Recommendation of the Executive Director and Assessment of Cultural Heritage Significance Under Part 3 of the Heritage Act 2017
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Page | 1 Recommendation of the Executive Director and assessment of cultural heritage significance under Part 3 of the Heritage Act 2017 Name All Saints Winery Location 315 All Saints Road, Wahgunyah, Indigo Shire Date Registered 9 October 1974 VHR Number VHR H0333 VHR Categor(ies) Registered Place, Registered Objects Integral to a Registered Place Hermes Number 1173 All Saints Winery (February 2019) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RECOMMENDATION TO THE HERITAGE COUNCIL: To amend the existing registration for VHR H0333 in accordance with s.62 of the Heritage Act 2017 by: Clarifying the extent of registration Adding a permit policy and permit exemptions in accordance with s.49(3) of the Act Updating the Statement of Significance. Reasons for the proposed amendment: The registration of All Saints Winery, which was gazetted in 1974 in the Historic Buildings Register, requires updating. No land could be registered under the Historic Buildings Act and only buildings are included in early registrations, not the land on which they sit or an appropriate setting. Places registered since this time include both buildings and land. Early registrations are currently being updated for consistency and to reflect this change. Under s.49(1)(d) of the Heritage Act 2017 the Heritage Council may include additional land to registered places. It is also recommended that Registered Objects Integral to a Registered Place are included, the Statement of Significance is revised and Permit Policy and Permit Exemptions added. The existing registration documentation is provided at Attachment 1 of this report. STEVEN AVERY Executive Director Recommendation Date: 14 March 2019 Advertising Period: 22 March 2019 – 20 May 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. 1 Name: All Saints Winery VHR number: VHR H0333 Hermes number: 1173 Page | 2 AMENDMENT BACKGROUND An application to amend this registration was accepted by the Executive Director on 18 February 2019. Adding land The registration of All Saints Winery, which was gazetted in 1974 in the Historic Buildings Register, requires updating. No land could be registered under the Historic Buildings Act and only buildings are included in early registrations, not the land on which they sit or an appropriate setting. Places registered since this time include both buildings and land. Early registrations are currently being updated for consistency and to reflect this change. Under s.49(1)(d) of the Heritage Act 2017 the Heritage Council may include additional land to registered places. This will clarify the Extent of Registration and provide certainty about what exactly it includes. Registered Objects Integral to a Registered Place With the passage of the Heritage Act (2017) it has become possible to include objects integral to a place in a registration. It is recommended that Registered Objects Integral to a Registered Place are included in this registration, being the grape press and a collection of large maturation barrels. Updating Permit Policy and permit exemptions There are currently no Permit Exemptions attached to the place. A Permit Policy and Permit Exemptions are proposed to clarify which works can be carried out without a Permit Application. Statement of Significance It is proposed that the Statement of Significance be revised and updated to the current format. 2 Name: All Saints Winery VHR number: VHR H0333 Hermes number: 1173 Page | 3 RECOMMENDED EXTENT OF REGISTRATION 1. All of the place shown hatched on Diagram 333 encompassing parts of Crown Allotment 1C Section 6 Township of Carlyle and Crown Allotment 1A Section 1 Parish of Carlyle. 2. All of the objects listed here integral to and located at the place: a. Grape press b. Large timber maturation barrels The extent of registration of place or object name in the Victorian Heritage Register affects the whole place shown on Diagram 333 including the land, buildings (exteriors and interiors), driveways, trees and landscape elements, Registered Objects Integral to the Place and other features. The registration also includes all fixtures attached to the buildings at the time of registration. The recommended extent is the same as the nominated extent. 3 Name: All Saints Winery VHR number: VHR H0333 Hermes number: 1173 Page | 4 AERIAL PHOTO OF THE PLACE SHOWING PROPOSED REGISTRATION RATIONALE FOR EXTENT The recommended extent of registration encompasses the winery complex including central cellar, homestead, dormitory and outbuildings. It includes significant landscape elements such as the avenue of elms and provides for an appropriate setting. Sufficient land is included to protect the cultural heritage values of the place. It is proposed that the grape press and large timber maturation barrels are included in the registration as Registered Objects Integral to the Registered Place. They date from the decades of the winery’s establishment and demonstrate early winemaking processes and are integral to the State level cultural heritage significance of the place. 