heritage citation report – ho286

Heritage Citation Report – Residence ‘Benyeo’, 41 Caledonian Hill Rd, Bolwarra

Residence ‘Benyeo’, 41 Caledonian Hill Rd, Bolwarra

HO 279 Place Citation Report

Heritage Citation Report – HO286

Name ‘Benyeo’

Address 41 Caledonian Hill Road, Bolwarra

Place Type Residence

Citation Date 28 June 2015

Heritage listings None

Recommended heritage protection Glenelg Shire Planning Scheme (PS) Heritage Overlay (HO)

Figure 1 : ‘Benyeo’ front view




Figure 2 : Proposed HO extent

History and historical context

The architectural style of the house ‘Benyeo’ suggests that it was constructed between 1900 and 1915. It was

constructed for James O’Halloran, a famer in the region (pers comm, Eugene Rose, resident 11 May 2016).

Additionally, the current setting, near outbuildings designed for the processing of apples suggests that the

occupants of the house were involved with orcharding.

Orcharding was a significant industry in the late Victorian era in Portland, Gorae and Gorae West. The first

recorded planting of an apple tree in Victoria was in 1834, at Portland, by Edward Henty (Christensen 2012).

The orcharding industry in the region developed, with the produce being shipped as far as Germany and

England, as well as to the local markets within Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane (Kellaway and Rhodes 2002;

Age, 1 August 1905). In 1903, the regions apples and pears were described as ‘undeniably excellent’. This

excellence was assisted by the surrounding region having suitable amounts of lime and manure for fertiliser. As

a result, a model farm was set up, growing apple varieties including; Jonathan, Five Crown, Munro’s Favourite,

Stone Pippis, Rokewood and Rome Beauty (Portland Guardian, 2 February 1903).

In 1917, the potential for Portland to develop into a substantial orcharding centre was identified and encouraged

(Leader, 14 July 1917). By 1925 a new cool store at Gorae was constructed near the rail line, which enhanced




the prospects of all the farmers who were involved with orcharding (Portland Guardian, 20 July 1925).

Orcharding remained a key industry in the region until the 1960s (Kellaway and Rhodes 2002).

‘Benyeo’ is currently a private residence.

Relevant Historical Australian Themes

3 Developing Local, Regional and National Economies

3.5 Developing primary production

3.5.3 Developing agricultural industries

3.9 Farming for commercial profit

4 Building settlements, towns and cities

4.5 Making settlements to serve rural Australia

5 Working

5.8 Working on the land

8 Developing Australia’s cultural life

8.12 Living in and around Australian homes

8.14 Living in the country and rural settlements

Description

Physical description

‘Benyeo’ is a vernacular Federation era house, set in an established garden. ‘Benyeo’ is a weatherboard house,

painted very light green with a hipped and gabled, corrugated iron roof. The front face of the gable is decorated

and has a finial. The house is surrounded by a verandah with a corrugated iron roof, with a shallower slope to

the rest of the roof. The deck of the verandah is wooden and has been painted dark green. The boards join in

the corners in a zig zag pattern. The windows are double-hung sash windows under the hipped section of the

roof, with casement windows under the gabled section. The window frames have been painted light green.

There are two brick chimneys, rendered and painted white with decorative corbelling near the top. The interior

of the house has been renovated.

The stables at the rear are a wooden building with low gabled, corrugated iron roof. There is a single window

with a white painted frame, with six panes. The three double timber doors have large tee-hinges, allowing the

doors to open outwards. They are closed and secured using a bar latch. The stables are currently used for

storage. The stables have brick floors. The floors and the external walls are the original, however the interior

walls, and ceiling are new.

The apple packing shed was built in the 1920s. It is a timber building, with the exterior boards being recent. The

interior has been decorated with a dado, which has been painted royal blue. The wall above the dado has been

painted bright yellow. There is a large rectangular window in the gable. The shed has been constructed from a

variety of recycled materials. The shed is currently used for storage.

Physical condition

Good

Usage/Former usage

Residence and farm outbuildings




Figure 3 : Corner of verandah deck showing

pattern

Figure 4 : Exterior of Stables

Figure 5 : Oak tree near the house

Figure 6 : Palm tree near the house

Recommended management

Maintain generally as existing.

Comparative analysis

HO132, /H0295 Warrock, 826 Warrock Road, Warrock, Glenelg Shire

Warrock is a nineteenth century Western District pastoral complex, established by George Robertson. The

complex includes 57 buildings including worker accommodation. The arrangement of the buildings, the use of a

picturesque gothic style and the small size of the individual buildings, reflect Robertson’s ecclesiastical leanings




and hardworking and modest way of life. Unlike other pastoralists, he did not build a large mansion as his

fortunes increased.

