Nillumbik Heritage Review: Stage A
Heritage Review
Expert Witness
Nillumbik Shire Council
Nillumbik Shire, VIC
Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country
Nillumbik Shire includes outer suburbs, farmland, and forest reserves, and is characterised by its commitment to preserving its bush ambience and environment.
Postwar suburban expansion in the former Eltham Shire area attracted families who built homes by emerging builders, architects and landscape designers, featuring innovative, environmentally-conscious designs that shaped the local landscape.
In 2020, GML Heritage (then Context) was engaged by Nillumbik Shire Council to conduct the Nillumbik Shire Heritage Review: Stage A, an assessment of up to 38 potential heritage sites identified by an earlier review in 2013.
From early orchard houses, essential rural town structures like hotels, halls and general stores, to artists’ residences and studios, the Stage A review explored diverse place types spanning the twentieth century. The Diamond Valley Miniature Railway and Christmas Hills War Memorial highlight the diverse community life.
The review also assessed postwar architect-designed residential buildings and landscapes by prominent builders, architects, environmental designers and landscape designers, including examples influenced by the international Modernist and the highly regarded regional ‘Eltham style’.
A total of 21 places were found to be of local significance through the review.
In late 2023, the planning panel recommended the adoption of Amendment C149nill to implement the recommendations of Nillumbik Shire Heritage Review: Stage A (Context, 2021) and Nillumbik Shire Heritage Review: Stage B (Trethowan, 2022). The Shire of Nillumbik adopted and submitted the amendment to the Minister for Planning in March 2024, with a decision expected in late 2024.
