he, /1 . 0rr G._, vn.y vs \.,d:::HJt::ma1ne Architectural and Historical Study CITY OF CASTLEMAINE ARCHITECTURAL AND HISTORICAL SURVEY PRINTED TO COMMEMORATE THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CITY OF CASTLEMAINE 28th January, 1981 Major: Councillors: J.W.S. Harcus, A.J. Nesbit J.H. Daniell, J.L. Moore A.R. Grumont, C.L. Forster J.J. Merlo, M.J. McClure COUNCIL SERVICES AND INFORMATION BOOKLET 1981 prepared by PERROTT LYON MATHIESON PTY. LTD. Architects & Planners 434 St. Kilda Road Melbourne. 3004 JUNE, 1979 CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background to the Study 1.2 Historical Background 1.3 Scope of the Survey 1.4 Survey Metholology 1.5 Use of the Survey 2. BUILDINGS OF ARCHITECTURAL AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE 2.1 Summary of Buildings 2.2 The Historic Buildings Register 2.3 National Estate Register 2.4 Statutory Planning Provisions 2.5 Category 'A' Buildings Summaries and Notes 2.6 Category 'B' Buildings Summaries and Notes 2.7 Other Buildings Worthy of Investigation 3. STREETSCAPES AND ENVIRONMENTAL AREAS 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Reasons for Identification 3.3 Defined Areas 3.4 Streetscapes 3.5 Environmental Areas 3.6 Historic Gardens 3.7 Monuments and Objects of Historical or Geographical Interest APPENDIX 1: Plant List, Botanical Gardens APPENDIX 2: Sources of Information STEERING COMMITTEE STUDY TEAM BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background to the Study In June 1978, the City of Castlemaine appointed Perrott Lyon Mathieson Pty. Ltd. to carry out an architectural and historical survey of the municipality. The survey was funded equally by a National Estate grant from the Australian Heritage Commission and by the City of Castlemaine itself. This survey is a prelude to the preparation of a statutory planning scheme for the City which should provide appropriate mechanisms to ensure the maintenance and enhancement of the buildings and areas which con­ tribute to the historic character of Castlemaine. The simple philosophy underlying a survey such as this is to identify the things we want to keep in order to retain the essence of what gives various parts of Australia their individuality. This individuality is composed of aspects of the man-made environment - both built and cultural - as well as the natural environment. Castlemaine's individuality and significance today is primarily in terms of its built heritage which reflects its history as one of Victoria's larger gold towns. 1.2 Historical Background 1 Castlemaine's historic associations with exploration and development by white men date baok to 1836 when Major Sir Thomas Mitchell traversed the present area of Castlemaine. In his wake came the first white settlers to the Mount Alexander (Castlemaine) area who took up large tracts of land for grazing. This sparsely populated, but peaceful existence co,ntinued until gold was discovered in the Mount Alexander/Forest Creek area in September, 1851. Once the news of the gold discovery was out, a human tidal wave descended upon the Forest Creek diggings which centred on Forest, Barker and Campbells Creeks. These creeks and tributary gullies were to yield such quantities of alluvial gold within a few years of their discovery that the Forest Creek gold field was claimed to be ''the richest shallow alluvial goldfield the world has ever known". I The intense mining activity and sensational success of the miners was quickly reflected in the establishment and development of the town of Castlemaine. In October 1851, tne first Commissioner arrived on the Forest 1. This historical outline is abstracted from 'Castlernaine - A Golden Harvest' by Raymond Bradfield (Lowden Publishing Co. Kilmore 1972. Creek goldfield and by February 1852 an area near the junction of Forest ~nd Barkers Creek was selected for the official camp - the Camp Reserve. A town survey was carried out soon after this, employing the classical grid pattern used by Robert Hoddle in the layout of central Melbourne - streets 99 feet (29.7m) wide enclosing blocks measuring 660 feet (198m) by 330 feet (99m). Castlemaine was proclaimed a Municipal District on 23rd April, 1855, and constituted as a Borough on lst October, 1863. The early, ad hoe shops, hotels and banks which quickly set up on the Forest Creek goldfield quickly responded to the prosperity and optimism of the 1850s and 1860s by rehousing their functions in grander and more solid edifices more appropriate to the golden future of the town of Castlemaine. Residential development of the late 1850s and 1860s also reflected the permanence and prosperity of Castlemaine through the whole spectrum from miners' cottages to large, ornate houses set in spacious, well laid-out gardens. The spiritual needs and conununity aspirations of the populace of early Castlemaine were likewise reflected in the construction of churches and civic buildings of impressive design and scale for such a relatively newly-established town. ' Although the easily accessible gold deposits were quite quickly exhausted by the frenetic mining activities, the local economy of Castlemaine