24 C O N T E X T 8 7 : N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 4 and, on the other hand, giving owners a legitimate avenue of objection if they think that the assessor got it wrong. The management of significant places and objects is helped enormously by a clear statement of their Patrick Miller is registrar, HeritageVictoria significance, although it must be admitted that a defective statement is often worse than no statement at all. Finally, it should be recognised that statements can and should be updated to reflect new information or perspectives. Place Bendoc Union Church Address 16 Nichol Street, Bendoc Extent of registration 1. All the building known as the Bendoc Union Church marked B1 on Diagram 60842 held by the Executive Director. 2. All of the land marked L1 on diagram 60842 held by the Executive Director being all of the land described in Certificate of Title Volume 2113 Folio 593. Statement of cultural heritage significance What is significant? The Bendoc Union Church was opened in October 1903 on a site donated by Norman Cameron, a district farmer and one of the original trustees. Bendoc is a remote settlement originally developed in the 1850s as a gold settlement, and later as a farming and timber town. Union, or multidenominational, churches are relatively rare in Victoria. Bendoc Union Church is a simple timber building, constructed of local hardwood including sawn hardwood weatherboards. A projecting vestry faces the street. The original shingle roof has been replaced with corrugated iron, and only part of one of the finials (originally crosses) remains. The bargeboard detail and elaborate entry doors with hand-forged hinges are of interest. Internally, the church is substantially intact. The walls are of whitewashed sheet metal nailed to the studs. The ceiling, of ripple iron, features vent grilles which have been hand punched in a simple decorative pattern. The church still operates as a union church, with the building held in trust for the local farming and town community. Today it is used by Anglicans, Presbyterians and Catholics. How is it significant? The Bendoc Union Church is of historical, social and architectural importance to the State of Victoria. Why is it significant? The Bendoc Union Church is historically and socially important as a rare and perhaps unique surviving example of a union church still used for its original purpose and still owned by a community trust. It is an important manifestation of a remote rural locality’s response to community needs and continues to serve in this capacity. The Bendoc Union Church is of architectural importance as a vernacular church building reflecting available materials and local craftsmanship. Only the western doors and the decorated bargeboards have any pretensions. The hand-punched ceiling vent grilles are of architectural interest. The use of sawn hardwood weatherboards is unusual in the wider Victorian context, but typical in the East Gippsland region with its timber resources. The high degree of intactness of the building adds to its significance.
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