AN ICONIC Lake Wendouree home, designed by a famous 1960s architect, will be protected permanently after the City of Ballarat voted to approve a heritage overlay on the property.
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Described as a “visionary” of his time, Robin Boyd was considered an Australian leader when it came to design and architecture.
Alan Morton, of Morton Dunn architects in Ballarat, praised the City of Ballarat’s decision to protect the unique house, at the council meeting on Wednesday night.
Mr Morton said the social, cultural and historical significance of the house was “invaluable”.
“Opinion is clearly divvied on the merit of this building,” Mr Morton said. “Even this week there have been calls to ‘bulldoze the box’. But this building has much to offer by the way of education, understanding, appreciation and context.”
Mr Morton said he hoped the outside of the house would be restored to its former glory.
His view was echoed by Ballarat councillor Belinda Coates.
“Interestingly, in the 50s and 60s there were very few architecturally designed homes of this nature in regional and rural areas,” Cr Coates said. “Over time, we learn how significant these buildings are to the rich cultural history of our city and how important it is that we protect their legacy.”
Cr Glen Crompton said while at first glance the house might mirror other homes of its vintage, its link to a “truly great Australian architect” was indisputable.
The move to implement permanent protection of the property followed a submission to demolish the house last October.
Three submissions were received opposing a permanent heritage overlay, with one submitter likening it to the Commonwealth Bank building, on the corner of Sturt and Lydiard Street, before it was revamped.
Ballarat council’s general manager of city strategy, Natalie Reiter, said consistent with all other properties heritage listed in Ballarat, the house would only have external controls, allowing for works on the interior to be undertaken at any time.
The property, at 436 Wendouree Parade, was designed by the now late Robin Boyd in 1960, and eventually built by Ronald and Dorothy Selkirk in 1964.
Described as a “visionary” of his time, Boyd was considered an Australian leader when it came to design and architecture.
The City of Ballarat will now write to the Victorian Planning Minister, Richard Wynne, seeking permission to solidify the permanent heritage overlay.
melissa.cunningham@fairfaxmedia.com.au
