grandstand section encompasses the following elements: the original 1962 grandstand the 1976 additions to the north end the projecting ramps on both sides, namely the new entry porch and covered betting area on the west side, and the undercroft infill at the south end of the grandstand. A curtilage is recommended to extend 56 metres to the east, 40 metres to the north and south, and 25 metres to the west. This is to maintain the immediate setting of the building, and to preserve key views (especially its distinctive roofline on the trackside). This curtilage includes open lawns to the east side, and a portion of the actual motor race track, to assist interpretation. The western curtilage of 25 metres includes part of the 1980s public betting area. This 1980s fabric is not of cultural heritage significance in the context of the place. It should be noted that three previous cultural heritage significance assessments of the Sandown Park Racecourse (the entire site including the racetrack) have found that: The Racecourse is of local level significance. This has been recognised by its inclusion in the Heritage Overlay of the City of Greater Dandenong Planning Scheme (HO54). The Grandstand if of potential state level significance. See: City of Greater Dandenong Heritage Study and Heritage Places, 2003 David Bick, Sandown (Park) Racecourse Heritage Assessment (draft), August 2014 Lovell Chen, Sandown Racecourse, Heritage Assessment, January 2015. The Executive Director’s Recommendation is consistent with these previous reports. Name: Sandown Park Racecourse Grandstand Hermes Number: 201829 5 AERIAL PHOTO OF THE PLACE SHOWING PROPOSED REGISTRATION BACKGROUND WHAT IS AT THE PLACE? The Sandown Park Racecourse Grandstand, located within the broader racecourse complex at 591‐ 659 Princes Highway, Springvale, is a multi‐storey brick and concrete building on an elongated plan, comprising tiered seating with cantilevered roof and enclosed space to the rear, elevated above an undercroft. This transverse section is extruded across 33 individual bays, articulated by exposed concrete piers along the west side, and projecting concrete roof beams along the east side. WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF THE PLACE? The Sandown Park Racecourse Grandstand was commissioned in 1959 from architects Bogle & Banfield and built in 1960‐62. By March 1962, bays 1‐27 had been constructed and were known as the Thomas S Carlyon Stand. Motor racing began in 1962. After an interior fitout and more works horse racing commenced in 1965. The grandstand was extended by six bays to the north in 1976, with several other additions made in the 1990s. WHO ARE THE TRADITIONAL OWNERS/REGISTERED ABORIGINAL PARTY(IES) FOR THIS PLACE? This site is part of the traditional land of the Kulin Nation. Name: Sandown Park Racecourse Grandstand Hermes Number: 201829 6 STATEMENT OF CULTURAL HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE WHAT IS SIGNIFICANT? The Sandown Park Racecourse Grandstand including the exposed elongated structure of concrete piers and beams, modular bays, low‐pitched butterfly roof, the cantilevered canopy with metal slat lining and massive beams that project beyond the eaves line, the low concrete balustrades to the seating area and ramps, and chequerboard pattern to the exterior cladding at the upper level of the western elevation. HOW IS IT SIGNIFICANT? The former Sandown Park Racecourse grandstand is of architectural and aesthetic significance to the State of Victoria. It satisfies the following criterion for inclusion in the Victorian Heritage Register: Criterion D Importance in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of cultural places and objects. Criterion E Importance in exhibiting particular aesthetic characteristics. WHY IS IT SIGNIFICANT? The Sandown Park Racecourse Grandstand is significant at the State level for the following reasons: The Sandown Park Racecourse Grandstand is of architectural significance as a notable example of postwar grandstand architecture. The design is fine and innovative and the vast cantilevered roof over one uninterrupted continuous tier is striking in its simplicity and scale. The grandstand is one of the earliest of the group of Modernist grandstands built in postwar Victoria. Its architectural design is pivotal and it is a highly intact example of its class. The grandstand exhibits design characteristics which became standard, such as the accommodation of spectators in a single elongated stand without supporting vertical supports, and the provision of a wide visual field for racegoers without particular emphasis on the winning post. (Criterion D) The Sandown Park Racecourse Grandstand is of aesthetic significance for its sophisticated and elegant form reflective of a period of vigorous architectural experiment in postwar Melbourne. Its cantilevered roof and bold single tier articulation combine to produce a structure of dynamism and daring visual impact. The grandstand was featured on the front cover of two leading architectural journals of the day and the design was described ‘striking’ and ‘ultra‐modern’. (Criterion E) Name: Sandown Park Racecourse Grandstand Hermes Number: 201829 7 RECOMMENDATION REASONS REASONS FOR RECOMMENDING INCLUSION IN THE VICTORIAN HERITAGE REGISTER [s.40] Following is the Executive Director's assessment of the place against the tests set out in The Victorian Heritage Register Criteria and Thresholds Guidelines (2014). CRITERION A Importance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria’s cultural history. STEP 1: A BASIC TEST FOR SATISFYING CRITERION A The place/object has a CLEAR ASSOCIATION with an event, phase, period, process, function, movement, custom or way of life in Victoria’s cultural history. Plus The association of the place/object to the event, phase, etc IS EVIDENT in the physical fabric of the place/object and/or in documentary resources or oral history. Plus The EVENT, PHASE, etc is of HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE, having made a strong or influential contribution to Victoria. Executive Director’s Response The Sandown Park Racecourse Grandstand has a clear association with the development of both horseracing and motor racing in Victoria, both of which have made a strong and influential contribution to Victoria. The association is evident in the physical fabric. Criterion A is likely to be satisfied. STEP 2: A BASIC TEST FOR DETERMINING STATE LEVEL SIGNIFICANCE FOR CRITERION A The place/object allows the clear association with the event, phase etc. of historical importance to be UNDERSTOOD BETTER THAN MOST OTHER PLACES OR OBJECTS IN VICTORIA WITH SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME ASSOCIATION. Executive Director’s Response Although horseracing took place at Sandown Park from the late nineteenth century, the remaining infrastructure, including the grandstand, is associated with the intensive redevelopment of the venue