Former Survey Office Heathcote
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FORMER SURVEY OFFICE 178 HIGH ST, HEATHCOTE North elevation (side) of the stone survey office building with timber additions to the right. CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PLAN FEBRUARY 2011 F R O N T I E R Architects for H E R I T A G E Frontier Architects for Heritage Pty Ltd ACN 124 012 871 Suite 5, 16 York Street, St Kilda West, 3182 ABN 34 641 447 963 Ph +61 3 9534 8963 Former Survey Office, Heathcote Conservation Management Plan CONTENTS PAGE Executive Summary 3 1.0 Introduction 4 1.1 Background 4 1.2 Location 4 1.3 Heritage Status 5 1.4 Methodology 5 2.0 History 7 2.1 Introduction 7 2.2 The McIvor Gold Fields 7 2.3 Philip Lamothe Snell Chauncy (1816-1880) 8 2.4 Heathcote Township 9 2.5 The Survey Office 12 2.6 Private Residence and Doctor‟s Surgery 16 3.0 Architecture 18 3.1 Introduction 18 3.2 Colonial Architecture of the 1850s 18 3.3 Comparative Analysis 18 4.0 Physical Evidence 24 4.1 The Site and Landscape 24 4.2 The Buildings 25 5.0 Cultural Significance 41 5.1 Introduction 41 5.2 Assessment of Cultural Heritage Significance 41 5.3 Statement of Cultural Heritage Significance 43 5.4 State and Local Significance Conflicts 44 5.5 Levels of Significance 45 6.0 Conservation Policy 46 6.1 Introduction 47 6.2 General Policy 46 6.3 Use of the Site 46 6.4 Existing Building Fabric 47 6.5 Setting 47 6.6 Landscape 48 6.7 Future Development 48 F R O N T I E R Architects for H E R I T A G E 1 Former Survey Office, Heathcote Conservation Management Plan 6.8 Environmental Risk 48 6.9 Management and Maintenance 48 7.0 Conservation Action 50 7.1 Conservation Works 50 7.2 Urgent Works 50 7.3 Essential Works 50 7.4 Recommended Works 51 8.0 Select Bibliography 52 APPENDIX 1 The Australia ICOMOS Burra Charter 53 F R O N T I E R Architects for H E R I T A G E 2 Former Survey Office, Heathcote Conservation Management Plan Executive Summary The Conservation Management Plan draws the following conclusions: The former Survey Office, Heathcote is culturally significant at a State level. Refer to Statement of Significance in Section 5.3 of this report. The Statement of Significance should form the basis for future planning. The future conservation and development of the former Survey Office should be carried out in accordance with the Australia ICOMOS Charter for the Conservation of Places of Cultural Significance (Burra Charter) A copy of the Burra Charter is attached in the Appendices. Four tiers of significance have been adopted to establish the relative levels of significance of elements of the former Survey Office, Heathcote (refer to Section 5.5). Generally, the level of intervention into the fabric should relate to the level of significance attributed to the element or area of the stone structure. For example, the level of intervention into the fabric should be kept to a minimum for elements considered to be of primary significance, though a higher level of intervention may be considered appropriate for elements considered to be of secondary or tertiary significance, or intrusive. A copy of this Conservation Management Plan, and any updates, should be kept in a permanent and accessible archive for interested parties, and those responsible for the future care of the place. Photographic records and dimensioned drawings should be kept of existing conditions before any changes are undertaken to the existing fabric of buildings and structures, so that, in the event that the structure is returned to its original condition by future generations, clear evidence exists of the original condition. Any new additions and alterations should be recessive in relation to elements of primary significance, and preferably be of a contemporary design. Any major additions and alterations to the buildings, structures and elements of primary significance should be subject to consultation with a conservation practitioner, to ensure that changes are handled in the most sympathetic manner possible, and the significance of the place is not compromised. F R O N T I E R Architects for H E R I T A G E 3 Former Survey Office, Heathcote Conservation Management Plan 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background The aim of this Conservation Management Plan (CMP) for the Former Survey Office, Heathcote is to review the research material gathered in relation to the place and examine the site, make an assessment of the cultural heritage significance, and formulate conservation policies and a management plan to ensure the retention, and where appropriate, enhancement of the cultural heritage significance of the place. This CMP was commissioned by the owners, Ron and Elva Laughton, to provide a guideline document for planning future redevelopment of the site. The CMP will enable informed decisions to be made relating to the future development, management, interpretation and enhancement of the place, without compromising the cultural heritage significance. 