Heritage Citation Report – Bluestone Store, rear 19 Henty Street, Portland

Bluestone Store, rear 19 Henty Street, Portland

HO 288 Place Citation Report Page 1

Heritage Citation Report – HO295

Name Bluestone Store

Address rear 19 Henty Street, Portland

Place Type Commercial

Citation Date 27 June 2016

Heritage listings None

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

Figure 1 : Northern wall of Bluestone Shed (inside

at 19 Henty Street)

Figure 2 : Southern wall of Bluestone Shed

Heritage Citation Report – Bluestone Store, rear 19 Henty Street, Portland

Bluestone Store, rear 19 Henty Street, Portland

HO 288 Place Citation Report Page 2

Figure 3 : Proposed HO extent

History and historical context

The property including 19 Henty Street was originally purchased by James Blair in 1843 at the second Portland

land sales, and included the entire corner block of Percy Street and Henty Street to the southern border with the

Wesleyan Church property (Department of Lands and Survey 1948). James Blair was the first police magistrate

and commissioner of Crown lands (Weekly Times, 31 May 1930).

The corner of Percy and Henty Streets was associated with prominent merchants and businessmen, such as

Trangmar and Crouch with their store at 78-82 Percy Street and Arthur R Rickard, a draper who built “Compton

House” in 1876 at 81 Percy Street (Bennett 1993). Both of these were large bluestone buildings built for a

distinctly commercial purpose. It is possible the Bluestone Store at the rear of 19 Henty Street has an

association with Rickards Store. The Bluestone Store is not mapped in Birmingham’s 1853 survey of the town of

Portland (Birmingham 1953). Based on this information and its early colonial vernacular and simple style the

Bluestone Store at the rear of 19 Henty Street is likely to have been built between 1853 and 1870. After the

1880s, the use of bluestone in local construction became less popular, as local brickworks were established,

and bricks became the preferred medium for commercial construction.

The purpose of the building is not known, but based on its design and location it is likely to have been used as a

store or stables and associated with commercial activities in the Percy and Henty Street area.

Relevant Historical Australian Themes

3 Developing local, regional and national economies

3.14 Developing an Australian engineering and construction industry

3.14.2 Using Australian materials in construction

4 Building settlements, towns and cities

Heritage Citation Report – Bluestone Store, rear 19 Henty Street, Portland

Bluestone Store, rear 19 Henty Street, Portland

HO 288 Place Citation Report Page 3

4.5 Making settlements to serve rural Australia

Description

Physical description

The Bluestone Store is single storey colonial Georgian-style bluestone building. Simple but functional in design,

it has a wide entrance door, facing Henty Street (now internal at 19 Henty Street), with a bluestone arch above

the door. An original steel hinge attachment is still present within the wall adjacent to the doorway. Two

rectangular windows with large bluestone windowsills are on either side of a single doorway to the right of the

arched doorway. The two visible walls (the front and rear walls) are bluestone in a coursed ashlar construction.

The roof of the Bluestone Store is a simple hipped roof and which is covered in corrugated iron.

Physical condition

Good

Usage/Former usage

Commercial

Retail

Recommended management

Maintain as existing

Comparative analysis

HO419 Bluestone Stable and Barn, Corner Kennedy and Cox Streets, Penshurst, Southern Grampians

Shire

The bluestone stable and barn is located at the north west corner of Kennedy and Cox Streets, on the approach

to Penshurst from Macarthur. It is a rare surviving example of a stable and barn related to domestic agriculture

in a township. The bluestone stable and barn is a simple, traditional structure with open spaces at the southern

end, presumably used for storage and a coachhouse and stalls at the northern end. A chimney in the northern

gable indicates a fireplace for a tack room and suggests that it was used as a residence. The whole structure is

open to the east although there are small areas of weatherboard wall at either end. There a substantial timber

partitions subdividing the major sections. The walls are rockface bluestone laid in 12 inch courses. The gabled

roof has a low pitch and is corrugated iron. The land on which the barn and stables stand was taken up by J

Thompson in 1869, although it is not certain that he was responsible for constructing these buildings. There has

been no architect or builder associated with the design, which is naïve and vernacular. The buildings are likely

to date from the 1870s. The building is in fair condition, but retains a high degree of integrity.