4 Name: All Saints Winery VHR number: VHR H0333 Hermes number: 1173 Page | 5 CHANGE OF HERITAGE CATEGORY Current category Registered Place. Proposed category Registered Heritage Place, Registered Objects Integral to a Registered Place. BACKGROUND WHAT IS AT THE PLACE? All Saints Winery is a winery complex located near Wahgunyah in north‐west Victoria close to the banks of the Murray River built on a terrace above the river flats. Central to the complex is a striking cellar building of red brick with distinctive castellated parapet and prominent square tower. The cellar building (1885‐1895) contains early winemaking infrastructure and equipment such as fermentation vats and a grape press. A basic timber‐framed dormitory building (c.1870) with bunks and fireplace, built to house Chinese labourers, lies on a small rise to the north of the cellar. Stables (c.1870) lie to the west and a homestead to the south. A table wine cellar, designed by architect Philp Cox and constructed in 1968, stands to the east. Access is via a formal driveway lined with large elm trees (planted c.1880s). Modern warehouse sheds (2015) have been added to the western elevation of the main cellar building. Although there are some other established trees, much of the additional plantings, tree avenue and landscaping largely date from the 1990s. All Saints Winery still operates as a vineyard and winery. WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF THE PLACE? George Sutherland Smith and John Banks established All Saints Winery in 1869 after migrating from Scotland in 1853. Chinese labourers were employed in the establishment and early expansion of the winery throughout the 1870s. In 1885 Sutherland Smith began work on what is now the principal cellar building and land under vines continued to expand into the 1890s. The winery stayed in the ownership of the Smith family until the 1980s. It was purchased by Peter Brown of Brown Brothers in 1993 and remains in the Brown family. WHO ARE THE TRADITIONAL OWNERS/REGISTERED ABORIGINAL PARTY(IES) FOR THIS PLACE? This site is part of the traditional land of the Yorta Yorta people. The Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation is the Registered Aboriginal Party. STATEMENT OF CULTURAL HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE WHAT IS SIGNIFICANT? The All Saints Winery complex including the land, buildings (exteriors and interiors), driveways, trees and landscape elements, early winemaking infrastructure and objects, vineyard setting and other features. The registration also includes all fixtures attached to the buildings at the time of registration. HOW IS IT SIGNIFICANT? All Saints Winery is of historical and architectural significance to the State of Victoria. It satisfies the following criterion for inclusion in the Victorian Heritage Register: Criterion A Importance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria’s cultural history. Criterion D Importance in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of cultural places and objects. 5 Name: All Saints Winery VHR number: VHR H0333 Hermes number: 1173 Page | 6 WHY IS IT SIGNIFICANT? All Saints Winery is significant at the State level for the following reasons: All Saints Winery is historically significant for its clear association with the development of vineyards and wineries in Victoria. It is one of Victoria’s oldest wineries and is indicative of the establishment and expansion of the industry in Victoria. This association is evident in the physical fabric of the place – including the distinctive cellar building, array of early ancillary buildings with specific functions and early wine production facilities. [Criterion A] All Saints Winery is architecturally significant as a fine example of a winery complex. The substantial above‐ ground cellar is distinctive in design and presents an unusual monumental quality with prominent square tower, castellated detailing and expansive brick walls. The cellar is located at the centre of a largely intact winery complex which includes buildings, processing facilities and equipment (including the grape press and large timber maturation barrels) which date from the early decades of the winery’s establishment. [Criterion D] PROPOSED PERMIT POLICY Preamble The purpose of the Permit Policy is to assist when considering or making decisions regarding works to a registered place. It is recommended that any proposed works be discussed with an officer of Heritage Victoria prior to making a permit