ASSESSMENT OF CULTURAL
HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE AND
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
RECOMMENDATION TO THE
HERITAGE COUNCIL
NAME: Rogers Memorial Reserve
LOCATION: 109 Cumberland Road Pascoe Vale, Moreland City
HERITAGE OVERLAY NO: HO291 (This overlay only covers the war memorial within the park)
FILE: 14/001705
HERMES NUMBER: 19706
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RECOMMENDATION TO THE HERITAGE COUNCIL:
 That the place NOT be included in the Victorian Heritage Register [Section 32 (1)(b) of the
Heritage Act 1995].
TIM SMITH
Executive Director
Recommendation Date: 25 July 2014
NOMINATION
Heritage Council Criteria
This place was nominated on the basis that it satisfies Criterion A, B, C, E, F, G and H of the Heritage Council
of Victoria's Criteria for Assessment.
The nomination is provided as Attachment 1 to this document.
ASSESSMENT OF CULTURAL HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S ASSESSMENT OF CULTURAL HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE [s.34A(2)(d)]
It is the view of the Executive Director that the Rogers Memorial Reserve should not be included in the
Victorian Heritage Register for the reasons outlined in this report.
It is noted that the Rogers Memorial Reserve was assessed by Context Pty Ltd in 2008 and did not meet the
threshold for local significance.
The war memorial within the Rogers Memorial Reserve is of local significance which is currently
acknowledged by its inclusion in the City of Moreland Heritage Overlay (HO291).
RECOMMENDATION REASONS
REASONS FOR NOT RECOMMENDING INCLUSION IN THE VICTORIAN HERITAGE REGISTER [s.34A(2)(c)]
Following is the Executive Director's assessment of the place against the tests set out in The Victorian
Heritage Register Criteria and Thresholds Guidelines (2014).
CRITERION A
Importance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria’s cultural history.
The Rogers Memorial Reserve has been nominated against Criterion A on the basis of its importance to the
course, or pattern, of Victoria’s cultural history.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S ASSESSMENT
STEP 1: A BASIC TEST FOR SATISFYING CRITERION A
The place/object has a CLEAR ASSOCIATION with an event, phase, period, process, function, movement,
custom or way of life in Victoria’s cultural history.
Plus
The association of the place/object to the event, phase, etc IS EVIDENT in the physical fabric of the
place/object and/or in documentary resources or oral history.
Plus
The EVENT, PHASE, etc is of HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE, having made a strong or influential contribution to
Victoria.
Name: Rogers Memorial Reserve
Hermes Number: 197061
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The Rogers Memorial Reserve
 The Rogers Memorial Reserve was named after Councillor Harry Malcolmson Rogers (Coburg City
Council) after his untimely death in September 1933.
 There is an association between the Rogers Memorial Reserve and the work of Councillor Malcolmson in
the 1920s and early 1930s (see History Summary section).
 Councillor Malcolmson’s work for the Coburg area constitutes a phase in Victoria’s history.
 The association of the Rogers Memorial Reserve to the work of Councillor Malcolmson and the (then)
Coburg City Council is evident in the physical fabric of the place.
 While Councillor Malcolmson has made a significant contribution to Pascoe Vale and the (then) City of
Coburg, it has not been established that his work made a strong or influential contribution beyond the
local area.
The War Memorial
 There is an association between the war memorial within Rogers Memorial Reserve and the service and
commemoration of Victorians at war since 1914.
 This constitutes a phase, process and custom in Victoria’s history.
 The association of the war memorial to the service and commemoration of Victorians at war since 1914
is evident in the memorial.
 The service and commemoration of Victorians at war since 1914 has made a strong or influential
contribution to Victoria.
It is the view of the Executive Director that Criterion A is satisfied (in relation to the war memorial only).
STEP 2: A BASIC TEST FOR DETERMINING STATE LEVEL SIGNIFICANCE FOR CRITERION A
The place/object allows the clear association with the event, phase etc. of historical importance to be
UNDERSTOOD BETTER THAN MOST OTHER PLACES OR OBJECTS IN VICTORIA WITH SUBSTANTIALLY THE
SAME ASSOCIATION.
