A CONTROVERSIAL decision to save a 1960s former south-west car dealership showroom from demolition has been praised in the latest Architect Victoria magazine as a rare example of recognising the importance of roadside heritage.
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The magazine reveals that a recommendation to Warrnambool City Council to protect the structure came after a panel of experts concluded the former Warrnambool Motors showroom on Raglan Parade was "a fine example of high-tech, low-camp American style roadside architecture".
It said that until this point Australian manifestations of roadside architecure had seldom been acknowledged by heritage experts.
Port Fairy-based heritage adviser to the council, Dr Timothy Hubbard, made his recommendation in late December 2007 on a developer's application to demolish the showrooms, a stone cottage and old bungalow on the site beside the showroom.
He said it demonstrated "the importance and emerging dominance of the motor car after the Second World War" and noted "its futuristic form which uses a dramatic structure to sell cars and as the work of the important local architect Bruce Auty".
The magazine also reveals the city council despite Dr Hubbard's advice, was reluctant to ask Planning Minister Justin Madden for interim heritage control over all three buildings on the site, instead relying on "goodwill".
Consequently the cottage and bungalow, both identified by Dr Hubbard as having historic links with the Lucas family who built the showroom, were demolished and a concrete tower at the rear of the showroom removed. The cottage was described as "isolated" and the inter-war bungalow as "unremarkable".
The magazine said the showroom remained not only as evidence of post-commercialism in Warrnambool, but "also of a notable (if minor) heritage battle that saw consultants wading through uncharted waters".
Simon Reeves, who was one of the experts consulted by Dr Hubbard, reveals in the magazine a fascinating insight into the few weeks in December 2007 following the demolition application.
"While the average heritage consultant's fancy might have been drawn to the compromised stone cottage or the ramshackle bungalow, Hubbard instead eyed Bruce Auty's post-war motor showroom with interest," Mr Reeves said.
"Dr Hubbard knew vintage roadside archicture when he saw it."
This triggered a "mad dash" of collaborative research with Mr Reeves and other architects resulting in a five-page report which Dr Hubbard submitted to the council.
Interestingly Dr Hubbard, who has resigned from his consultancy with the council, also found similar architecture in a roadside diner while travelling the famous Route 66 in Arizona.
