What is significant?
Barunah Plains including the homestead, stables, dairy and bakehouse, coach house, engine house, farm shed, manager’s cottage, cottage, woolshed, shearers’ quarters, suspension bridge, gardener’s cottage, orchard shed, water tanks, meat houses, rams’ shed and remnant garden.
History Summary
Barunah Plains developed into a substantial and prosperous farming complex after acquisition by brothers Thomas and Philip Russell, and their cousin John Simson, in 1851. Originally known as Long Water Hole, the land was a pastoralist run from the late 1830s and leased by James Austin from the late 1840s. During the nineteenth century the pioneering Russell family became extensive landowners in western Victoria and by the 1880s Barunah Plains had developed into a leading merino sheep establishment. A house was constructed on the site in 1867 to designs by local architects Davidson and Henderson, and substantial additions increased the size of the homestead in the boom period of the 1880s. Further additions designed by Geelong architects Tombs and Durran in 1903 contain outstanding Arts and Crafts style interiors. A number of substantial bluestone outbuildings, including a large woolshed, were constructed at the property as it developed into a successful farming complex.
The 20,000 hectare property was reduced to about half its size after soldier settlement subdivision in 1949, however successive generations of the Russell family continued to live at Barunah Plains until 1978. In the 1990s a golf course was added to the property and this operated as a tourist facility for a period of time.
Description Summary
Barunah Plains is a farm complex situated on the Warrambine Creek. It includes a large single storey, bluestone homestead which has been constructed in stages. It consists of a number of protruding bays, turret-like roofs and a return verandah which address lawned areas to the north and east. Exceptional Arts and Crafts detailing can be seen throughout the house, in particular in the west wing and central ballroom, where outstanding examples of stained timber, metal and tile work and stained glass are located. Interior detailing from the boom period has also been retained, including embossed wallpaper in the main entrance and a timber lined coved ceiling in the billiard room.
A number of original outbuildings and structures have been retained. The majority are constructed of bluestone, including a large t-shaped woolshed, stables, dairy and bakehouse, coach house, farm shed, rams’ shed, manager’s house, cottage and water tanks. A corrugated iron clad engine house contains original electrical power plant machinery.
Remnants of the original formal homestead garden and parkland remain. Early structures include a suspension bridge over the Warrambine Creek.
This site is part of the traditional land of the people of the Kulin Nation.
How is it significant?
Barunah Plains is of historical, architectural and aesthetic significance to the State of Victoria. It satisfies the following criterion for inclusion in the Victorian Heritage Register:
Criterion A
Importance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria’s cultural history.
Criterion D
Importance in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of cultural places and objects.
Criterion E
Importance in exhibiting particular aesthetic characteristics.
Criterion H
Special association with the life or works of a person, or group of persons, of importance in Victoria’s history.
Why is it significant?
Barunah Plains is significant at the State level for the following reasons:
Barunah Plains is historically significant for its association with the early settlement of Victoria, with the development of its important wool industry and for its long association with the Russell family from 1851 to 1978. As one of the most successful merino sheep studs in Victoria, the property is associated with the heyday of the pastoral era in Victoria and the prosperity of the Western District pastoralists in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. [Criteria A]
Barunah Plains is architecturally significant for the homestead and its collection of intact outbuildings which help to illustrate the various activities undertaken at the property. Together with the homestead, these buildings display excellent craftsmanship in the execution of stonework. [Criterion D]
Barunah Plains is of aesthetic significance for its outstanding Arts and Crafts interiors, in particular in the ballroom and rooms in the west wing. The interiors of these additions were executed in a highly distinctive Federation Arts and Crafts style and contain unique hand-crafted fittings and elements. [Criterion E]
Barunah Plains is significant for its long association, from 1851 to 1978, with the Russell family who were amongst the most successful settlers of Victoria’s Western District and instrumental in the development of the wool industry in Victoria. [Criterion H]
RECOMMENDATION REASONS
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDING INCLUSION IN THE VICTORIAN HERITAGE REGISTER [s.34A(2)]
Following is the Executive Director's assessment of the place against the tests set out in The Victorian Heritage Register Criteria and Thresholds Guidelines (2014).
CRITERION A
Importance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria’s cultural history.
STEP 1: A BASIC TEST FOR SATISFYING CRITERION A
The place/object has a clear ASSOCIATION with an event, phase, period, process, function, movement, custom or way of life in Victoria’s cultural history.
Plus
The association of the place/object to the event, phase, etc IS EVIDENT in the physical fabric of the place/object and/or in documentary resources or oral history.
Plus
The EVENT, PHASE, etc is of HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE, having made a strong or influential contribution to Victoria.
Executive Director’s Response
Barunah Plains has strong associations with the early pastoral settlement of Victoria and the development of the wool industry. A collection of buildings remains from this period to clearly demonstrate this association. The Western District pastoralists made a strong contribution in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to the prosperity and economic development of Victoria.