Warrock is of historical significance for its association with the early settlement of western Victoria and as a

demonstration of a nineteenth century reformist ideal applied to the development of a farming enterprise. It is

significant for its association with George Robertson, the first owner and builder. It is also aesthetically

significant for the use of intentionally consistent architecture, and has the potential to yield information due to

the variety of nineteenth century plantings which remain in the complex.

HO255 Wando Estate Homestead Complex, 1550 Casterton-Edenhope Road, Wando Bridge, Glenelg

Shire

The complex includes the first homestead and woolshed of the Wando Estate. The homestead was initially set

up by William Corney in 1840. In the mid-1880s the then owner, William Broughton commissioned H.B. Gibbs to

design a new homestead, which was built by Mr Henningsen in the mid-1890s. The house is a timber building in

an Itailanate style. The homestead is set in a mature compartmented garden. The Wando Homestead is of

historical significance for its association with the Broughton families. It is of social significance for its

construction by the local workmen, using local materials. It is of associative significance to H.B. Gibbs the

architect and Henningsen the builder.

HO181 Lal Lal Homestead, 105 Bridgewater Lakes Road, Cape Bridgewater, Glenelg Shire

The Lal Lal Homestead is an 1853, vernacular homestead with a double hipped roof and a surrounding

verandah. The house has been substantially modernised with the verandahs replaces and extensive internal

alterations. The outbuildings are of interest for the recycled use of very early heavy gauge corrugated iron. The

Lal Lal Homestead is historically significant as one of the early surviving homesteads and for its association with

the Hedditch family. It is of architectural significance as one of the later and most intact structures from the early

1850s and as it demonstrates the late nineteenth century modification of the building to allow for an additional

generation of the family to reside in the one home.

Summary

The comparative analysis indicates that farm complexes within the Glenelg Shire are often historically significant

for their demonstration of early farming and rural residential practises. The farm complexes can also be

historically significant due to the buildings being the earliest surviving buildings in the district or because they

demonstrate the changing requirements of the buildings in a farm complex through renovations and

modernisations. Farm complexes are also often significant for their associations with the owners, builders and

architects of the main houses. Farm complexes can also be of aesthetic significance and social significance.

Statement of significance

What is significant?

The significant elements of ‘Benyeo’ include:

• External features of the house including the, the hipped and gabled roof, decorated gable, finial, verandah,

double-hung sash and casement windows and chimneys.

• The stables, including the low gabled roof, doors with tee hinges and bar latches.

• The apple packing shed.

• The garden, including the remaining mature trees.

How is it significant?

‘Benyeo’ is significant to the Glenelg Shire as it has historical significance (HERCON criterion A) and

demonstrates the principal characteristics of a class of cultural places (HERCON criterion D).




Why is it significant?

‘Benyeo’ is historically significant as it is associated with the apple orcharding industry, a prominent industry

within Portland until the decline in the 1960s. The apple packing shed is a key feature of the property relating to

the orcharding industry. Additionally, the house and the stables are of historical significance, as the renovations

and the changes in use show the changes to the requirements of the family home to suit the social changes of

society.

‘Benyeo’ demonstrates the principal characteristics of vernacular federation architecture. Significant features

include: the weatherboard façade, the hipped and gabled roof, decorated gable, finial, verandah, double-hung

sash and casement windows and chimneys and the house and the low gabled roof, doors with tee hinges and

bar latches, and the brick floor of the stables. The use of a variety of recycled materials within the outbuildings is

also typical of buildings within a rural setting.

Recommended Controls (2016)

External Paint Controls Yes

Internal Alteration Controls No

Tree Controls No

Fences & Outbuildings Yes

Prohibited Uses May Be Permitted Yes

Incorporated Plan No

Aboriginal Heritage Place No

References

Christensen, J. 2012 The Victorious Apple in Museum Victoria Collections Retrieved 28 June 2016 from

http://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/articles/11548.

Kellaway, C. and D. Rhodes 2002 Glenelg Shire Heritage Study: An Environmental History Part One. Report to

Heritage Victoria and the Glenelg Shire.

Newspapers

Age, Melbourne, 1854-1954.

Leader, Melbourne, 1862-1918.

Portland Guardian, Portland, 1876-1953.

This information is provided for guidance only and does not supersede official documents, particularly the planning scheme. Planning controls should be

verified by checking the relevant municipal planning scheme.

heritage citation report – ho286

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