Why is it significant?

    Architecturally, the 1942 weatherboard house is an intact and rare example in Maroondah of an early modern design by notable architects Meldrum and Noad with an asymmetrical form, tiled intersecting roof gables and banks of floor to ceiling windows taking advantage of garden and mountain views, with the living room connected to the outdoors with glazed double doors. The front porch is embellished with open-work timber posts in stripped Regency revival style lending an air of gentility favoured by Melbourne’s upper classes in the 1930’s and early ‘40’s.

    Aesthetically, for the retention of the elevated ‘hill station’ garden setting with mountain views, mature trees and shrubberies (even after loss of parts of the garden to no’s. 1 and 7 Wonga Roads), for the rubble stone “Thalloo” stone gateway at the fork of Wonga and Warrandyte Roads.

    Historically, the garden at 3-5 Wonga Road, and the stone gateway and remnant drive at 1 Wonga Road are significant as original elements of the 1.5 acre pleasure garden with a tennis court developed during the 1920’s-30’s by F.W. Parker, garden enthusiast and later a notable Ringwood councillor and Mayor, the garden then maintained and further developed by the Turners’ from 1940 until its c1980’s subdivision.

    The 1942 Turner house at 3-5 Wonga Road is historically significant for its association with distinguished architect Percy H. Meldrum and for illustrating the cultural appreciation of garden design in the 1940’s and the Turners’ ‘hill station’ way of life and social values.

    What does the Amendment do?

    The Amendment applies heritage protection to a section of 1 Wonga Road, Ringwood North and to 3-5 Wonga Road, Ringwood North.

    In particular, it:

    • Amends Planning Scheme Map No.1 to apply HO146 to 1 Wonga Road and to 3-5 Wonga Road, Ringwood North on a permanent basis into the Maroondah Planning Scheme.

    • Amends the Schedule to Clause 43.01 Heritage Overlay -HO146 to delete reference to the interim control and replace the document ‘3-5 Wonga Road, Ringwood North Statement of Significance, 22 June 2018’ with ‘Statement of Significance HO146, 3-5 Wonga Road and 1 Wonga Road, Ringwood North, 22 June 2019 ’.

    • Amends the Schedule to Clause 72.04 - Documents Incorporated in this Planning Scheme to replace the existing document ‘3-5 Wonga Road, Ringwood North Statement of Significance, 22 June 2018’ with document 'Statement of Significance HO146, 3-5 Wonga Road and 1 Wonga Road, Ringwood North, 22 June 2019‘ 

    It is relevant to note that the Statement of Significance differs from the Gazettal document as part of C127 as it includes reference to 1 Wonga Road and it deletes reference to the stone retaining wall along the Warrandyte Road public footpath adjacent to the sites of 1 and 3-5 Wonga Road. 

    In accordance with Council’s Heritage Advisor assessment it identifies that the rock wall along Warrandyte Road, dating from the 1960s, is of interest as homage to the earlier stone driveway wall and gateposts and for some landmark qualities in its own right.   

    Why is the Amendment required?

    The Amendment is required to protect local heritage significance at 1 Wonga Road, Ringwood North and 3-5 Wonga Road, Ringwood North.

    A heritage assessment of the site/s has concluded the site/s as having local heritage significance worthy of its inclusion in the Schedule to the HO. The site/s are of architectural, aesthetic and historical significance to the Maroondah municipality.

    Specifically, the heritage significance of 3-5 Wonga Road includes:

    • The former “Thalloo” early modern house, completed in 1942; and
    • Trees numbered 10, 14, 16, 17, 22 and 23 shown in Figure 2.

    The heritage significant of 1 Wonga Road includes:

    • The “Thalloo” stone gateposts with wrought iron name plate and gate at the entrance of 1 Wonga Road and the 13-meter-long stone walled driveway.

    Council has recently commenced a municipal wide Heritage Study Review and the initial draft study has identified these two properties as requiring heritage protection. In light of the immediate risk to the existing dwelling and garden at 3-5 Wonga Road, Ringwood North a separate detailed assessment of the heritage significance of the site at 3-5 Wonga Road Ringwood North was undertaken as a matter of priority which resulted in the introduction of the interim heritage controls.