Criterion A is likely to be satisfied.
STEP 2: A BASIC TEST FOR DETERMINING STATE LEVEL SIGNIFICANCE FOR CRITERION A
The place/object allows the clear association with the event, phase etc. of historical importance to be UNDERSTOOD BETTER THAN MOST OTHER PLACES OR OBJECTS IN VICTORIA WITH SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME ASSOCIATION.
Executive Director’s Response
A number of early pastoral properties remain in Victoria and good representative examples are included in the Victorian Heritage Register. These include Titanga Homestead, Lismore (VHR H0299), Mawallok, Beaufort (VHR H0563), Meningoort, Camperdown (VHR H0300) and Purrumbete, Weerite (VHR H0301). Barunah Plains has the same association as these and has retained sufficient fabric to demonstrate the associations at least as well as those already included in the VHR.
Criterion A is likely to be satisfied at the State level.
CRITERION D
Importance in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of cultural places and objects.
STEP 1: A BASIC TEST FOR SATISFYING CRITERION D
The place/object is one of a CLASS of places/objects that has a clear ASSOCIATION with an event, phase, period, process, function, movement, important person(s), custom or way of life in Victoria’s history.
Plus
The EVENT, PHASE, etc is of HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE, having made a strong or influential contribution to Victoria.
Plus
The principal characteristics of the class are EVIDENT in the physical fabric of the place/object.
Executive Director’s Response
Barunah Plains has strong associations with the early pastoral settlement of Victoria and the development of the wool industry and a collection of buildings remains from this period to clearly demonstrate this association and illustrate the operation of a farming property in Victoria.
Criterion D is likely to be satisfied.
STEP 2: A BASIC TEST FOR DETERMINING STATE LEVEL SIGNIFICANCE FOR CRITERION D
The place/object is a NOTABLE EXAMPLE of the class in Victoria (refer to Reference Tool D).
Executive Director’s Response
The homestead, outbuildings and structures at Barunah Plains form an outstanding collection of farm buildings which are amongst the most intact such groups in Victoria. This collection displays excellent workmanship and detailing in bluestone construction which demonstrates the importance and permanence of these farm structures.
Criterion D is likely to be satisfied at the State level.
Criterion E
Importance in exhibiting particular aesthetic characteristics.
STEP 1: A BASIC TEST FOR SATISFYING CRITERION E
The PHYSICAL FABRIC of the place/object clearly exhibits particular aesthetic characteristics.
Executive Director’s Response
Barunah Plains contains a collection of intact interiors from 1903 that clearly exhibit the aesthetic characteristics of the Arts and Crafts period in Victoria.
Criterion E is likely to be satisfied.
STEP 2: A BASIC TEST FOR DETERMINING STATE LEVEL SIGNIFICANCE FOR CRITERION E
The aesthetic characteristics are APPRECIATED OR VALUED by the wider community or an appropriately-related discipline as evidenced, for example, by:
critical recognition of the aesthetic characteristics of the place/object within a relevant art, design, architectural or related discipline as an outstanding example within Victoria; or
wide public acknowledgement of exceptional merit in Victoria in medium such as songs, poetry, literature, painting, sculpture, publications, print media etc.
Executive Director’s Response
The Arts and Crafts period is widely acknowledged as an important phase in the development of architectural style in Victoria. The Arts and Crafts movement pursued good design and craftsmanship and commonly addressed decorative interiors of buildings.
The homestead at Barunah Plains contains outstanding Arts and Crafts interiors which contain distinctive and unique examples of hand-crafted fitting and elements. They include timber, metal and tile work and stained glass which clearly exhibit characteristics typical of this important early twentieth century period in Victoria.
Criterion E is likely to be satisfied at the State level.
CRITERION H
Special association with the life or works of a person, or group of persons, of importance in Victoria’s history.
STEP 1: A BASIC TEST FOR SATISFYING CRITERION H
The place/object has a DIRECT ASSOCIATION with a person or group of persons who have made a strong or influential CONTRIBUTION to the course of Victoria’s history.
Plus
The association of the place/object to the person(s) IS EVIDENT in the physical fabric of the place/object and/or in documentary resources and/or oral history.
Plus
The ASSOCIATION:
directly relates to ACHIEVEMENTS of the person(s) at, or relating to, the place/object; or
relates to an enduring and/or close INTERACTION between the person(s) and the place/object.
Executive Director’s Response
The Russell family was instrumental in the development of the wool industry in Victoria. Barunah Plains was occupied by this family from 1851 to 1978 during which time the property developed into a substantial and prosperous wool growing establishment.