The bluestone barn and stables are of historical significance as a demonstration of the day to day importance of

horses and their management in Penshurst up to the First World War. They are of further significance as a rare

surviving example of stables and barn within a township, and demonstrate a previous way of life.

Heritage Citation Report – Bluestone Store, rear 19 Henty Street, Portland

Bluestone Store, rear 19 Henty Street, Portland

HO 288 Place Citation Report Page 4

HO63 / H0238 ANZ Bank (former Union Bank), 44 Percy Street, Portland, Glenelg Shire– Stables at rear

The former Union Bank of Australia was constructed in 1856 to a John Barrow design. The bank building itself is

of architectural significance as a finely crafted building executed in local bluestone. The retention of the fence,

rear walling and stables is of importance.

The former Union Bank is of historical significance for its association with the commercial development of this

important early settlement in Victoria. Together with a number of other bluestone buildings in Portland built in

the 1850s and 1860s, it is illustrative of the period of the town's height of prosperity. The stables at the rear of

the former Union Bank are two-storey, the second level has a casement style timber door at the dormer level.

HO59 Campbell's Store, Residence and Stables (former), 57 Percy Street Portland, Glenelg Shire –

Stables at rear

The single storey bluestone store, dwelling and outbuildings at 57 Percy Street were originally erected in 1868

for Joseph Marriott. The store has operated continuously in this role for more than 100 years and the gable

facade of fine axed bluestone is a distinctive feature. The extensive side elevation with interesting fenestration

and verandah, the outbuildings, well and pump are also notable. The stables at the rear are two-storey and

constructed of bluestone, with timber dormer doors. The stables are in good condition.

HO51 Residence and stables, 21 Hurd Street, Portland, Glenelg Shire – Stables at rear

The complex of buildings at 21 Hurd Street comprising timber cottage (erected 1862), ruined cottage and

stables (erected c.1855) form a most distinctive residential group and date from the early development of

Portland. A statement of significance is not available for this place. The stables at the rear are two-storey and

constructed of bluestone, with timber dormer doors. The stables are in good condition.

Summary

The comparative analysis indicates that bluestone stores, stables and outbuildings of the early period of

Victorian settlement have the potential to be historically and aesthetically (architecturally) significant.

Statement of significance

What is significant?

The Bluestone Store at the rear of 19 Henty Street, Portland, is significant to the Glenelg Shire. In particular the

following elements are significant:

• The bluestone walls of the building.

• The bluestone archway, windowsill and doorway on the northern (front) of the building

• The shape and form of the hipped roof of the Bluestone Store.

How is it significant?

The Bluestone Store at the rear of 19 Henty Street is significant for its ability to demonstrate the principal

characteristic of a type of place (HERCON Criterion D) and for its aesthetic characteristics (HERCON Criterion

E)

Why is it significant?

The Bluestone Store at the rear of 19 Henty Street is significant for its ability to demonstrate the principal

characteristics of a type of place (HERCON Criterion D). This building represents a fine example of colonial

Georgian bluestone vernacular buildings designed for functional commercial purposes.

Heritage Citation Report – Bluestone Store, rear 19 Henty Street, Portland

Bluestone Store, rear 19 Henty Street, Portland

HO 288 Place Citation Report Page 5

The Bluestone Store at the rear of 19 Henty Street is significant for its aesthetic characteristics (HERCON

Criterion E). The remnant walls of the building, particularly the front wall within 19 Henty Street evokes the

period when Percy and Henty Street was the hub of mercantile and commercial activity in the 1860s to 1890s.

Recommended Controls (2016)

External Paint Controls yes

Internal Alteration Controls No

Tree Controls No

Fences & Outbuildings No

Prohibited Uses May Be Permitted Yes

Incorporated Plan No

Aboriginal Heritage Place No

References

Bennett, G 1993. Portland Now and Then A Guide to Portland's Historic Buildings. Portland: Gwen

BennettBirmingham 1853

Birmingham, FW. 1853. Map of the Town of Portland, in the Colony of Victoria. Surveyed, etched on stone and

published by Frederick William Birmingham, December 1853.

Department of Lands and Survey 1948. Map of the Town of Portland, Parish of Portland, County of Normanby.

Drawn and Reproduced at the Department of Lands and Survey, Melbourne, Victoria.

Newspapers

Weekly Times Melbourne, Victoria : 1869 - 1954

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.