The Fascine

Statement of Significance

Aesthetic Value – Importance to a community for aesthetic characteristics or importance for its ability through archaeological investigation to reveal obscure fabric due to subsequent alterations or additions and in so doing, reveal aesthetic characteristics of an earlier structure, either through design or setting. Aesthetic Value – importance for its creative excellence, innovation or achievement. Aesthetic Value – Importance for its contribution to the aesthetic values of the setting demonstrated by a landmark quality of having impact on important vistas. Aesthetic Value – Importance for the aesthetic character created by the individual components that collectively form a significant precinct. Historic Value – Importance as an example of technical excellence, innovation or achievement in a particular period. Research Value – Importance for its potential to yield information contributing to a wider understanding if the history of human occupation of the locality. Research Value –.Importance in demonstrating technical innovation or achievement. Social Value –Importance as a place high valued by a community or cultural group for reasons of social and cultural associations. Social Value –Importance in contributing to a community’s sense of space.

Physical Description

The Fascine is unique to the town of Carnarvon and is an essential townscape element to the character of Carnarvon. The survival of the town and its growth is heavily linked with the Fascine and the early settlement of the town was based around the Fascine.

History

The Fascine is a name derived from the Latin ‘bundle of sticks’ used to describe the timber pile retaining wall built to prevent erosion of the river bank in times of flood. In 1896 flood waters caused severe damage to Olivia Terrace and a tender was called to construct a protective bank. The final stage was completed in 1913. The timber was officially 18 feet long and nine inches in diameter, tied tightly at intervals. It was created to prevent flooding when the river was in full flow at high tide. The south arm of the river was closed off and stones added to the palm fringed sea wall which frames the calm water between the town and Babbage Island. The foot bridge (known as the Tramway) across from the Gascoyne Hotel (at the north end of the Fascine) was used to transport goods particularly wool from Dalgety’s Store (currently Gascoyne Office Equipment) from town out to the Mile Jetty. The vista as a whole is now affectionately known as ‘The Fascine’. Behind this wall, along what is now known as Olivia Terrace, public buildings, hotels and large business houses were built. A small jetty was built out into the river in 1884-85. A strip of parkland, with its string of coconut and cotton palms, represents the original port of Carnarvon and is now well used for residential and recreational purposes. These were planted by the early pioneers back in 1915, although most existing today were planted in 1962. The townscape is reinforced by two groups of buildings which front onto the sweep of Olivia Terrace. Many of these original houses are graceful, timber framed, weatherboard and corrugated iron houses with latticed verandahs and set in sub-tropical gardens. Quan Sing’s General Store of earlier vintage than the houses was interesting for its shuttered Pindan concrete walls and corrugated iron roof. Many of the houses that front the Fascine are considered to be important in the overall concern for there to be no radical change to the streetscape of the Fascine. They are collectively important for their positive contribution to the streetscape and the Fascine as well as their associations as townhouses to many of the early pastoral pioneers within the locality. These houses are independently listed within the Shire of Carnarvon Municipal Inventory and Shire of Carnarvon Town Planning Scheme No. 10.

Integrity/Authenticity

High/Medium

Condition

Good

Uses

Creation Date

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