Former Mowbray College Patterson Campus

Former Mowbray College Patterson Campus

102-112 Centenary Avenue, Kurunjang

Heritage Council Registrations Committee

Hearing – 20 November 2013

Members – Helen Lardner (Chair), Tony Darvall, Peter Sagar

Decision of the Heritage Council

After considering a recommendation and the submissions and conducting a hearing, pursuant to Section 42(1)(a) the Heritage Council has determined that the place is of cultural heritage significance to the State of Victoria and should be included in the Heritage Register.

Helen Lardner (Chair) / Tony Darvall / Peter Sagar

Decision Date –15 January 2014

APPEARANCES/submissions

Executive Director, Heritage Victoria

Dr Kerry Jordan, Heritage Officer (Architectural History) appeared on behalf of the Executive Director.

The Executive Director also submitted a copy of a heritage appraisal of the place prepared by Lovell Chen for the Shire of Melton and dated October 2012.

Nominator

Mr Guy Murphy appeared on behalf of the nominators. He called Mr Norman Day to provide expert evidence.

Owner

Mr John Evans of Donaldson Trumble Chambers appeared on behalf of Heathdale Christian College. He called Mr David Bick and Mr Bruce Trethowan to provide expert heritage evidence.

Written submissions

Written submissions were received from:

• Melton City Council (including a letter from Lovell Chen Architects and Heritage Consultants);
• Mr Rohan Storey; and
• Mr Simon Reeves, Built Heritage Pty Ltd.

Introduction/background

The Place

1The Former Mowbray College Patterson Campus at Melton is a complex of Post-modern school buildings designed by the architect and critic Norman Day between 1982 and 1997.

Nominations

2A nomination for the entire school site (including the grounds) from Mr Guy Murphy, Ms Bernadette de Corte, Ms Dorothy Volk and Ms Naomi Merritt was accepted by the Executive Director on 30 August 2012.

Recommendation of the Executive Director

3On 22 March 2013, the then Executive Director, Dr Tracey Avery,made two recommendations regarding the Former Mowbray College site. She recommended that the complex of NormanDay designed buildings in the southern part, which she called the Former Mowbray College Patterson Campus, be included in the Victorian Heritage Register (‘the Register’). This recommendation was the subject of the hearing.

4The Executive Director also recommended that the remainder of the place, which she called Former Mowbray College Grounds, not be included in the Register.No submissions were received in relation to the Executive Director’s second recommendation and on 7 June 2013, the Heritage Council determined not to include the Former Mowbray College Grounds in the Register.

Site Inspection

5On 14 November 2013, the Committee made a site inspection accompanied by the Hearings Officerand Mr George Kogios of Heathdale Christian College. No submissions were received by the Committee during the inspection.

Issues

6This section is not intended to be a complete record of submissions that were made to the Committee. It is a summary of what the Committee considers to be the key issues, followed by an explanation of the position the Committee takes on each issue.

7Any reference to Criteria refers to the ‘Heritage Council Criteria for Assessment of Places of Cultural Heritage Significance’ (see Attachment 1 to this report).

Summary of issues

8The Executive Director, Mr Tim Smithand the nominators held that the place satisfies criteria D, E, F and H.

9Melton City Council was broadly supportive of registration but made submissions about the extent of registration, permit policy and permit exemptions.

10Heathdale Christian College held that the place does not satisfy the criteria for inclusion in the Register and that not enough time has elapsed since construction to assess the heritage significance of the place.

Age threshold

11The parties disagreed about whether the buildings at the place are old enough to be considered for inclusion in the Register.

Submissions and evidence

12Heathdale Christian College submitted that it is not appropriate to register the place because the buildings are too young. Heritage expert Mr Trethowan agreed, saying that it is not yet time to include works of architecture from this period in the Register, except in exceptional circumstances. He argued that rigorous assessment of a place can only be undertaken by individuals that were not involved in that era and can view places dispassionately.

13The Executive Director agreed that the buildings at the place are relatively young for consideration for inclusion in the Register. He noted that there is no lower age limit for inclusion in the register; however, as a general principle a generation (approximately 25-30 years) is considered appropriate. The oldest buildings at the school are 30 years old, many are more than 25 years old and some are younger than this.

14The nominators submitted that there is precedence for places of this age (or younger) being included in the Register. For example, the Victorian Arts Centre (VHR H1500) and the Bangerang Cultural Centre in Shepparton (VHR H1082) are of a comparable age and there are at least half a dozen more registered places dating from the 1970s.

15The nominators submitted that if the Heritage Council is to protect outstanding examples of significant architectural styles from all periods, consideration must be given to important late twentieth century buildings.

Discussion and conclusion

16The Committee considered that the age of buildings at Mowbray College was not a determining factor. Section 8(1)(c) of the Heritage Act 1995 requires the Heritage Council ‘to develop, revise and publish from time to time the assessment criteria to be used in considering the cultural heritage significance of places and objects and determining whether those places or objects warrant inclusion in the Heritage Register’. Hence the Committee focused their consideration on assessing the Mowbray College nomination against the Heritage Assessment Criteria (2008).

