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Significant Heritage Project Gets Underway In Wellington

Restoration work is set to begin on one of Victoria’s architecturally most significant heritage buildings, which is located in Wellington Shire.

By Wellington Shire Council - 13th October 2003 - Back to News

"Hawthorn Bank" is a rural property near Yarram and its architecturally significant wattle and daub construction is believed to date back to the 1840s – making it the oldest surviving example of this type of construction in the State.

Wellington Shire Council has been successful in helping the owners obtain State Government funding from the Heritage Council of Victoria to repair and protect the complex of buildings.

Wattle and daub is a method of wall construction consisting of thin branches (wattles) in this case woven around vertical timber members and roughly plastered over with mud or clay (daub) which has been mixed with additives such as horse hair.

"Hawthorn Bank" consists of three buildings, which are all in an advanced state of disrepair. A grant of $15,000 from the Heritage Council of Victoria will be used to undertake repairs and to slow the rate of deterioration, particularly focussing on the wattle and daub house – the oldest of the three buildings.

Council’s Chief Executive Lyndon Webb said the project is being jointly undertaken with the property owners and the ‘Hands on Heritage’ program, involving Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA) and the Heritage Council.

"The CVA crew of some six people and a supervisor will be working on site for the week from 13 to 17 October. Local tradespeople, a carpenter, plumber and bricklayer will all be employed to assist with the works requiring trade skills," he said. "The Shire’s Heritage Adviser will oversee the project with assistance from Heritage Victoria staff."

Works to be undertaken include:

• Building a fence to keep livestock out of the buildings
• Roofing repairs to stop the entry of rainwater
• Installation of an "agi drain" to assist with drainage
• Repairs to the brick chimney where original handmade bricks have weathered and deteriorated
• Protection of the wattle and daub walls which are currently exposed to the weather
• Repairs to windows and doors
• Dismantling of one of the structures which has collapsed and is in an unsafe condition

** For more information phone Ronan Carroll at Wellington Shire Council on 5142 3458.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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