AN ICONIC Lake Wendouree home, designed by a famous 1960s architect, will remain standing after the City of Ballarat rejected an application to demolish the property.
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The property at 436 Wendouree Parade was designed by the late Robin Boyd in 1960, and eventually built by Ronald and Dorothy Selkirk in 1964.
The home, which is currently for sale at an asking price between $1.65 million and $1.75 million, is the only example of Boyd’s work in Ballarat and one of few in regional Victoria.
Described as a “visionary” of his time, Boyd was considered an Australian leader when it came to design and architecture.
The council will on Wednesday vote to apply for an interim heritage protection overlay and discuss what is needed to get permanent heritage protection for the property.
The council commissioned a heritage professional to prepare a report, which found the property should have permanent heritage protection.
It is not known who currently owns the property, or who submitted the application to demolish it.
Built Heritage architectural consultant Simon Reeves said in his assessment of the property that it should receive permanent heritage protection.
“As an example of Boyd’s work, the Selkirk house is ultimately unique in Ballarat and relatively rare in a broader Western Victorian context,” Mr Reeves said.
“The Selkirk house remains an early and important survivor of Ballarat’s post-war modernist residential architecture.”
Local historian Dr Anne Beggs-Sunter commended the council for its stance and said it would be a tragedy to lose such an important piece of Ballarat’s cultural history.
“Robin Boyd came from the famous Boyd family, who has been so important in Australian cultural history. He was one of our most important architects,” Dr Beggs-Sunter said.
“He was a real exemplar of modernism, particularly in residential design, and this was the only house he designed in Ballarat ... for the Selkirk family.
“I am glad the council has opposed the application to demolish such a property.”
With an interim protection order application currently lodged, Heritage Victoria will determine if the property should be placed under state heritage protection.
Heritage Victoria will then complete a heritage review to determine if the property receives permanent state heritage protection through the Victorian Heritage Regsiter.
patrick.byrne@fairfaxmedia.com.au