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There is an association between the war memorial within the Rogers Memorial Reserve, and the service
and commemoration of Victorians at war since 1914.
This place does not allow this phase in Victoria’s history to be readily appreciated better than most other
places in Victoria with substantially the same association.
There are many commemorative reserves and parks in Victoria, and over a thousand war memorials
commemorating servicemen and women within the communities they are located. A number of
memorial and other commemorative places are already included in the Victorian Heritage Register
(including The Shrine of Remembrance, Kew War Memorial and the Ballarat Avenue of Honour).
There are no features which elevate this memorial, and the reserve in which it is located, to the level of
state significance.
It is the view of the Executive Director that Criterion A is not satisfied at the State level.
CRITERION B
Possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Victoria’s cultural history.
The Rogers Memorial Reserve has been nominated against Criterion B on the basis that it possesses
uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Victoria’s cultural history as a memorial that commemorates all
wars and peace-keeping efforts, as one of only four memorials of this ‘type’ in Victoria and due to the
presence of the Aleppo Tree descendent of the original Lone Pine in Gallipoli.
Name: Rogers Memorial Reserve
Hermes Number: 197061
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STEP 1: A BASIC TEST FOR SATISFYING CRITERION B
The place/object has a CLEAR ASSOCIATION with an event, phase, period, process, function, movement,
custom or way of life of importance in Victoria’s cultural history.
Plus
The association of the place/object to the event, phase, etc IS EVIDENT in the physical fabric of the
place/object and/or in documentary resources or oral history.
Plus
The place/object is RARE OR UNCOMMON, being one of a small number of places/objects remaining that
demonstrates the important event, phase etc.
OR
The place/object is RARE OR UNCOMMON, containing unusual features of note that were not widely
replicated
OR
The existence of the CLASS of place/object that demonstrates the important event, phase etc is
ENDANGERED to the point of rarity due to threats and pressures on such places/objects.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S ASSESSMENT
 There is a clear association between the war memorial within the Rogers Memorial Reserve and the
service and commemoration of Victorians at war since 1914. This constitutes a phase, process and
custom in Victoria’s history.
 This association of the war memorial within the Rogers Memorial Reserve to the service and
commemoration of Victorians at war since 1914 is evident in the physical fabric of the place.
 The war memorial within the Rogers Memorial Reserve is not rare or uncommon.
 There are hundreds of local war memorials in Victoria, similar to the memorial within the Rogers
Memorial Reserve, commemorating local servicemen and women who served in wars and peacekeeping
efforts since 1914.
 The war memorial within the Rogers Memorial Reserve does not contain unusual features of note that
were not widely replicated – no evidence has been presented to support the claim that this memorial is
one of four of this ‘type’ in Victoria (i.e. it is not known whether ‘type’ relates to the material used to
construct the memorial, the physical form of the memorial, the age of the memorial etc).
 War memorials which commemorate local service personnel, such as that within the Rogers Memorial
Reserve, are not endangered to the point of rarity.
 The Aleppo Tree descendent of the Lone Pine is likely to be a third or fourth generation descendent.
Three first generation planting of the Lone Pine survive in Victoria (at Wattle Park, Sisters Hall (near
Terang) and in the Warrnambool Botanic Gardens) and numerous further plantings occurred around
Victoria for the Gallipoli Silver Jubilee commemorations. The specimen within Rogers Memorial Reserve
is not rare, uncommon or endangered.
It is the view of the Executive Director that Criterion B is not satisfied.
Name: Rogers Memorial Reserve
Hermes Number: 197061
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CRITERION C
Potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of Victoria’s cultural history.
The Rogers Memorial Reserve has been nominated against Criterion C on the basis that the Rogers Memorial
Reserve is a tranquil setting commemorating those from Pascoe Vale who have fought in past conflicts.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S ASSESSMENT
STEP 1: A BASIC TEST FOR SATISFYING CRITERION C
That the:
visible physical fabric; and/or
documentary evidence; and/or
oral history,
relating to the place/object indicates a likelihood that the place/object contains PHYSICAL EVIDENCE of
HISTORICAL INTEREST that is NOT CURRENTLY VISIBLE OR UNDERSTOOD.