Extent of Registration

17The Committee received submissions about the appropriate extent of registration for the place.

Submissions and evidence

18In their letter to Melton City Council, Lovell Chen argued that it is unnecessary to include a strip of land to the north if the buildings on this land do not contribute to significance or form part of a significant setting to the complex of buildings.

19In the Executive Director’s view, the strip of land recommended for inclusion forms an appropriate curtilage to the significant buildings.

20The nominators submitted that they considered it acceptable for the extent to be reduced to make this strip narrower so long as the remaining curtilage was not less than 5 metres from the northern-most Day-designed building.

21The nominators also submitted that the former headmaster’s residence and land south of the main complex of school buildings should be considered for inclusion in the Register. These submissions were outside the scope of the hearing as the Heritage Council has already made a decision in relation to these places (see paragraphs 2 to 4).

Discussion and conclusion

22The Committee shares the Executive Director’s view that the strip of land forms an appropriate curtilage to the significant buildings and has adopted the extent of registration as recommended (see Attachment 4).

Criterion D - Importance in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of cultural places and objects

23The parties disputed whether the place was an important example of Post-modernism and/or an important example of 1980s school design.

Submissions and evidence

Post-modernism

24The Executive Director submitted that the place satisfies criterion D as a notable, highly intact and highly influential example of Post-modernism in Victoria. He argued that the place has a clear association with architectural Post-modernism - a movement of importance in Victoria’s history.According to the Executive Director, the place is an exemplar and unique intact collection of consistently-designed Post-modern buildings. He argued that the characteristics of Post-modern architecture are evident in the fabric.

25The Executive Director submitted that at the time of the school’s construction,it was well-known in architectural circles and widely published in architectural literature as a notable example of Post-modernism. The Executive Director noted that a bibliography provided with the nomination, while not exhaustive, gives an indication of the interest generated by the project.

26Lovell Chen’s heritage appraisal argued that the place is a rich, innovative and assured example of architectural Post-modernism, its contextual approach referencing and celebrating Australian building typologies, forms and materials and the characteristics of the local Melton area.

27Comparative analysis with other Post-modern buildings, conducted both by the Executive Director and Lovell Chen, has identified Mowbray College as one of the key examples of the style in Victoria. Similarly, Rohan Storey submitted that Mowbray is one of the most important and representative examples of Post-modernism in Victoria.

28The nominators submitted that the place is unique for the number of buildings on the site which inventively represent the Post-modern style. It was noted by the nominators that the place is highly intact to its original design and construction.

29The nominators also submitted that Mowbray College is an important, extensive and highly intact Victorian example of the international architectural movement of Postmodernism. Mr Murphy argued that there is no other site in Victoria where Post-modernism is represented in such a rich, varied and extensive way as this complex of 26 buildings designed by Norman Day. He submitted that the importance of the place is demonstrated by the reportage in architectural media and argued that it is not unreasonable to consider how a place was viewed by the architectural profession at the time of its construction.

30In a letter submitted by the nominators, Professor Philip Goad of Melbourne University held that the College is an important example of the large scale and extensive adoption of Post-modernism for institutional buildings in Victoria. In his view, the College is more identifiably Post-modern in its use of symbolism than other contemporary examples.

31In Heathdale Christian College’s view, comparative analysis of other Post-modern buildings in Victoria necessary to establish the significance of the place has not been undertaken. The College also held that the reliance of the Executive Director on contemporary press, awards and the views of peers is not sufficiently independent or detached to reach a view about significance.

32In Mr Bick’s opinion, Post-modernism was not particularly popular in Victoria and was not used for a long period. He also submitted that there are a large number of examples of Post-modern buildings in Victoria and his evidence included images of a number of these.

33In Mr Bick’s view, mention of a place in an architectural journal does not necessarily equate to acclaim.In response, the Executive Director submitted that the architectural profession identifies those places that it considers to be important and acknowledgement by the profession is generally a reliable guide to a place’s value. The former Mowbray College has been identified by highly respected architects, architectural historians and heritage experts including Professor Philip Goad, Conrad Hamann, Simon Reeves, Rohan Storey, Jennifer Taylor and Graham Jahn as an outstanding example of late twentieth century architecture.

1980s school design

34The Executive Director submitted that the Former Mowbray College is an inventive and intact example of 1980s school design and planning and an important example of the reforming school designs of the period. He submitted that the buildings were designed to provide an informal and humanised educational environment reflecting contemporary educational ideals and drawing on the notion of the school as a village.

35According to the Executive Director, changes in school design in Victoria since the nineteenth century reflect the vast social and educational changes that have occurred. Since the 1970s, traditional educational values of order and discipline have been challenged by more progressive methods. The Executive Director submitted that the former Mowbray College campus is a fine and intact example of a late twentieth century school in Victoria, and illustrates a number of significant features of these places such as:

• a design influenced by the school and the community as much as by the architect; and
• village-like planning.

