4/5 Suvendu D. 5 years ago on Google
Heritage
Hill
Precinct
is
of
local
historical
and
cultural
significance,
reflecting
the
course
of
the
City
of
Greater
Dandenong’s
cultural
history.
Laurel
Lodge
(1869),
Benga
(1936)
and
St
James’
Anglican
Church
(1864)
offer
a
glimpse
into
the
everyday
lives
of
a
group
of
prominent
locals
who
lived
in
the
region
during
the
late
nineteenth
and
early-to-mid
twentieth
centuries.
Today
Laurel
Lodge
and
Benga
offer
visitors
opportunities
for
learning,
participation
and
creative
endeavour
through
tours,
classes
and
exhibitions.
Additionally,
they
regularly
welcome
artists
for
short-term
residencies
to
create
new
work
that
is
inspired
and
influenced
by
the
real
and
imagined
histories
of
their
temporary
studios.
History
of
Benga
House
Designed
by
renowned
architect
Fredrick
Ballantyne
and
built
by
Norman
Taylor
in
the
Tudor
Revival
style,
Benga
expresses
the
aspirations
and
developments
in
domestic
housing
during
the
inter-war
period.
At
the
time
of
its
construction,
it
was
to
be
the
largest
and
most
expensive
house
built
in
the
Shire
of
Dandenong
for
over
a
decade.
Through
it
we
can
explore
the
social
life
of
the
well-to-do
family
who
resided
there
for
more
than
50
years.
Benga
was:
24
squares
comprising
seven
rooms
Deliberately
situated
on
the
south-eastern
corner
of
the
site
to
maximise
the
northern
aspect
and
to
ensure
that
nothing
would
interfere
with
the
garden's
exposure
to
the
winter
sun
Built
on
an
L-plan,
with
the
lounge,
dining
rooms
and
the
bedrooms
situated
in
the
northern/sunny
side
of
the
house
and
the
service
areas,
including
the
maid's
quarters,
kitchen
and
bathroom
positioned
on
the
southern/cool
side
Today,
much
of
Benga
serves
as
a
community
access
gallery
with
beautiful,
professional
exhibition
spaces
available
to
artists
to
exhibit
their
works.
Benga
also
offers
visitors
an
opportunity
to
explore
life
during
the
inter-war
period
through
the
intricate
design
of
the
house,
period
rooms
and
through
access
to
Heritage
Hill’s
oral
history
collection.
The
collection
includes
tapes
and
transcripts
of
more
than
300
interviews
with
a
cross-section
of
people
from
the
City.
These
oral
histories
are
available
to
researchers
and
anyone
wishing
to
listen
to
the
life
stories
of
past
and
present
residents.
Access
to
the
collection
is
via
prior
arrangement
only.
Heritage
Hill's
Gardens
The
gardens
of
Heritage
Hill
are
a
part
of
Dandenong’s
history.
As
well
as
providing
attractive
settings
for
the
historic
buildings
they
help
us
understand
how
people
in
the
past
related
to
their
environment.
The
gardens
of
Laurel
Lodge,
Benga
and
St
James'
Church
are
all
quite
different,
reflecting
the
desires
of
their
creators
and
the
diverse
uses
to
which
they
were
put.
Domestic
gardens
have
been
an
important
feature
of
Australian
life
since
European
settlement,
both
as
a
source
of
food
and
as
a
place
of
beauty
and
recreation.
In
country
towns
house
blocks
of
one
acre
allowed
plenty
of
room
for
large
trees,
a
vegetable
plot,
fruit
trees,
a
poultry
run
and
perhaps
a
cow
or
horse.
It
was
also
fashionable
to
have
large
garden
beds
full
of
flowers
to
produce
a
‘show’
of
massed
annuals
and
perennials.
The
Benga
Garden
was
designed
and
tended
to
by
Mrs
Hart
for
over
50
years.
It
exists
today
as
an
exceptional
representation
of
1930s
garden
design
with
its
compartmentalised
areas,
ornamental
trees
and
shrubs,
a
formal
rose
garden,
perennial
garden
beds
within
expanses
of
lawn,
formally
designed
paths,
a
pergola
and
a
sun
dial.
The
garden
has
not
been
significantly
altered
since
the
1930s
and
is
a
noteworthy
survival
of
a
garden
reflecting
the
period
of
its
creation,
designed
and
maintained
by
an
enthusiastic
amateur
gardener.
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