Plus
From what we know of the place/object, the physical evidence is likely
to be of an INTEGRITY and/or CONDITION that it COULD YIELD
INFORMATION through detailed investigation.
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The visible physical fabric does not indicate a likelihood that the place contains physical evidence of
historical interest that is not currently visible.
No documentary or oral history evidence has been provided which indicates a likelihood that the place
contains physical evidence of historical interest that is not currently visible or understood.
It is the view of the Executive Director that Criterion C is not satisfied.
CRITERION E
Importance in exhibiting particular aesthetic characteristics.
The Rogers Memorial Reserve has been nominated against Criterion E on the basis of its open space vista
and unobstructed access to the west.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S ASSESSMENT
STEP 1: A BASIC TEST FOR SATISFYING CRITERION E
The PHYSICAL FABRIC of the place/object clearly exhibits particular aesthetic characteristics.
Aesthetic adjective 1. relating to the sense of the beautiful or the science of aesthetics. 2. having a sense of the beautiful;
characterised by a love of beauty. noun 3. a philosophical theory as to what is aesthetically valid at a given time. 4. an
artistic expression, viewed as reflective of a personal or cultural ideal of what is aesthetically valid.
Aesthetics noun 1. Philosophy the science which deduces from nature and taste the rules and principles of art; the theory of the fine
arts; the science of the beautiful, or that branch of philosophy which deals with its principles or effects; the doctrines of taste. 2.
Psychology the study of the mind and emotions in relation to the sense of beauty.
These definitions do not suggest that ‘aesthetic’ is synonymous with ‘beauty’. Instead they imply a judgement against various
qualities that may include beauty. To assume that ‘aesthetic’ and ‘beauty’ are interchangeable terms limits an understanding of
aesthetic and aesthetics.
Aesthetic characteristics are the visual qualities of a place or object that invite judgement against the ideals of beauty,
picturesqueness, evocativeness, expressiveness, grotesqueness, sublimeness and other descriptors of aesthetic judgement. The
visual qualities of a place or object lie in the form, scale, setting, unity, contrast, colour, texture and material of the fabric of a place
or object.
Name: Rogers Memorial Reserve
Hermes Number: 197061
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The Rogers Memorial Reserve exhibits the particular characteristics of a local memorial park in Victoria.
The war memorial within the Rogers Memorial Reserve exhibits the particular aesthetic characteristics
of a local war memorial.
It is the view of the Executive Director that Criterion E is satisfied.
STEP 2: A BASIC TEST FOR DETERMINING STATE LEVEL SIGNIFICANCE FOR CRITERION B
The aesthetic characteristics are APPRECIATED OR VALUED by the
wider community or an appropriately-related discipline as evidenced, for example, by:
CRITICAL RECOGNITION of the aesthetic characteristics of the
place/object within a relevant art, design, architectural or related discipline as an outstanding example
within Victoria; or
wide public ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF EXCEPTIONAL MERIT in Victoria
in medium such as songs, poetry, literature, painting, sculpture, publications, print media etc.
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There is no evidence to suggest that the aesthetic characteristics of the Rogers Memorial Reserve are
appreciated and valued by the wider Victorian community (ie: beyond the local community).
It has not received critical recognition of its aesthetic characteristics within a relevant art, design,
architectural or related discipline as an outstanding example within Victoria.
It has not received wide public acknowledgement of exceptional merit in Victoria in medium such as
songs, poetry, literature, painting, sculpture, publications, print media etc.
The Rogers Memorial Reserve is considered to satisfy Exclusion Guideline XE1 – Lacks distinctiveness –
the reserve has aesthetic qualities but they do not exceed those of the general class to which the place
belongs.
It is the view of the Executive Director that Criterion E is not satisfied at the State level.
CRITERION F
Importance in demonstrating a high degree of creative or technical achievement at a particular period.
The Rogers Memorial Reserve has been nominated against Criterion F on the basis that it houses a rare,
heritage listed memorial and the Aleppo Tree.
The claimed significance does not relate to this criterion. It is the view of the Executive Director that
Criterion F is not satisfied.
CRITERION G
Strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group for social, cultural or spiritual
reasons. This includes the significance of a place to indigenous people as part of their continuing and
developing cultural traditions.
