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REGISTERED
An early horticulture research station, an architect’s own home and a former butter factory
were added to the Victorian Heritage Register in December.
The former Horticulture Research Station (H2316) at Merbein has played a vital role in the
development of Victoria’s viticulture industry. The 1919 and 1937 laboratories are also
significant for their association, from 1926, with the Council for Scientific and Industrial
Research (CSIR), renamed the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research
Organisation (CSIRO) in 1949.
The original laboratory (above left) was the first scientific research laboratory for viticultural
research in irrigated areas and reflected the growing importance of the dried fruit industry
during the early 20th century.
It was built on the Experimental Farm for the Mildura and District Research Committee, made
up of and funded by local growers following a disastrous outbreak of the fungal disease black
spot in 1917 affected the vines grown for dried fruit.
The Research Committee received land from the state government, building the laboratory
and planting a 10 acre experimental vineyard. Within a couple of years, its research into
fertilizers, control of pests and diseases and fruit drying processes was credited with
substantial improvements in viticultural practices.
This research establishment was taken over by the Commonwealth Government’s CSIR
when it was established in 1926 to assist Australia’s primary industries.
A major focus of research in the 1930s, when the second laboratory (centre and right) was
built, was the salination of irrigated land which led to improved practices in fruit production in
irrigation areas.
During World War II activities were redirected towards determining the requirements for
growing vital supplies such as medicinal drug producing plants.
In the 1960s activities were extended to include a research group at the Waite Institute in
Adelaide, but Merbein remained the base for field investigations, with research conducted
into other fruit crops, including citrus, avocadoes, pecans and pistachios. The Merbein
Research Station closed in 2009 and its activities were transferred to Adelaide. The site was
sold in 2012.
The 1919 laboratory is a single storey concrete building since rendered with pebble dash and
the 1937 laboratory is a single storey red face brick rectangular building with an Art Deco
style portico over the entrance.
Peter Burns’ house ‘Kangaroo’ (H2314) in Bend of Islands near Eltham reflects the diversity
and innovation of the multiple architectural streams that emerged within late Modernism.
The house demonstrates both experimentation with form and materials typical of this period,
and the relative austerity of the times.
Peter Burns trained as an architect but was also a successful painter, sculptor and graphic
designer and the houses designed by him in the post-World War II decades contributed to
Melbourne’s reputation as a site of architectural innovation.
He was the inaugural editor and designer of the influential journal ‘Architecture and Art’, an
active member of the Contemporary Art Society and a prominent member of Melbourne’s
artistic avant-garde. Robin Boyd described him as a ‘man for all media’.
Set on an elevated sloping bush site, ‘Kangaroo’ is made up of three linked triangular-plan
pavilions set in informal gardens.
The first stage of the house, a small equilateral triangle, was built as a weekender in 1968. A
second triangular building and connecting gallery were added in 1973 when it became the
family home, and a triangular guest house was added in 1976. A circular swimming pool and
tennis court were also constructed at this time.
The house has a number of design features that characterise Burns' house designs,
including the inward sloping walls, acrylic dome windows and flaps for ventilation. It was
designed not to blend in with the bush setting but 'as a gesture to come to terms with nature'.
The former Avon Butter Factory in Nicholson Street Fitzroy, once dubbed 'Victoria's most
picturesque butter factory', is a rare example of the Inter-war Spanish Mission style in an
industrial building.
It originally included a factory, offices and retail outlet for the factory’s products and its
location reflected the once common mix of residential and industrial uses in the inner
suburbs.
It is a single-storey asymmetrically composed brick building, with medieval features such as
a corbelled tower and a Gothic arched doorway to the former shop.
Designed to attract attention and promote sales in this prominent inner city location, it is
significant for its composition and decorative and colourful brickwork, which, unusually for the
Spanish Mission style, is not rendered.
The building, designed by the architect I G Anderson for Fitzpatrick Bros Pty Ltd, was built by
George Collings Pty Ltd and completed in 1932.
The Fitzpatrick brothers had owned other butter factories, including one in Lancefield, and
contemporary articles noted that this modern factory had become necessary owing to the
expansion of their business. The building was said to depart radically from conventional
designs of factory buildings and was designed to attract attention.
It was also noted that cream for the factory's operations was received from dairymen as far
afield as South Australia and New South Wales. Its location reflected changes in the dairy
industry, one of Victoria's most important industries. Up to the early 20th century, dairy
factories were located in rural areas, but by the inter-war period the development of rail and
motor transportation made it possible for butter factories to be located far from the sources of
cream supply and closer to their markets.
