Maylands Town Centre

Statement of Significance

The Maylands Town Centre an area located on Eighth Avenue between the Railway Line and Guildford Road and Whatley Crescent from Seventh Avenue to Ninth Avenue, has the following values. Aesthetic Value • As an aesthetically pleasing and cohesive streetscape with a strong identifiable character that is largely consistent in form and scale. • For its collection of good examples of commercial premises that collectively illustrate Federation, Inter War and Post World War Two style and detail. Historic Value • As a good representative collection of buildings that illustrate the scale and form of commercial premises in the 20th century, which often included residential premises. • For the evidence it provides about the evolution of the town centre and district in key periods. • For its demonstration of the changing methods of retailing from the small corner shops within walking distance of most homes to the provision of more specialist stores. • For its association with some key individuals who helped to establish and shape the community. Social Value • The town centre is valued by the community for the ongoing provision of commercial services since the early 20th century. • Representativeness • As a good representative collection of early to mid 20th century commercial premises that developed within walking distance of transport. Physical Form in the Public Realm • The commercial premises, which (with the exception of some later developments) were predominantly developed in the period from 1900 to the 1930s and have retained there external form and most of the detail above the ground level façade. The defined period and nature of development has resulted in a consistent scale and form which is enlivened by a diversity of individual details in a cohesive streetscape.

Physical Description

The commercial and service function of Maylands Town Centre is fractured by major roadways and the railway. However, a sense of town centre does prevail along Eighth Avenue and Whatley Crescent. Eighth Avenue is main commercial strip in Maylands and whilst a number of original premises remain extant new development has occurred. Care has been taken to ensure that the new development does not unbalance the scale and form of the early buildings there is a sense of discordance in the built form as a result. The east side of Eighth Avenue presents with a more continuous built form, with the majority of the buildings having a nil-setback and interrupted only by a small number of developments at the southern end of the road. The west side of the road has far less coherent built form with only nos. 55 to 79 presenting as a continuous group with a nil setback. The original building stock dates predominantly from the late Federation / inter-war years with the buildings being mainly single storey with parapet facades of varying designs. Two storey building were introduced at an early stage with no. 193 Guildford Road at the southern end of Eighth Avenue being constructed in 1903 and the former Lyric Theatre being constructed in 1923. Contemporary development towards the northern end of Eighth Avenue all forms part of the 178 Whatley Crescent development and is a two storey mixed use development where the architectural design of the façade has been informed by the earlier design aesthetics of the street. The west side of the street has a wider variety of architectural forms including a free standing 1950s church, 1970s commercial development at the north western end of the street Eighth Avenue is a wide roadway with median strip, wide pavements with juvenile street trees and on street parking all contributing to the width of the road. The majority of the second storey developments are set back behind the main building line and the area benefits from a sense of openness and light. Eighth Avenue extends south east beyond Guildford Road. The commercial character no longer exists beyond the intersection however important services that were essential to the orderly functioning of the town were located south of the main commercial strip. The Town Hall is located on the south east corner creating a strong focal point of the intersection, especially as it is located opposite the striking two storey Central House at no. 193 Guildford Road. The former Salvation Army Hall (1910 Federation Free Style) and the former Police Station (1908, Federation Queen Anne) were also located along this section of Eighth Avenue. Whilst the southern section of Eighth Avenue has a sense of disconnection from the main commercial strip, important services that were part of the governance of Maylands were located at this point and therefore do connect with the town centre character. North of Eighth Avenue, beyond the railway line, is the key element of many views along Whatley Crescent and north along Eighth Avenue: the Peninsula Hotel on Railway Parade. The 1906 Federation Queen Anne building terminates the views along Eighth Avenue in either direction towards the railway station, the same for Railway Parade and northwards along Eighth Avenue. The grandeur of the architectural design and the landmark feature of the distinctive and prominent tower provides an architectural contrast to the relative simplicity of the commercial buildings along Eighth Avenue. The railway and station do sever the former hotel from the town centre physically but visually they are still connected. The Whatley Crescent shops, immediately to the east of the intersection with Eighth Avenue present as in intact group of commercial premises constructed between 1902 and 1924. The stores are variously double and single storey units, each with its own feature parapet wall. New development adding a second storey has occurred at the premises towards Eighth Avenue but due to the setback of the additional height, the new work has little impact on the presentation of the earlier buildings. Each shop front is presented in a slightly different manner but creates a coherent street scene.

History

Settlement in Maylands had slowly occurred since the late 1890s when the name first appeared on real estate plans produced by developers, Gold Estates of Australia. This company held the majority of the land in the future suburb of Maylands and the majority of the lots in Eighth Avenue were approved for subdivision in 1897. In 1898, after Mephan Ferguson established a factory on land he had purchased near the railway in the Maylands area and named Falkirk after his birthplace in Scotland, to supply pipes for the pipeline for the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme, work began on construction of Falkirk Siding to serve his factory. In August 1899, tenders were called for construction of Falkirk Railway Station, but in September the Railway Weekly reported that the proposed station would be named Maylands. As elsewhere, the railway station served as an impetus for suburban growth, and the population of Maylands increased to ‘about 100.’ by 1900. In the early 1900s, Maylands proved a popular residential suburb for workers at the newly established Midland Railway Workshops, as land was more affordable than in Midland Junction or Guildford, and the railway was a convenient means of transport for workers eager to fulfil the dream of owning their own home. As the residential area of Maylands continued to grow, more businesses were established to service the increasing population. In the early 1900s, through the World War One period, and into the inter-war period, the major area of commercial development in Maylands was in the vicinity of the railway station. The area north of the railway line had minimal commercial development with the exception of the Peninsula Hotel and a small commercial development at 209-213 Railway Parade. Initial development on Eighth Avenue and Whatley Crescent were likely to have been rudimentary timber and corrugated iron premises, however by the early 1900s several substantial premises combining residential and commercial premises were built. During the Inter War years there was more substantial development in the town centre. The Lyric Theatre built in 1923 is a prominent building from this period although demonstrating earlier stylistic features. Infill development occurred in the town centre and the enclosure of the former Railway Station masters house within the property at 198-202 Whatley Crescent is an example of the integration of earlier buildings within a later structure. In the period immediately following World War Two there was a significant population increase which led to further development in the town centre which saw the demolition of some earlier buildings. The Church of Christ at 41 Eighth Avenue is representative of this period. In the second half of the 20th century and in the 21st century the existing building stock has been adapted to accommodate different retail needs. The town centre which had been established to provide the basic necessities for a community within walking distance was no longer a viable model. As the community has evolved the businesses within the town centre have had to adapt and respond to changing demands. The 'Maymont' development on the south east corner of Eighth Avenue and Whatley Crescent has integrated residential accommodation into the town centre.

Integrity/Authenticity

High/Moderate

Condition

Generally Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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