Gulf Station is significant as one of the most complete surviving complexes of farm buildings of vernacular timber construction in Victoria. Special to this farm complex are the early timber post and rail fences. Carpenter Matthew Jeffery, together with a dedicated team of Gulf Station volunteers, is progressively undertaking vital repairs to these fences. Traditional methods of fence construction are being applied to these repairs including hand splitting using steel wedges, the use of an axe to make posts and rails and the use of a frow to make pickets, slabs and palings.
Custodianship
The National Trust are custodians of a diverse range of properties with shared heritage values spanning natural, Indigenous and historical significance. Our aim is to provide leadership in heritage to the community and industry by displaying best practice in the conservation, activation and management of these cherished sites.
Current Projects
Labassa Tiles
Labassa, Caulfield, is one of Melbourne’s most lavishly decorated nineteenth century mansions. It resulted from extensive remodelling in 1890 of an earlier house known as Sylliott Hill. Labassa is significant for its outstanding assemblage of late nineteenth century and early twentieth century European interior and exterior decoration, which is remarkably intact. One of these important features is the tessellated tiling to the front balconies. On the upper balcony, the edges of these tiles have deteriorated and a number have been lost. An important project is to reinstate the missing tiling to return the upper balcony to its original glory. A key component of this will be sourcing replacement tiles, which will need to be manufactured overseas.
McCrae Homestead Chimneys
Built in 1844 by lawyer Andrew McCrae and his artist wife Georgiana, the Homestead is a rare example of drop slab construction. Made from materials such as messmate, stringybark and wattle, the homestead was sold to the National Trust in 1970 by Georgiana’s great-great-great grandson.
The low-fired brickwork of the chimneys at McCrae is suffering from salt attack with both rising and falling damp. Conservation specialist David Young has reviewed the chimneys, recommending works spanning roof repairs, the removal of modern paint coatings, drawing out the salts from the brickwork and consolidating the brickwork with lime water, as well as repainting the brickwork with a lime wash.
Past Projects
Mills Cottage Conservation Works
A DELWP Living Heritage Grant was awarded to the National Trust in 2017 to undertake interior and exterior conservation works to the cottage. The works were completed in September 2018.
Como Windows
Como House commenced in 1855 and was completed in the early 1870s as the home of the Armytage family. Restoration of the two main windows to the tower were completed at the end of 2019. These repairs required specialist joinery, glazing and painting skills.
