INNER URBAN 1
MOONEE PONDS, ASCOT VALE & FLEMINGTON
MOONEE VALLEY Neighbourhood
Character Guidelines
PREFERRED CHARACTER STATEMENT
New developments will contribute to the consistent building definition
by complementing the siting and appearance of period dwellings in low
garden settings.
PRECINCT DESCRIPTION
The streets of this precinct have strong public realm characteristics, with
pedestrian friendly streetscapes. Buildings are high in quality and are a key
feature of streetscapes due to their prominence behind smaller front setbacks
and low front fences. Architectural styles predominantly comprise Victorian
and Federation era buildings located in modest sized lots. A well defined
building pattern exists due to consistent front setbacks and low front fencing.
New development and additions to existing dwellings are sensitive and
contribute to the existing older dwellings. Quiet streets, grassy nature strips
and consistent footpaths emphasise the pedestrian friendly environment,
which is also enhanced by the formal subdivision layout, and minimal vehicle
crossovers.
The use of lighter finishes will contribute to the traditional palette of
materials. Consistent front and side setbacks will respect the existing
siting patterns along the streets, while low or permeable front fences will
retain views to dwellings and front gardens. Garages and carports will be
nonexistent to retain the continuous, uninterrupted footpaths and solid
building edge to the streets.
PRECINCT AREAS
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
DESCRIPTIONS
Architectural styles
Victorian, Edwardian or Interwar periods with
some contemporary infill.
Building materials
Predominantly timber, weatherboard or brick
with steel or iron rooftops and ornate details.
Building form and layout
Articulated front facades with recesses,
setbacks, timber detailing and verandahs.
Roof style
Gabled or hipped roof styles with prominent
eaves. Some properties have a parapet.
Setbacks
Some areas are built up to the boundary with
zero setbacks, otherwise consistent front
setbacks of at least 2m.
Predominantly no side setbacks. Some
properties have narrow side setbacks of 0.51m from one side boundary.
Building height
1 to 2 storeys.
Garages, carports and
outbuildings
Generally no off-street parking space is
provided.
ŠŠ
Garden style
Private gardens are well-maintained, and
feature ornamental and cottage styles.
Loss of older buildings that contribute to the valued character of the
precinct.
ŠŠ
Loss of mature trees and vegetation, including street trees.
ŠŠ
Loss of street parking by the creation of additional vehicle crossovers.
ŠŠ
Additional car parking and crossovers that disrupts footpaths.
ŠŠ
Large areas of impervious surfaces around dwellings.
ŠŠ
Development that allows for extended spaces between dwellings.
ŠŠ
Development that breaks the general rhythm of built form along the
street with inconsistent setbacks.
ŠŠ
New developments that do not contribute to the character of the
street.
ŠŠ
Poorly designed extensions that do not make a positive contribution to
the streetscape.
ŠŠ
Inconsistent use of building materials.
ŠŠ
Unarticulated facades and blank walls.
ŠŠ
High, solid front fencing that restricts views of front gardens and
dwelling facades from the street.
Front fencing
Street layout and public
realm
Low or transparent front fencing, up to 1.2m in
height and predominantly timber picket.
Streets have an older Victorian / Federation
base with a formal grid layout and bluestone
or concrete kerbs and channels.
Street trees are planted where space is
provided on the nature strips. Some areas
of the precinct have formally planted avenue
style street trees which are valued by the
community.
Footpaths are aligned to the property
boundary and nature strips are either narrow
or nonexistent.
COMMUNITY VALUES
ŠŠ
Established gardens.
ŠŠ
Pedestrian and cycling friendly streets with laneways and fine grade
subdivision patterns.
ŠŠ
Historic streetscapes.
ŠŠ
Intact and well-maintained older buildings.
ŠŠ
Mature and tall street trees.
ŠŠ
Continuous footpaths with bluestone kerbs and channels.
ISSUES / THREATS
INNER URBAN 1
MOONEE PONDS, ASCOT VALE & FLEMINGTON
MOONEE VALLEY Neighbourhood
Character Guidelines
DESIGN GUIDELINES
CHARACTER
ELEMENTS
OBJECTIVE
To encourage the retention of intact,
older period dwellings that contribute
to the character of the area.
Architectural styles
Building height,
form and layout
Building materials,
design and details
Roof styles
Siting and setbacks
Garages, carports
and outbuildings
Garden styles
To ensure that new development
is designed to complement the
identified values of existing older
buildings that date from the late 19th
to early 20th century.
