Streetscape Plan explores Horsham's lost heritage

Published on 25 February 2022

Horsham’s Central Activity District Revitalisation project has suggested several ways of improving the city centre including a proposal to investigate which high-profile buildings could have their heritage facades restored.

A Draft Streetscape Plan is now open for public feedback until March 25.

In the post-war years, many Victorian centres had an appetite for change, and ordered heritage features such as shop front balconies and verandahs to be removed in the name of modernisation. 

Sadly, Horsham was a prime example, and a Council by-law meant that all of Horsham’s hotels had lost their balconies by the mid-1950s.

The Draft Streetscape Plan recommends that pubs are not the only buildings that deserve assisted heritage consideration.

There are other previously prominent buildings that have been lost to visual clutter such as advertising signage, painted render and metal cladding.

The commercial heritage streetscape in Horsham provides an excellent opportunity for celebrating and promoting heritage and the city’s history.

The commercial streetscapes in Horsham are highly visible to the community and visitors to the region. An intact and well looked after heritage area is an excellent drawcard for tourism and attracting new business, shoppers and visitors.

^{This image shows original parapets (roofline walls) on top of Firebrace Street shops. Most remain today but are covered by metal cladding and signage.}

Facade improvements and restoration could include:

• Reinstating original features such as verandah posts and fretwork, recessed shop entries, window display cases, mosaic tiled or terrazzo entryways, leadlight windows, suspended signs under verandahs and render details
• Painting (where appropriate) consistent with the building’s style and period
• Removal of metal sheet cladding over original parapets to reveal original detailing
• Removal of paint and restoration of parapets
• Not painting originally unpainted surfaces

People can share their thoughts via an online form or by visiting an in-person consultation session at Roberts Place on Wednesday 2 March from 2pm to 4 and Thursday 3 March between 10am and 12noon.

Would you like to see original features such as heritage facades, verandah posts and fretwork reinstated? Take a look at the draft plan(PDF, 14MB) and have your say.

Images: Horsham Historical Society