36Lovell Chen’s heritage appraisal, submitted by the Executive Director, argued that the place is a sophisticated and inventive example of 1980s school planning. The design draws on the notion of school as village to deliver an outcome which was highly responsive to the needs and philosophies of its community. Lovell Chen argued that the design stands as a ‘vigorous and convincing contribution to a current of reforming school designs of that period’.[1]

37The nominators submitted that Mowbray College is a unique and unusual example of the school as building type and exhibits the key elements of the school typology in a novel way. They submitted that the place is unique in Victoria for its use of the metaphor of a village in its internal planning. Mr Murphy argued that it is a notable Victorian example of a school of this date and that this is demonstrated by the extensive reportage it received in the contemporary architectural press.

38In Heathdale Christian College’s view, the comparative analysis necessary to establish the significance of the place as a contemporary independent school in Victoria has not been undertaken. Mr Bick agreed, arguing that it cannot be ascertained whether this is an innovative or unusual design and that the Executive Director has not been detached enough in his judgement.

39Heathdale Christian College submitted that the buildings at Mowbray College are utilitarian in nature and typical of other school designs. The nominators refuted this, arguing that while the buildings serve a functional purpose, it cannot be said that they have been designed without concern for the aesthetic. The buildings have a high degree of architectural content, achieving aesthetic effects through the use of form and careful choice of materials.

40According to Mr Bick, the use of detached buildings was not simply a stylistic prerogative at Mowbray. He argued that it was also the cheapest way of school building as it avoided requirements such as emergency lighting and fire-proof construction that would be required for a single building with multiple classrooms. He also argued that new cluster house planning, such as that exhibited at Winter Park (VHR H1345), may have influenced the design of the school.

41In Mr Bick’s view, the Norman Day designed buildings are not intact - a courtyard has been built over, the staffroom extended, former principal’s office demolished and the canteen enlarged. The nominators refuted this claim, arguing that change comprises almost exclusively small scale infill in only a small number of locations affecting only a few buildings. It was considered by the nominators that the impact of this infill is negligible given its limited extent and reversible nature. It was noted that no building on the site that was designed by Day has been demolished.

Discussion and conclusion

42The Committee finds that criterion D is satisfied.

43Post-modernism is a movement of importance in Victoria’s history. It has made a strong and noticeable contribution to the pattern of Victoria’s environment – evidenced by all of the examples of places included in submissions. The place demonstrates the characteristics and these are evident in the fabric. Mowbray College is a notable, highly intact and highly influential example of Post-modern design in Victoria.

441980s school design is reflected in the informal and humanising educational environment which created the idea of the school as a village. The 80s are well published and Mowbray College is an inventive and intact example of 1980s school design and planning and an important example of the reforming school designs of the period.

Criterion E - Importance in exhibiting particular aesthetic characteristics

45The parties disputed the place’s aesthetic significance. Many of the submissions relevant to this criterion have been recorded above at the discussion of criterion D.

Submissions and evidence

46The Executive Director considered this criterion to be satisfied due to the recognition given tothe place’s aesthetic qualities by the architectural profession. This recognition came in the form of architectural awards acknowledging the quality of the project and critical acclaim in architectural literature.

47The Executive Director submitted that the former Mowbray College Patterson Campus is intact and has been described as 'Melbourne's most joyful set of postmodern structures'.[2]

48Simon Reeves submitted that the place is significant as the first new Australian school to receive notable repeat coverage in the international architectural press.

Discussion and conclusion

49The Committee finds that criterion E is satisfied.

50The Committee considered that as an extensive collection of buildings, Mowbray College exhibits particular aesthetic characteristics associated with Post-modernism in an innovative way. It is awell resolved design and the combination of buildings, their layout and setting is of aesthetic merit. Further,the Committee accepted evidence that the place had been the subject of critical recognition by Philip Goad, Jennifer Taylor, Graham Jahn and others. The Committee also found that the aesthetic characteristics had not been irreversibly degraded through changes to the fabric of the place.

Criterion F - Importance in demonstrating a high degree of creative or technical achievement at a particular period

51The Committee received submissions about the whether the place demonstrated a high degree of creative achievement.

Submissions and evidence

52The Executive Director submitted that former Mowbray College Patterson Campus is an inventive and rich complex of school buildings which demonstrate a high degree of creative architectural achievement for the period in which they were designed. The Executive Director submitted that the place has a high degree of integrity and is widely regarded as an innovative and influential project. It was noted again that it received considerable attention in the architectural press and was the recipient of several major architectural awards.

53The nominators agreed, submitting that the designwas influential and innovative in the sophistications and originality of its referencing (suburban, international and rural).

54Professor Goad noted that the planning and architectural language employed at Mowbray College is significant. He argued that the idea of an ‘urban village’ that might grow organically is unusual and innovative for the time.

Discussion and conclusion

55The Committee finds that criterion F is satisfied.