Heritage & the Yarra Planning Scheme
Want to know the heritage signifance of where you live, work or socialise?
Every building of cultural significance in Fitzroy has been assessed and graded according to its heritage contribution. This has been compiled into the Victorian Heritage Database. The database should be available through Yarra Council’s or Heritage Victoria’s websites.
In a recent development the National Trust has said they wish to open a branch in Yarra, with many of their paid-up members living here. Please contact them if you would be interested to be a part of their Yarra chapter.
The grading of all buildings in Yarra is according to their ‘significance’. They can either be individually significant, contributory significant or not contributory. In other words, in dealing with planning applications the objective is to encourage the retention of a building in heritage places, that is ones that are ‘individually significant’ or contributory’ heritage places. The highest level we have in Fitzroy is “World Heritage Environs” level, which applies to the sites in the “environs” area of the UNESCO World Heritage site that is the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens.
(Nicholson Street and Gertrude street.)
2 Comments
The guidelines now state clearly that rear / rooftop additions should generally not be seen from across the street. This will actually be a major change from what happens at the moment, though mostly what is visible is not too intrusive. They now clearly state total demolition would not generally be approved, but unfortunately do not specifically deal with what has become a common practice – keeping only three walls, rebuilding everything new, with any formerly visible roof just being rebuilt, sometimes just the front bit. They currently state that for a contributory building, visible elements, including main roof form, should be retained, which virtually allows the current practice. Better to have a new clause / line stating something like ‘at least front two rooms should generally be retained intact’, like the MCC guidelines ? (though facading happens there too).
Hello, anyone interested to learn the historical significance of their house can also contact the Fitzroy Historical Society who keep excellent records on all of Fitzroy.