Maryborough Station restoration

photo Angela Wylie, from The Age photogallery

Already a tourist drawcard as one of the largest, most elegant and intact country railway stations in Victoria, the station has benefited from $1.9 mill in restoration over the last two years, principally funded by Victrack, the State Government body that ‘owns’ rail and tram infrastructure. Housing a café, wine centre and antique emporium, it may soon also host trains again as part of the latest public transport announcements. Completed late in 1891 to a Queen Anne / Flemish design by the Victorian Railways architects, it was part of the huge expansion of railways in Victoria in the 1880s boom years. Maryborough was expected to become a large town and an important railway junction, but this never eventuated, leading to Mark Twain’s famous statement in 1895 that Maryborough was a “station with a town attached to it”.

Richmond Park Cottage

Richmond Park Cottage

This small cottage built for the Park Ranger, was slated to be demolished for more carparking as part of the masterplan for the park by Yarra Council. Detailed investigations by the Trust's Garden's Committee however determined that it dated from 1862, making it one of the earliest such cottages, and that the 1930s alterations were relatively superficial, and it was quite capable of being restored. We hope that it will not only be retained but restored as part of any renewal of the park.

Pentridge Prison

A second high-rise apartment tower has been proposed for this important site. The first one already permitted is to the rear of the main compound, and will not be overly dominating from the main entry / original parade ground. The new one however is located directly behind the main cell block (B) facing the parade ground, and will be highly visible in views of the Gaol as a whole from outside, especially of its iconic entrance. The plans include repairs to the cell block itself, but no actual use is proposed. The Trust strongly opposes such high towers within the historic core of the site. Plans can be viewed on the Heritage Victoria website (click here) and submissions can be made until Janurary 1st 2009.

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New tower shown above; already permitted tower shown to left.

Fortuna, Bendigo

Image from theage.com

This spectacular house and its grounds in suburban Bendigo were built by ‘quartz king’ George Lansell adjacent to his fortune-making gold mine; the ornamental lake re-uses the settling ponds. Click here for the Trust’s classification. A large and wonderfully picturesque house, it was rescued from an uncertain future in 1942 when it was acquired by the Army Survey Regiment, who have faithfully maintained the exterior of the house and the grounds, but are now planning to sell. The people of Bendigo and the National Trust want to see at least some public access to this important part of our heritage maintained, but this could only be achieved with an endowment, guaranteed funding, or a commercially viable yet sensitive new use.

Myer and David Jones Redevelopment, Lonsdale Street Stores and Lonsdale House

Image: thetramwalker.livejournal.com

Lonsdale House

Demolition of rear of David Jones nearly complete; the lower Myer building beyond (former Robertson & Moffat store 1888) is also due to be demolished as part of the Myer redevelopment. The rear portion of both stores will be replaced by glass dominated facades, turning the once historical streetscape into a completely modern one.

Images seen show that the Art Deco Lonsdale House would be demolished as part of the redevelopment of the Lonsdale Street Myer site. Recently Heritage Victoria decided not to add it to the Victorian Heritage Register, but it is however 'protected' by City of Melbourne heritage overlay (HO) controls .

Murtoa stick shed

Image from Heritage Victoria

Murtoa’s spectacular but little-known "Stick Shed" wheat store will receive more than $1.2 million in urgent conservation works. With the support of the Heritage Council of Victoria, the Victorian Government is providing much needed funding that should ensure this unique heritage place is preserved for future generations.

Constructed from local timber and corrugated iron, the Stick Shed gets its name from the hundreds of unmilled poles which stand in rows propping the vast roof. The interior of the shed has been described as like a forest, or the nave of a cathedral. Click here for the Trust's classification.

Former Melbourne Regiment Drill Hall, Victoria Street

Image from architect’s submission to Heritage Victoria

Probably the most impressive and ornate of the 1930s Drill Halls in Melbourne, it is proposed to add a block of seven floors of affordable housing above the hall itself. A decision from Heritage Victoria is still pending.

Brunswick Street Cable Tram Engine House / Penfolds Showroom

In a further interesting move, a Heritage Victoria appeal recently determined since the building was never formally nominated due to an administrative error, they could no longer consider the case. The Minister for Planning then moved to 'call in' any possible nominations ensuring that the VCAT desision to replace it with a 10 storey office building would stand. Built in 1886 as a cable tram engine house for what was once one of the worlds largest systems, the exterior was re-faced for Penfolds in 1936 in a stylish Art deco make-over, complete with distinctive tower.

Warehouse, Gipps Street, Port Fairy

The Trust opposed a proposal to add two floors to this single storey c1850 bluestone warehouse and add an adjacent building for apartments in the Port Fairy waterfront, because the new construction would totally overwhelm not only the building, but dominate the waterfront area. This was the second time such a proposal had been put forward. The Trust’s Port Fairy branch assisted a local group in opposing the development, including an appearance at VCAT, which made the relatively uncommon decision that the development was not appropriate to the area, and should not proceed at all.