The Rogers Memorial Reserve has been nominated against Criterion G on the basis that it is a highly used
site for war commemoration services.
Name: Rogers Memorial Reserve
Hermes Number: 197061
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S ASSESSMENT
STEP 1: A BASIC TEST FOR SATISFYING CRITERION G
Evidence exists of a DIRECT ASSOCIATION between the place/object and a PARTICULAR COMMUNITY OR
CULTURAL GROUP.
(For the purpose of these guidelines, ‘COMMUNITY or CULTURAL GROUP’ is defined as a sizable group of
persons who share a common and long-standing interest or identity).
Plus
The ASSOCIATION between the place/object and the community or cultural group is STRONG OR SPECIAL, as
evidenced by the regular or long-term use of/engagement with the place/object or the enduring ceremonial,
ritual, commemorative, spiritual or celebratory use of the place/object.
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Evidence exists of a direct association between the Rogers Memorial Reserve and the veterans and the
local Pascoe Vale Community.
The association between the place and the community is strong and special as evidenced by the regular
and long-term use of/engagement with the place as a public reserve, and the enduring ceremonial,
ritual, commemorative, spiritual or celebratory use of the place for war commemoration.
It is the view of the Executive Director that Criterion G is satisfied.
STEP 2: A BASIC TEST FOR DETERMINING STATE LEVEL SIGNIFICANCE FOR CRITERION G
The place/object represents a PARTICULARLY STRONG EXAMPLE of the association between it and the
community or cultural group by reason of its RELATIONSHIP TO IMPORTANT HISTORICAL EVENTS in Victoria
and/or its ABILITY TO INTERPRET EXPERIENCES to the broader Victorian community.

There is no evidence available to suggest that Rogers Memorial Reserve is a stronger example of the
association that exists between veterans and the local community and their local war memorial than any
other war memorial within a local community.
It is the view of the Executive Director that Criterion G is not satisfied at the State level.
CRITERION H
Special association with the life or works of a person, or group of persons, of importance in Victoria’s history.
The Rogers Memorial Reserve has been nominated on the basis that it has a special association with
veterans and service personnel.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S ASSESSMENT
STEP 1: A BASIC TEST FOR SATISFYING CRITERION H
The place/object has a DIRECT ASSOCIATION with a person or group of persons who have made a strong or
influential CONTRIBUTION to the course of Victoria’s history.
Plus
The ASSOCIATION of the place/object to the person(s) IS EVIDENT in the physical fabric of the place/object
and/or in documentary resources and/or oral history.
Plus
Name: Rogers Memorial Reserve
Hermes Number: 197061
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The ASSOCIATION:
directly relates to ACHIEVEMENTS of the person(s) at, or relating to, the place/object; or
relates to an ENDURING and/or CLOSE INTERACTION between the person(s) and the place/object
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The Rogers Memorial Reserve has a direct association with Councillor Harry Malcolmson Rogers.
Councillor Rogers did not make made a strong and influential contribution to the course of Victoria’s
history.
The war memorial within the Rogers Memorial Reserve has a direct association with service personnel
and their families.
Service personnel and their families have made a strong and influential contribution to the course of
Victoria’s history.
This association is evident in the physical fabric of the place and is also likely to be found in documentary
resources and oral history.
The association directly relates to the sacrifices of service personnel and their families.
The association relates to the enduring and close interaction that service personnel, families and
descendants have to the place.
It is the view of the Executive Director that Criterion H is satisfied (for the war memorial).
STEP 2: A BASIC TEST FOR DETERMINING STATE LEVEL SIGNIFICANCE FOR CRITERION H
The place/object allows the clear association with the person or group of persons to be READILY
APPRECIATED BETTER THAN MOST OTHER PLACES OR OBJECTS IN VICTORIA.
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This place meets exclusion XH3 - Persons are of local significance only.
Councillor Harry Malcolmson Rogers of the City of Coburg Council is of local significance only.
The war memorial commemorates service personnel from the local Pascoe Vale area only.
It is the view of the Executive Director that Criterion H is not satisfied at the State level.