1.2 Location Heathcote is located 120km north of Melbourne, 45 km south east of Bendigo, and is within the City of Greater Bendigo. Figure 1- Location of Heathcote, indicated by the red star. Map generated using GeoVIC, Department of Primary Industries, Aug 2009. [source: AHMS Heritage Assessment (2009) p3] F R O N T I E R Architects for H E R I T A G E 4 Former Survey Office, Heathcote Conservation Management Plan The subject site has three frontages: High, Wright and Chauncey Streets1. The actual property description is Allotment 25, Section 10, Township of Heathcote, and the street address is 178- 180 High Street, Heathcote. Figure 2 - The Subject Site (pink with red border) has frontages to High, Chauncey and Wright Streets. Map generated using Planning Maps Online, Department of Planning and Community Development Aug 2009. [source: adapted from AHMS Heritage Assessment (2009) p3] 1.3 Heritage Status Victorian Heritage Register The Former Survey Office, Heathcote was included on Victorian Heritage Register (H2247) on 8th July 2010. City of Greater Bendigo Planning Scheme The Former Survey Office, Heathcote is included in the City of Greater Bendigo Heritage Overlay (HO467) as an individual listing. Australian Heritage Commission The building has no individual or group listing on the Register of the National Estate and is not included on the National Heritage List pursuant to the Environment Protection Biodiversity and Conservation Act 1999. The National Trust of Australia (Victoria) The Former Survey Office, Heathcote is not currently classified by the National Trust. 1 Although Chauncey Street is understood to have been named after Philip Chauncy, the spelling is different. How this error occurred is not known. F R O N T I E R Architects for H E R I T A G E 5 Former Survey Office, Heathcote Conservation Management Plan 1.4 Methodology As previously stated, the purpose of this CMP is to make an assessment of the cultural heritage significance of the Former Survey Office, Heathcote and its component parts, to undertake an assessment of the integrity of the complex, and to prepare conservation policies and a management plan to ensure the retention of significance into the future. The assessment of the significance of the various component parts of the place was undertaken with reference to the publication by J S Kerr, The Conservation Plan: A guide to the preparation of conservation of European cultural significance, Fifth Edition (2000), The National Trust of Australia (NSW). The CMP was also undertaken in accordance with the definitions, conservation principles, processes and practices outlined in the Australia ICOMOS Charter for the Conservation of Places of Cultural Significance (the Burra Charter). A copy of the Burra Charter is attached in Appendix 1. F R O N T I E R Architects for H E R I T A G E 6 Former Survey Office, Heathcote Conservation Management Plan 2.0 HISTORY 2.1 Introduction This section of the CMP is intended to provide an historical context for the period of the initial construction of the Former Survey Office, Heathcote and to record the historical development of the place since that date. In addition, this history will explore the various historic and social themes that assist in the assessment of cultural heritage significance of the place. The following history of Heathcote and the subject site has been based on „Former Survey Office, Heathcote: Heritage Assessment for Ms Laughton‟ prepared by AHMS (November 2009). Additional historical research has been undertaken as part of this current study and has been incorporated into the following section. 2.2 The McIvor Gold Fields In 1836, the Surveyor General of New South Wales, Major Thomas Mitchell passed through the area now known as Heathcote on his third journey to Portland Bay. He coined the term „Australia Felix‟ during this time and named the McIvor Creek after a member of his exploration party. Pastoralists soon followed, settling large runs in the area. To service the pastoralists, a basic track with a few Inns developed through what was to later become the town of Heathcote. This track enabled produce to be carted to and from the northern sheep stations. The McIvor diggings, which were the catalyst for the establishment of the town of Heathcote, began with the first gold strike in 1851. A series of gold finds followed with a major strike made in 1852 at Golden Gully, west of the later township. Settlement intensified and the population increased substantially when the gold fields at McIvor (now the Heathcote area) were officially opened on the 19th of March 1853.