Many thanks to ex-Shire Engineer Bill Moore for this excellent article about the awards that you can see on the wall of the old Shire offices near the Visitor Information Centre.
Maldon at the time was a leader in the heritage field. In 1966, the National Trust designated Maldon as Australia’s first notable town. When the Maldon Planning Scheme was introduced in 1977, this was also an Australian first.
Will Maldon continue to lead the way when it comes to conservation of its built and natural environment? Let’s hope so!
Bill Moore, ex-Shire Engineer, Tarrangower Times
Maldon’s Awards
As you walk along the verandah of the 1960s brick building that was the former Shire of Maldon offices, have you noticed the two round metal plaques attached to the wall near the main door? These plaques are a part of Maldon’s recent history and are something that should be recognised and respected.
The two plaques commemorate awards made to Maldon by the Victorian Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects for town planning and for conservation.
After Maldon Township was recognised as Australia’s First Notable Town, the decision was taken to protect the buildings and environment by introducing the first comprehensive town planning scheme in Australia designed to incorporate historic urban conservation.
The State Government agreed to be responsible for drawing up and introducing the scheme and the actual work was done by the government department known as the Town and Country Planning Board. This department operated under the Minister for Planning.
A department officer by the name of John Buckley was given the job of researching and drawing up the scheme, which came into operation officially in 1977. The Shire of Maldon and the citizens and property owners within the Town had taken the brave decision to accept the controls proposed in the scheme but had expressed an opinion that funds should be available to property owners to cover the additional costs that were thought would be imposed by the stringent requirements.
Prior to the introduction of the planning scheme, the Town and Country Planning Board felt the need for a detailed examination of buildings covered by the scheme and so they applied for and received a government grant to carry out a ‘conservation study’.
This study recommended two things: the employment of a heritage adviser to help locals deal with the new rules and the establishment of a ‘restoration fund’ to help locals cover the costs they feared they would have to face.
So, when the Minister for Planning visited Maldon in November 1977 to officially launch the Maldon Planning Scheme he also announced the establishment of the Maldon Restoration Fund and the appointment of Nigel Lewis as the first architectural adviser. He also announced the setting up of the Maldon Restoration Fund Committee to oversee the management of the Fund and the general wellbeing of the project.
These were radical new moves in Australia and heady days for Maldon when the rest of the Country beat a path to our door to see first hand how it should be done.
This national recognition resulted in the awarding of the Institute of Architects Robin Boyd Award, commemorated by the bottom plaque. In 1979 it went to the Town and Country Planning Board and the Shire of Maldon in conjunction with the Ministry for Planning and Jacobs, Lewis and Vines for the Maldon historic conservation project, which was “…judged an outstanding contribution to the environment.”
The award was made at an exciting presentation evening held in the great hall at the Victorian State Art Gallery. The plaque was accepted by Maldon Shire Councillor Jock Comini accompanied by the Shire Engineer, John Buckley from the Town and Country Planning Board and Nigel Lewis.
The upper plaque marks the winning of the 1982 Walter Burley Griffin Award by Maldon for “…an outstanding contribution to the built environment.”
Once again, Councillor Jock Comini and the Shire Engineer travelled to Melbourne for a memorable presentation evening where Jock was called on to accept the award on behalf of the Shire, the Town and Country Planning Board and the Ministry for Planning.
At the time, some people felt that the ‘modern shire office building’ was not an appropriate place to mount the two plaques, but the Shire was very proud of its achievements and wanted to keep the awards close to its heart.
The exciting days of Maldon leading the country in historic conservation and town planning have now faded into the past and the people who made the brave decisions and fought for the recognition and preservation of Maldon have also faded into the past and have themselves become ‘historic relics’.
But these two plaques commemorate their foresight and if you value the Maldon environment we enjoy today then look at these two awards and thank the people who were responsible for them being placed there.
This article appeared in the Tarrangower Times, 15 December 2023.