To ensure that new buildings and
extensions do not dominate the
streetscape, and make a positive
contribution to the prevailing scale
and form of existing buildings.
To ensure new dwellings positively
respond to the preferred building
styles of the precinct.
To ensure new dwellings complement
the predominant roof styles of the
street.
To maintain and reinforce the
predominant building alignment along
the street.
Retain intact and good condition Victorian,
Federation and Interwar dwellings where possible.
This is particularly important if the dwellings are
located in a significant character area.
New development should complement the building
forms and siting of older, original dwellings. This
is particularly important if the new development
is in a significant character area, adjoins a site
containing an existing heritage building or is
located in a Heritage Overlay area.
AVOID
Replacement of older dwellings with
buildings that do not respect the
key characteristics of the remaining
traditional dwellings.
Mock historical style housing with
excessive use of ‘reproduction’ or
decorative detailing.
Distinguish new development, including additions
to existing buildings, from original dwelling stock
through the use of contemporary design details.
Apart from areas within close proximity to
shops, activity centres and principal public
transport networks, buildings should respect
the predominant height and form in the street
(generally two storeys).
Buildings that exceed two storeys at
the front facade.
Use lighter finishes to complement the
predominant palette of materials in the area (eg.
reds, creams, browns and greens).
Excessive decoration and historic
reproduction styles.
Use finishes and colours that contribute to the
streetscape and emphasise design details.
Blank walls and facades.
Visually bulky new developments
and extensions.
Heavy masonry finishes.
Buildings less than three storeys should provide a
pitched roof; in areas where parapets occur, this
may also be appropriate.
Flat roof forms without eaves.
Orient dwellings parallel to the street.
Loss of a defined built form edge
along the front boundaries of the
street.
Where no front setbacks exist, construct buildings
up to the boundary to reinforce the alignment
along the street edge.
Loss of consistent front setbacks.
Buildings set at an angle to the
street.
To minimise disruptions to footpaths
and creation of additional crossovers
where there is none.
Do not construct additional driveway crossovers.
Additional driveway crossovers.
To maintain and strengthen the
garden settings of dwellings.
Plant and retain vegetation around dwellings.
Loss of established vegetation and
space for planting along setbacks
To minimise the loss of front garden
space.
Minimise paving in front garden areas.
Excessive use of impervious
surfaces.
If required, provide a low, open style front fence
up to 1.2m in height, and constructed of materials
appropriate to the dwelling style and era, such as
timber picket.
High front fencing
To retain the spaciousness of the
streetscape and views to dwellings
and gardens.
Front fencing
DESIGN RESPONSES
To complement the predominant style
of fences in the street.
To delineate the front boundary of
properties.
Retain established or mature trees where possible.
INNER URBAN 2
ASCOT VALE
MOONEE VALLEY Neighbourhood
Character Guidelines
PREFERRED CHARACTER STATEMENT
New developments will assist in establishing a consistency in this
precinct, while contributing to the established garden settings.
Buildings will be articulated through the use of recesses, windows and
materials. The use of light finishes and materials will contribute to the
existing palette of materials. Consistent front and side setbacks will
enhance the existing siting patterns along the streets, while low or
permeable front fences will retain views to dwellings and front gardens.
PRECINCT DESCRIPTION
The streets of this precinct have strong garden settings and larger lots,
complemented with a broad spectrum of building styles. This includes
Victorian, Edwardian, Bungalows, Postwar dwellings, ‘six-pack’ flats, and
contemporary units. Buildings are clearly visible behind low set gardens and
front fences, therefore making an important contribution to the streetscape.
PRECINCT AREA
Gardens are well established, with tall trees planted throughout properties.
Despite the variety of buildings, a sense of character is achieved by the wide
lawn spaces, low front fences and regularly planted street trees.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
DESCRIPTIONS
Architectural styles
Victorian, Edwardian and Interwar, with some
Postwar and contemporary reproduction-style
infill.
Building materials
Predominantly weatherboard or brick with
corrugated iron or tile roofing. Materials vary
depending on the era of development.
Building form and layout
Articulated front facades with recesses,
setbacks, timber detailing and verandahs.
Roof style
Gabled or hipped roof styles with prominent
eaves.
Setbacks
Generous front setbacks of 7 to 12m.
Narrow to moderate side setbacks of 0.5 to
3m from at least one side boundary.
Building height
1 to 3 storeys
Garages, carports and
outbuildings
Single crossover access, with driveways to the
side of the property.
Garages and carports are usually located
behind the front dwelling facade.
ISSUES / THREATS
Garden style
Low and established gardens, with lawns and
formal planting.
