Australian Capital Territory
Heritage (Decision about Provisional Registration of 15 Furphy Place, Garran) Notice 2008 (No 1)*
Notifiable Instrument NI2008— 67
made under the
Heritage Act 2004 s34 Notice of decision about Provisional Registration

1.	Name of instrument
This instrument is the Heritage (Decision about Provisional Registration of 15 Furphy Place, Garran) Notice 2008 (No 1).

2.	Commencement
This instrument commences on the day after notification.

3.	Notice of Decision
Pursuant to Section 34 of the Heritage Act 2004 the ACT Heritage Council has decided not to provisionally register 15 Furphy Place, Garran.

…………………………….
Dr Michael Pearson
Chair ACT Heritage Council
GPO Box 158, Canberra ACT 2602

6 March 2008

STATEMENT OF REASONS

DECISION REGARDING THE INCLUSION OF 15 FURPHY PLACE (BLOCK 42, SECTION 10, GARRAN) IN THE ACT HERITAGE REGISTER

Background
15 Furphy Place (Block 42, Section 10, Garran) was nominated for assessment pursuant to entry to the interim ACT Heritage Places Register in 2000. 

Council did not accord a priority to the assessment, and it remained in the backlog of nominated places until it was assessed as part of the Nominated Interim Heritage Place Register (IHPR) Project in 2004-05.  The nomination has now been considered and at Meeting 18 on 6 March 2008 the ACT Heritage Council endorsed a Statement of Reasons which does not find 15 Furphy Place, Garran eligible for provisional registration (heritage listing)  due extensive alterations and additions that have diminished of the original form and design of the dwelling.

Detailed reasoning of why 15 Furphy Place, Garran, does not meet the threshold for listing under the heritage criteria at Section 10 of the Heritage Act 2004 is included under Assessment.

Assessment
The Council’s assessment against the criteria specified in s.10 of the Heritage Act 2004 is as follows.

In assessing the nomination for 15 Furphy Place, Garran the Council considered:

•	The original nomination form provided by the nominator.   
•	Plans held by ACTPLA on relevant property files.
•	Materials held on file by Council on the Assessment File 04/15083, including documents relating to the development, history and function of the place.  
•	The physical evidence and surrounding context as ascertained from an onsite assessment on 27.7.2004 and 29.9.04 2004

In relation to the place:

Criterion (a) it demonstrates a high degree of technical or creative achievement (or both), by showing qualities of innovation, discovery, invention or an exceptionally fine level of application of existing techniques or approaches.

The nominator has indicated this criterion as ‘applicable’. 

Heritage Council assessment:  
15 Furphy Place, Garran, does not meet the threshold for heritage listing under this criterion.  The Council found that place would have met this criterion on the basis that it demonstrated innovative architecture; in its open planned interiors that demonstrated an innovative architectural response to the needs of the clients, and its modern architectural style.  However the subsequent degree of change to the place has diminished the ability of the attached dwellings to demonstrate these qualities. 

The same architect also designed the house at 13 Furphy Place at the same time as 15 Furphy Place; together the two houses had formed a group great architectural merit.  

Criterion (b) it exhibits outstanding design or aesthetic qualities valued by the community or a cultural group

The nominator has indicated this criterion as ‘applicable’.

Heritage Council assessment:
15 Furphy Place, Garran, does not meet the threshold for heritage listing under this criterion.  The Council found that the combination of the attached dwellings at 15 Furphy Place and 13 Furphy Place, Garran, were considered to exhibit design and aesthetic qualities valued by the RAIA as demonstrated by the award of the C S Daley Medallion in 1969.

The assessment has found that the original attached dwellings at 15 Furphy Place were a good example of the Late Twentieth-Century International style (1960-).  They still exhibit architectural elements specific to the style, including cubiform overall shape and plain smooth wall surfaces, though the later is a different finish to the original.  

The following design features were of additional significance; the roof form and continuous fascia with overhang for shade; open carport that contrasts with the solid masonry form of the house and courtyard walls, and the integration of the carport roof incorporating the timber pergola with the house as a whole; face brick return walls; contrasting texture of the timber panelling; the fenestration; original open planned interiors; original detailing, and finishes.

The dwellings now only retain the overhang for shade and some of the glazing and no longer demonstrate the original style.

Criterion (c) it is important as evidence of a distinctive way of life, taste, tradition, religion, land use, custom, process, design or function that is no longer practised, is in danger of being lost or is of exceptional interest

The nominator has indicated this criterion as ‘not applicable’.

Heritage Council assessment:
15 Furphy Place, Garran, does not meet the threshold for heritage listing under this criterion.

Criterion (d) it is highly valued by the community or a cultural group for reasons of strong or special religious, spiritual, cultural, educational or social associations

The nominator has indicated this criterion as ‘not applicable’.

Heritage Council assessment:  
15 Furphy Place, Garran, does not meet the threshold for heritage listing under this criterion.

Criterion (e) it is significant to the ACT because of its importance as part of local Aboriginal tradition
The nominator made no claim against this criterion.

Heritage Council assessment:  
There is no evidence that 15 Furphy Place, Garran, is significant to the Aboriginal community.  15 Furphy Place, Garran, does not meet the threshold for heritage listing under this criterion.

Criterion (f) it is a rare or unique example of its kind, or is rare or unique in its comparative intactness
The nominator made no claim against this criterion.

Heritage Council assessment:  
15 Furphy Place, Garran, does not meet the threshold for heritage listing under this criterion.

Criterion (g) it is a notable example of a kind of place or object and demonstrates the main characteristics of that kind

The nominator has indicated this criterion as ‘not applicable’.  

Heritage Council assessment:  
15 Furphy Place, Garran, does not meet the threshold for heritage listing under this criterion.

Criterion (h) it has strong or special associations with a person, group, event, development or cultural phase in local or national history

The nominator has indicated this criterion as ‘not applicable’.

Heritage Council assessment:  
15 Furphy Place, Garran, does not meet the threshold for heritage listing under this criterion.

Criterion (i) it is significant for understanding the evolution of natural landscapes, including significant geological features, landforms, biota or natural processes

The nominator made no claim against this criterion.

Heritage Council assessment:  
	This criterion is not applicable.

Criterion (j) it has provided, or is likely to provide, information that will contribute significantly to a wider understanding of the natural or cultural history of the ACT because of its use or potential use as a research site or object, teaching site or object, type locality or benchmark site

The nominator has indicated this criterion as ‘applicable’.

Heritage Council assessment:  
15 Furphy Place, Garran, does not meet the threshold for heritage listing under this criterion.  The Council found that its architectural style and planning this building, prior to the extensive alterations and additions, could have been a valuable educational resource for designers and planners; its architecture was characteristic of the Late Twentieth-Century International style.  However, whilst the original building was a very good example of the style, however, it is no longer a good example and does not have significance in accordance with the criterion.  

Criterion (k) for a place—it exhibits unusual richness, diversity or significant transitions of flora, fauna or natural landscapes and their elements
The nominator made no claim against this criterion.

Heritage Council assessment:  
This criterion is not applicable

Criterion (l) for a place—it is a significant ecological community, habitat or locality for any of the following:
(i) the life cycle of native species;
(ii) rare, threatened or uncommon species;
(iii) species at the limits of their natural range;
(iv) distinct occurrences of species

The nominator made no claim against this criterion.

Heritage Council assessment:  
	This criterion is not applicable.

Conclusion
The ACT Heritage Council finds that 15 Furphy Place, Garran, is of insufficient heritage value to warrant provisional registration in the ACT Heritage Register.

Dr Michael Pearson (Chair)
ACT Heritage Council

6 March 2008