More to Horsham’s commercial heritage than pub verandahs

Since the Draft Streetscape plan opened for public feedback last month, Horsham residents have responded enthusiastically to the concept of re-instating heritage balconies on the city’s hotels.

But the city’s heritage goes well beyond pub verandahs.

Buildings on Horsham’s commercial streets are populated with an array of unique heritage design features from leadlight windows and mosaic tiles to parapets, brickwork and paint colours.

Horsham Rural City Council Mayor Robyn Gulline said many still remained today, however they were covered by steel cladding or signage.

“We have a good mix of shop fronts with varying architectural styles and from different eras contributing to the heritage and vibrancy of the shopping experience. Restoring and enhancing these features can improve the visual appeal of our city and offer a compelling reason for people to visit,” she said.

“For example, in Ballarat paint was removed from the former Reid’s Coffee Palace to reveal the original brickwork and a heritage paint colour scheme was used to highlight the building’s design features.”

“In Horsham, there are a number of beautiful parapets throughout the town that are candidates for restoration.

“There is opportunity to remove metal sheet cladding where original parapets exist behind to reveal original detailing,” Cr Gulline said.

Part of a broader Central Activity District Revitalisation project, the Draft Streetscape Plan also proposes stronger advertising signage rules in the city centre.

“Advertising signage has a major impact on the quality of town’s environment. Poor advertising signage outcomes can severely detract from the heritage environment and the visual quality of a town centre,” the draft plan says.

“Advertising signage needs to be consistent, reduce visual clutter and should be designed so as not to detract from the heritage architecture or grain of the streetscapes with inappropriately located and overly large signage.

“Simple and clear guidance can be given to business owners to help them determine the appropriateness of their signage.”

Would you like to see original shop facades reinstated? Take a look at the draft plan and have your say.

Submissions close 5pm Friday 25 March.

/Public Release. View in full here.