was sufficiently diversified at an early date to ensure the continued existence and stable development of the town into the twentieth century. Establishment of industries such as Thompson's Foundry, the Castlemaine Woollen Mills and the Castlemaine brewery from the late 1850s onwards provided major sources of employment and the first two industries remain today as major employers in the town. Today, Castlemaine has a population of approximately 7,000 people who live and work in a town which has a major legacy of buildings and areas·±rom the days when Castlemaine was known as the 'Great Centre'. Many of these buildings serve the same purpose today as they were built for over a century ago, with little sign of major deterioration. The solidarity of their construc­ tion augers well for their continued longevity, while sympathetic alterations can generally acconunodate the requirements of contemporary users. ,, 1. 3 SCOPE OF THE su·RVEY The two principal objectives of the survey were: a) To identify those buildings, groups of buildings and streetscapes, and environmental areas which could be considered suitable for inclusion on either the Historic Buildings Register or the National Estate Register and for designation subject to the provisions of Clauses 8, BA and SB of the Third Schedule of the Town & Country Planning Act, and b) to identify those buildings, groups of buildings, streetscapes and environmental areas which should receive special consideration for conservation and enhancement by the City of Castlemaine in develop­ ment control procedures to be included in the forthcoming preparation of a statutory planning scheme. The results, in summary, of this survey are: a list of individual buildings, which in the consultant's opinion, should be ndminated for inclusion on the Victorian Historic Buildings Register and the National Estate Register administered by the Australian Heritage Commission, because they are considered to be of statewide significance in architectural and/or historical terms, a list of individual buildings, groups of buildings streetscapes and environmental areas which the City of Castlemaine should designate pursuant to the provisions of Clauses 8, BA and BB of the Third Schedule, a list of gardens, monuments, cemeteries and other man-made and natural features of historic interest which are worthy of protection, and a list of other buildings not investigated because of the limitations of this survey, but considered worthy of further investigation. l. 4 SURVEY METHODOLOGY The first step in this survey was to undertake an intensive tour of the whole municipality to identify and photograph the range of buildings and areas considered to be of historical and architectural sig­ nificance. Approximately two hundred buildings were listed during this preliminary survey and grouped in twelve 'building use' types. As only in the order of eighty buildings could be studied in detail because of the resources available for the survey, a process of examination and elimination had to take place. Using stylistic comparisons and historic associations, the 'best' and most stylistically representative eighty-two buildings were selected, fifty-two of which were investigated in detail and the remaining thirty in less detail. The content of the investigation was concerned with accurately establishing the construction details of each building, its significant historic associations and its architectural importance in terms of style or responsible architect. This research involved using a wide range of source material available, both in Castlemaine and elsewhere. Local sources included material provided by Messrs. Raymond Bradfield and Malcolm Blume, and material held at the Castlemaine Market, the City of Castlemaine, the Castlemaine Art Gallery and Museum and the Pioneers and Old Residents' Association. Sources used in Melbourne included contemporary editions of 'The Mount Alexander Mail', and 'The Argus', a variety of government building contracts, and correspondence held at the Public Records Office and Australian Archives as well as written and illustrative material held at the La Trobe Library. Streetscapes and environmental areas were nominated at a later stage in the survey when a considerable amount of historical research had been completed. The findings of this research enabled a historical context to be established for each area. The architectural and environmental elements could then be readily identified and described. r ' 1.s USE OF THE SURVEY Although the results of this survey are primarily for the use of the City of Castlemaine and the Historic Buildings Preservation Council, it is the Consultant's opinion that the methodology and.results of the survey could be of significant value and interest to organisations and individuals within Castlemaine who wish to pursue additional historical research. Ample opportunity exists for research of the buildings listed in Section of this report which were beyond the scope of this survey to investigate. As well, the methodology of this survey could be used by individuals to trace the history of their own houses or business premises.