Name: Rogers Memorial Reserve
Hermes Number: 197061
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PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION SUMMARY
The Rogers Memorial Reserve is a long rectangular 1.5ha reserve with a 45m frontage on to Cumberland
Road. There is a row of mature Monterey Cypress (Cupressus Macrocarpa) on the northern side of the
reserve and some other commemorative plantings. The Pascoe Vale War Memorial is located in a paved area
about 10m from Cumberland Street. This memorial is a small granite memorial comprising a stepped base, a
lower section with engraved plaques bearing the names of those from the Pascoe Vale community who
served. It is surmounted by four columns supporting a cupola that shelters a drinking fountain. It is set
within a paved area within the Reserve and is set back from Cumberland Road on a centrally aligned path.
The Pascoe Vale Swimming Pool is located behind the Rogers Memorial Reserve to the west.
(See Context, Moreland Local Heritage Places Review 2004, Updated 2008)
HISTORY SUMMARY
The Rogers Memorial Reserve was named after Councillor Harry Malcolmson Rogers, possibly after his
untimely death (of pneumonia) in September 1933. Rogers was very active in the civic and social life of the
City of Coburg between the wars. Throughout his life he devoted himself to the work of improving reserves,
equipping children's playgrounds and organising sporting activities. The war memorial was moved to Rogers
Memorial Reserve c.1948 after World War II. It was originally built c.1916-17 at a site on the south-east
corner of Pleasant and Gyles Street, just outside the Holy Trinity Church, Pascoe Vale. As is the practice in
many other communities around Victoria and Australia, memorials to later conflicts such as World War II
have been added to this monument over time.
VICTORIAN HISTORICAL THEMES
06
Building Towns, Cities and the Garden State
6.3 Shaping the suburbs
07
Governing Victorians
7.4 Defending Victoria and Australia
08
Building Community Life
8.5 Preserving traditions and commemorating
COMPARISONS
It is common for war memorials commemorating local service people to be located in local parks and
reserves throughout Victoria. It is unusual, although not rare, that such memorials take the form of drinking
fountains. There are an estimated 26 war memorial fountains, including ornamental and drinking, in Victoria
out of 1734 war memorials (monuments and similar structures). The vast majority of these are of local
significance. There are less than ten war memorials of state significance included the Victorian Heritage
Register. These include the Shrine of Remembrance (H0848 ), Kew War Memorial (H0647), the Macedon
Cross (H1027) and the Boer War Monument, Kings Domain (H0382). The earliest known drinking fountain in
Victoria, the Wilkinson Memorial Drinking Fountain (1875), Williamstown, is included in the Victorian
Heritage Register (H1733) and is not war related.
KEY REFERENCES USED TO PREPARE ASSESSMENT
Nomination material
Victorian Heritage Database
Context, Moreland Local Heritage Places Review 2004 (Updated 2008)
Department of Planning and Community Development, War-related heritage in Victoria, 2011
ATTACHMENTS
Nomination material
Context, Moreland Local Heritage Places Review 2004 (Updated 2008)
Name: Rogers Memorial Reserve
Hermes Number: 197061
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IMAGES
Rogers Memorial Reserve – Showing HO291 in pink circle (War Memorial – Commemorative Drinking
Fountain) This memorial was built c. 1916-17 and moved to this location c.1948.
Name: Rogers Memorial Reserve
Hermes Number: 197061
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Rogers Memorial Reserve – Aerial view (Google Maps).
Name: Rogers Memorial Reserve
Hermes Number: 197061
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CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
REMOVE THIS PAGE PRIOR TO PUBLIC CIRCULATION
OFFICER REPORTING: MARINA LARSSON
CONFLICT/INTEREST DECLARATION:
I have considered whether there is a conflict of interest in assessing this nomination and I have
determined that I have:
No Conflict
OFFICER’S NAME: MARINA LARSSON
SIGNATURE:
DATE:
NOMINATOR: MS JULIEANNE BELL
DATE NOMINATED: 14 May 2014
OWNER: CITY OF MORELAND
ARE THERE ANY IMAGES NOT FOR PUBLIC CIRCULATION? IF SO, WHICH? NA
COMMENTS: NA
ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATION REVIEWED AND AGREED BY:
MANAGER ASSESSMENTS
DATE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
DATE
Name: Rogers Memorial Reserve
Hermes Number: 197061
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