Relocation for heritage listed clerk’s bench at court house

A PLANNING application for the Wonthaggi Court House has been lodged with Heritage Victoria for ‘removal of significant Deputy Clerk’s bench to onsite storage room, demolition of original stepped platform, and installation of larger scale replica bench’.

More specifically, the proposal includes:

• Record, label and relocate existing Deputy Clerk’s bench to 01.07 storeroom.

• Demolish stepped platform and makegood flooring and carpet to match existing.

• Installation of a new free standing Deputy Clerk’s bench to match existing courtroom furniture.

According to Architectural Plans submitted with Heritage Victoria, a pre application site visit was undertaken in February 2023, with pre application advice issued by a Permits Officer regarding an early proposal to adapt the existing Deputy Clerk’s bench to suit the OH&S and accessibility requirements of the working Court House.

The advice noted an overall discomfort in the modification of the heritage fabric, with Heritage Officers having ‘serious concerns’ regarding the alterations to the clerk’s bench and want to achieve the lowest impact outcome possible.

It was concluded that the proposed storage of the original and existing Deputy Clerk’s desk and replacement with a new fit for purpose desk is essential for original and ensuring use of the Wonthaggi Court House, and will have no adverse impact on the places noted of cultural heritage significance.

The application states The Wonthaggi Court House is a unique and essentially intact example of a ‘Georgian Revival Style Court House designed and constructed during the inter-war period’.

‘Its simplified and refined classicism is characteristic of the Georgian Revival style during the inter-war period.

‘The Wonthaggi Court House also demonstrates the popularity of the Georgian Revival style which was employed on a range of buildings including the Emily MacPherson College of Domestic Economy, also designed by E Evan Smith, which won the Royal Victorian Institute Architects Street Architecture Medal in 1930.’

Submissions close on Tuesday, June 20, and the permit can be viewed at www.heritage.vic.gov.au/protecting-our-heritage/currently-advertised-permits