Old buildings the pillar of Jacob’s career

WITH a significant portfolio of heritage conservation work under her belt, architect Wendy Jacobs has been named one of Zonta Ballarat’s Great Women honourees for 2021.

Having graduated initially from Melbourne University in heritage conservation in 1976, Ms Jacobs commenced the firm Jacobs Lewis Vines with university mates Nigel Lewis and Elisabeth Vines.

“We had done heritage studies as part of our course and been very interested in it,” Jacobs said.

“Nigel had landed one of the early heritage studies in Melbourne so we started working together and formed the firm, which was one of the earliest workers in the field for heritage.

“We did the Ballarat heritage study in 1978 and that piqued my interest in Ballarat.”

Having undertaken the first heritage review of the city, Ms Jacobs said she decided to move here in 1987 and start her own practice working with residential alterations and restorations around town.

“I loved it, since then that’s where I’ve stayed,” she said.

“I’m pretty proud of things like the reconstruction of the verandas both at the Ballarat Mechanics Institute and on the outside of the Gallery which are reconstructions of the originals, they were not in the street scape 30 years ago and have really added to it.

“The project I’ve enjoyed the most is Reid’s Coffee Palace, which was amazing, I’ve done a bit of repair work over the years and finally getting the money to restore the interior was breathtaking.”

Although several Ballarat based projects stand out to her, Ms Jacobs said it’s always interesting to work the life story of any building and the personalities that have been there.

“This house of mine has a good feminist feel, it was the home of Joan Lazarus, who became Joan Rosanove, the first female QC in Victoria,” she said.

“Understanding the people who lived there is utterly fascinating as to why the house and the building has evolved to where it is, it’s a reflection of the people.

“Appreciating and have a deeper understanding about what is significant is really important, not just what is pretty and what is in poor condition, sometimes that is more interesting to appreciate.

Over her years as a working architect and conservation researcher, Ms Jacobs said in contrast to when she finished her degree, the industry has developed to become increasingly encouraging of females within the field.

“I followed what I was interested in and I was lucky to have been able to make choices about what work I took on and where I went and very supported,” she said.

“It’s much better now, once people knew that you were doing the best you could and knew what you were talking about, they accepted you on the site and I’ve had amazing contractors, builders and engineers who I’ve had great working relationships with.

“I haven’t made heaps of money but it’s been really interesting and exciting, and the places I’ve seen and the people along the way have been great, there’s things much more important than a company car or a corner office.”