By 1910 Barunah Plains was described as one of the finest wool growing estates in the Western District of Victoria in the publication The Pastoral Homes of Australia. The Russell-run property was consistently described as one of the leading merino fine wool sheep breeding establishments in the country. Throughout the first half of the twentieth century many detailed articles about Barunah Plains appeared in newspapers, highlighting its importance as a merino sheep stud. It was described as holding one of the oldest merino flocks in Victoria in The Australasian, September 1918. In 1937 it was described as the home of one of the most famous and perhaps best known and largest merino flocks in Victoria and in 1938 as one of the best and most valuable pure merino breeding studs in Australia.
Criterion H is likely to be satisfied.
STEP 2: A BASIC TEST FOR DETERMINING STATE LEVEL SIGNIFICANCE FOR CRITERION H
The place/object allows the clear association with the person or group of persons to be READILY APPRECIATED BETTER THAN MOST OTHER PLACES OR OBJECTS IN VICTORIA.
Executive Director’s Response
The association of Barunah Plains with the Russell family can be appreciated through documentary sources and the homestead and collection of outbuildings clearly show the association of the family with the Victorian wool growing industry. Together with the property Mawallock, Beaufort (VHR H0563), Barunah Plains has had associations with the Russell family for many generations.
Criterion H is likely to be satisfied at the State level.
PROPOSED PERMIT POLICY
Preamble
The purpose of the Permit Policy is to assist when considering or making decisions regarding works to a registered place. It is recommended that any proposed works be discussed with an officer of Heritage Victoria prior to making a permit application. Discussing proposed works will assist in answering questions the owner may have and aid any decisions regarding works to the place.
The extent of registration of Barunah Plains, Hesse in the Victorian Heritage Register affects the whole place shown on Diagram 2313 including the land, all buildings, roads, trees, landscape elements and other features. Under the Heritage Act 1995 a person must not remove or demolish, damage or despoil, develop or alter or excavate, relocate or disturb the position of any part of a registered place or object without approval. It is acknowledged, however, that alterations and other works may be required to keep places and objects in good repair and adapt them for use into the future.
If a person wishes to undertake works or activities in relation to a registered place or registered object, they must apply to the Executive Director, Heritage Victoria for a permit. The purpose of a permit is to enable appropriate change to a place and to effectively manage adverse impacts on the cultural heritage significance of a place as a consequence of change. If an owner is uncertain whether a heritage permit is required, it is recommended that Heritage Victoria be contacted.
Permits are required for anything which alters the place or object, unless a permit exemption is granted. Permit exemptions usually cover routine maintenance and upkeep issues faced by owners as well as minor works or works to the elements of the place or object that are not significant. They may include appropriate works that are specified in a conservation management plan. Permit exemptions can be granted at the time of registration (under s.42 of the Heritage Act) or after registration (under s.66 of the Heritage Act).
It should be noted that the addition of new buildings to the registered place, as well as alterations to the interior and exterior of existing buildings requires a permit, unless a specific permit exemption is granted.
Conservation management plans
It is recommended that a Conservation Management Plan is developed to manage the place in a manner which respects its cultural heritage significance.
Aboriginal cultural heritage
Under the Heritage Act 1995 permits are required for any works or activities which alter the place or object, unless a permit exemption is granted. This applies to all parts of the registered place including fabric associated with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal cultural heritage values.
If works are proposed which have the potential to disturb or have an impact on Aboriginal cultural heritage it is necessary to contact the Office of Aboriginal Affairs Victoria to ascertain any requirements under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006.
If any Aboriginal cultural heritage is discovered or exposed at any time it is necessary to immediately contact the Office of Aboriginal Affairs Victoria to ascertain requirements under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006.
Other approvals
Please be aware that approval from other authorities (such as local government) may be required to undertake works.
Archaeology
Ground disturbance may affect the archaeological significance of the place and, subject to the exemptions stated in this document, requires a permit.
Cultural heritage significance
Overview of significance
The cultural heritage significance of Barunah Plains, Hesse lies in its long history as an important Western District sheep stud. The large and intact collection of outbuildings and structures, many constructed of bluestone, make a significant contribution to the significance of the place. The significance of the homestead building lies in the main stages of its construction which are apparent in its external form and fabric, and in particular in its notable and highly intact Arts and Crafts interiors of the 1903 additions. This includes outstanding timber, metal and tile work and stained glass in the rooms of the west wing and the ballroom.
This section identifies buildings and features at the place and attributes a level of cultural heritage significance to them.
All of the buildings and features listed here are of primary cultural heritage significance in the context of the place. The buildings and features of cultural heritage significance are shown in red on the diagram. A permit is required for most works or alterations. See Permit Exemptions section for specific permit exempt activities:
homestead
stables
dairy and bakehouse
coach house
engine house (including garage)
farm shed
manager’s cottage
bridge
cottage
woolshed
shearers’ quarters
suspension bridge
gate
picket fence
gardener’s cottage
orchard shed
seven water tanks
three meat houses
hut and yard
rams’ shed
Share with your friends: | 
