Scammell House and Wormbete Homestead tapped for heritage register

HISTORIC properties in Torquay and Winchelsea would become part of the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR) through a recommendation in the latest stage of the Surf Coast Shire’s Heritage Study.
Councillors received a report on Stage 2C of the study at their meeting on Tuesday this week.
As part of the study, the council engaged consultants Ecology and Heritage Partners to carry out cultural heritage assessments of the 14 places presently covered by a Heritage Overlay within the Surf Coast Planning Scheme but without a statement of significance.
A permit is required under the Heritage Overlay to subdivide land, demolish or remove a building, construct a building or carry out works, or externally alter a building. Four of the properties are also subject to internal controls and a permit is required to internally alter these buildings.
The report recommends Scammell House at 24 Pride Street, Torquay (unique in Victoria for having part of a registered historic shipwreck forming such a substantial part of its structure) and Wormbete Homestead including outbuildings and gardens at 565 Winchelsea-Deans Marsh Road, Winchelsea (one of the few surviving pastoral properties in Victoria to have a main building dating from the 1840s) be nominated to Heritage Victoria for inclusion in the VHR as they have been assessed as potentially significant to the state of Victoria.
The Heritage Council of Victoria determines which places are included in the VHR and considers whether a place is of state-level significance.
The Victorian Register Assessment Process involves public advertising of the nomination and recommendation, which enable people to make submissions and request a formal review.
According to the report presented to councillors on Tuesday, both properties are recommended for nomination, but an outcome will take some time.
“Heritage Victoria have advised that there is currently a long list of nominations and an assessment of new nominations may not occur for two to three years.”
The 12 other places covered by the overlay are:

• Ballanclea/Ballinclea homestead, 250 Ballanclea Road, Barrabool
• Tasman homestead, 755 Barrabool Road, Barrabool
• Wescott’s Stable, 850 Barrabool Road, Barrabool
• Foymount homestead, 795 Barrabool Road, Barrabool
• Berramongo, 100 Crooks Road, Barrabool
• Stanbury Barn, 130 Devon Road, Barrabool
• Merrawarp homestead, 50 Honeys Road, Barrabool
• Bellbrae Cemetery Monumental Masonry, 65 School Road, Bellbrae
• St Thomas Anglican Church and school room, 31 Barwon Terrace, Winchelsea
• Murdeduke Homestead, 730 Cressy Road, Winchelsea
• Winchelsea Uniting Church and Manse, 30-34 Hesse Street, Winchelsea, and
• Colonial bank, 33 Main Street, Winchelsea.