It has since then been used for various purposes including a knife factory and is now a
retail/hire outlet.
The prominent architect I G Anderson (1890-1963) began practising in Geelong and moved
to Melbourne in 1930 after obtaining the commission to design the Brunswick Market (VHR
H1307). He designed buildings throughout Victoria, including markets, apartments,
commercial buildings, factories, cinemas, municipal buildings, golf clubs and houses. He
designed in a range of styles but embraced the Moderne style in the mid-1930s and became
one of its leading exponents.
HERITAGE COUNCIL UPDATE
A new deputy chair, two new members and four alternate members have been appointed to
the Heritage Council of Victoria.
The new appointments fill the variety of roles provided under the Heritage Act with highly
qualified professionals who have demonstrated interest in heritage and planning.
The new deputy chair Jim Norris and the property management member Jon Hickman are
both former alternate members.
Barrister and solicitor Mary Urquhart, a full time Victorian member of the Australian
Government Migration Review Tribunal and Refugee Review Tribunal, has been appointed
planning law member.
In addition, the historian member Dr Keir Reeves, Senior Research Fellow in heritage
studies and head of tourism studies at Monash University, and alternate, consultant historian
Emma Russell, have been reappointed.
New alternates are:
 Tony Darvall (planning law) currently the acting Chairman of the Linking Melbourne
Authority
 Peter Sagar (property management) Executive Director at Ferrier Hodgson
 Trish Vejby (general) a current member of Board of Directors of Western Health
 Lindsay Merritt (general and alternate to Deputy Chair) a former Chief Executive of
metropolitan inner/middle and metropolitan growth area municipalities .
Jim Norris, a past councillor and mayor of Mount Alexander Shire, is a self-employed
company director, primary producer and consultant in the fields of design, documentation,
construction, sustainability and governance.
Jon Hickman, former Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Victoria University, is Chair of the Victorian
Coastal Council and Deputy Chair of the Zoological Parks and Gardens Board and has
extensive experience in senior roles in the public and private sectors.
Mary Urquhart has recognised skills in planning law and was previously a Deputy President
of VCAT and Deputy Commissioner, Victorian Liquor Licensing Commission.
STONE CONSERVATION
Heritage Victoria’s Materials Conservation Heritage Officer Jenny Dickens as been awarded
the inaugural International Specialised Skills Institute 2012 Lord Mayor's Fellowship which
she will use to further her studies overseas.
Jenny has been accepted onto the prestigious18th International Course on Stone
Conservation at the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of
Cultural Property (known as ICCROM) in Rome from March 2013.
The 11 week course will cover recent advances in the practice, science, and technology
(including the integration of practical methodologies) for stone conservation on sites,
buildings and structures.
It is run by ICCROM in conjunction with the Getty Conservation Institute (USA) and in
cooperation with the non-Catholic Cemetery in Rome.
Jenny will also visit the conservators who worked on the Keith Haring mural in Pisa.
Below left: Jenny with International Specialised Skills Institute CEO Bella Irlicht, at the
scholarship presentation.
GEELONG ON SHOW
National Wool Museum and Peace Memorial (above right) were the two most popular
buildings at the Open House Geelong on 10 November.
This inaugural event, believed to be the first Open House program in a regional centre,
attracted 3000 visitors.
Open House Geelong was an initiative of Leaders for Geelong and is proudly supported by
the Heritage Council of Victoria, The Transport Accident Commission, Central Geelong
Marketing, Kings Funerals, Green Dezign, Deakin University, Shell, Barwon Community
Legal Service and Target.
ABOVE CENTRE: Pictured at the launch event at Deakin Geelong Waterfront Campus on 7
November are (from left) Prof Hisham Elkadi, Head of School of Architecture & Building,
Deakin; Beth King, President Open House Geelong Inc; Cr Keith Fagg, Mayor of City of
Greater Geelong and Jim Norris, Heritage Council of Victoria.
DIARY DATES
Canberra Centenary 2013: A year full of events and exhibitions to mark the Centenary of
Canberra. See http://www.canberra100.com.au/
Australian Heritage Week 2013: Saturday 13 April to Sunday 21 April. See http://heritageweek.govspace.gov.au/
World Heritage Day 2013 (officially known as International Monuments and Sites Day):
Thursday 18 April. Theme the Heritage of Education (2014 will be the Heritage of
Commemoration).
Best wishes from Inherit for a safe and happy festive season
and a prosperous new year.
Inherit is published by the Heritage Council of Victoria. Next issue January-February 2013
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