ŠŠ
Loss of older buildings that contribute to the valued character of the
precinct.
Front fencing
Low or transparent front fencing, and
appropriate to the style of the building.
ŠŠ
Loss of mature trees and vegetation, including street trees.
ŠŠ
Loss of front garden space.
ŠŠ
Large areas of impervious surfaces around dwellings.
ŠŠ
Spacing of development that breaks the rhythm of the street
ŠŠ
Side setbacks that are not in keeping with the prevailing
ŠŠ
New developments that do not contribute to the character of the
street.
ŠŠ
Poorly designed extensions that do not make a positive contribution to
the streetscape.
ŠŠ
Inconsistent use of building materials.
ŠŠ
Unarticulated facades and blank walls.
ŠŠ
High, solid front fencing that restricts views of front gardens and
dwelling facades from the street.
COMMUNITY VALUES
ŠŠ
Established gardens.
ŠŠ
Pedestrian and cycling friendly streets with laneways and fine grade
subdivision patterns.
ŠŠ
Historic streetscapes.
ŠŠ
Intact and well-maintained older buildings.
ŠŠ
Mature and tall street trees.
ŠŠ
Continuous footpaths with bluestone kerbs and channels.
INNER URBAN 2
ASCOT VALE
MOONEE VALLEY Neighbourhood
Character Guidelines
DESIGN GUIDELINES
CHARACTER
ELEMENTS
OBJECTIVE
To encourage the retention of intact,
older period dwellings that contribute
to the character of the area.
Architectural styles
Building height,
form and layout
To ensure that new development
is designed to complement the
identified values of existing older
buildings that date from the late 19th
to early 20th century.
To ensure that new buildings and
extensions do not dominate the
streetscape, and make a positive
contribution to the prevailing scale
and form of existing buildings.
Building materials,
design and details
To ensure new dwellings positively
respond to the preferred building
styles of the precinct.
Roof styles
To ensure new dwellings complement
the predominant roof styles of the
street.
DESIGN RESPONSES
Retain intact and good condition Victorian, Federation
and Interwar dwellings where possible.
New development should complement the building
forms and siting of older, original dwellings. This is
particularly important if the new development adjoins
a site containing an existing heritage building or is
located in a Heritage Overlay area.
Distinguish new development, including additions to
existing buildings, from original dwelling stock through
the use of contemporary design details.
Respect the predominant height and form in the street
(generally two storeys).
Articulate the front facades of buildings through the
use of setbacks, recesses, windows and materials.
Use lighter finishes to complement the predominant
palette of materials in the area (eg. reds, creams,
browns and greys).
Use finishes and colours that contribute to the
streetscape and emphasise design details.
Buildings less than three storeys should provide a
pitched roof with prominent eaves.
Siting and setbacks
To maintain the traditional
appearance of a single house from
the streetscape when proposing more
than one dwelling on a site.
Replacement of older dwellings
with buildings that do not
respect the key characteristics
of the remaining traditional
dwellings.
Mock historical style housing
with excessive use of
‘reproduction’ or decorative
detailing.
Buildings without articulated
front facades.
Buildings that exceed two
storeys at the front facade.
Visually bulky new developments
and extensions.
Excessive decoration and
historic reproduction styles.
Blank walls and facades.
Flat roof forms without eaves.
Buildings set further forward
than the average setback of the
two adjoining dwellings.
To maintain and reinforce the
predominant front boundary setback
pattern in the street.
To maintain the side boundary
setback pattern and the existing
spacing between dwellings.
AVOID
Set back dwellings at least 1.5m from one side
boundary.
Orient dwellings parallel to the street.
Loss of consistent front and side
setbacks.
Boundary to boundary
development.
No reflection of the predominant
side boundary setback pattern.
Buildings set at an angle to the
street.
Garages, carports
and outbuildings
To minimise the loss of front garden
space and the dominance of car
parking structures.
Set back garages, carports and outbuildings behind
the line of the front dwelling façade.
Garden styles
To maintain and strengthen the
garden settings of dwellings.
Plant and retain vegetation around dwellings.
Minimise paving in front garden areas.
Retain established or mature trees where possible.
Dominant car parking structures
within the front setback area.
Excessive use of impervious
surfaces.
Loss of established vegetation
and space for planting along
setbacks
To retain the spaciousness of the
streetscape and views to dwellings
and gardens.
Front fencing
To establish a predominant style of
fencing in the street.
To delineate the front boundary of
properties.
Provide a low or open style front fence constructed of
materials appropriate to the dwelling style and era.
High front fencing