A permanent heritage overlay will protect a significant piece of Geelong’s history following the Council’s decision to support an Independent Panel recommendation to adopt a planning scheme amendment.
Responding to the threat of demolition in 2020, the City sought an interim heritage overlay for 12-16 Kinsmead Street, Waurn Ponds, to protect Claremont Homestead while a permanent heritage overlay was prepared.
Planningamendment C422ggee, proposing a permanent overlay, was placed on public exhibition and 36 written submissions were received.
The submissions raised a range of issues including suitability of the heritage overlay, building condition, future development of the site, changes to the Design Guidelines for the site, traffic impacts from future development and financial impact of the heritage overlay.
Council considered the submissions at its July meetingand agreed to refer them to a Planning Minister-appointed Independent Panel which has recommended a permanent heritage overlay apply to protect Claremont’s historical significance.
Claremont was designed by local architects Shaw and Dowden, and built in 1857 for Thomas Powell, an Irish carpenter who became a successful businessman and then farmer.
The City will now submit the adopted Amendment C422ggee to the Minister for Planning for approval.
Deputy Mayor Trent Sullivan
Geelong has a rich and diverse history, and the community expects the Council to protect the City’s heritage buildings.
One of the few surviving, intact Victorian dwellings in Waurn Ponds of that era, Claremont became home to four generations of the Baum family from 1894 for more than 116 years.
The panel noted that there was no argument against the local level heritage significance of Claremont with three heritage experts supporting the significance of the place based on statements of significance.
There was a recommendation that there should be no additional permit exemptions applied to the overlay regarding the building, but an exemption should be included to enable the lopping and maintenance of the Norfolk pine to protect its health.
After considering the report at this week’s Council meeting, and agreeing with all panel recommendations, including some changes to the proposed document, design guidelines and schedule, the City adopted Planning Scheme Amendment C422ggee which will introduce the permanent heritage overlay.
Councillor Ron Nelson – Kardinia Ward
Protecting Claremont sends a clear message to the community and developers that the City values its heritage buildings and would take the necessary steps to protect our history.
We are proudly Australia’s only UNESCO City of Design and will continue to see the growth in clever and creative architecture across Greater Geelong.
However, we must also recognise historical properties like Claremont and ensure owners understand and value their significance.
