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Myilly Point Precinct
2 Burnett Pl, Larrakeyah
General
Significance
Description
History
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Status
Permanent Declaration
Type
Place
Nominated
01/APR/93
Nomination Accepted
10/MAY/93
Assessment Report Considered
06/JUN/94
Signed By Minister
23/DEC/94
Gazetted
04/JAN/95
Publish Notice Of Declaration
21/JAN/95
LGA
Darwin Municipality
Statement Of Heritage Value
The Myilly Point Precinct represents the conclusion of a Commonwealth Government policy for an 'approved housing scheme' for high-ranking government officers, originally formulated under the first major town planning scheme of the early 1930s. The creative talents of the architect B.C.G. Burnett together with a new material, asbestos cement, were to change the built fabric of Darwin. Burnett designed a series of homes adapted to the climatic conditions of the Top End which included the use of lightweight materials such as asbestos cement sheeting, corrugated roof cladding and a unique form of louvres with patterning by casement windows. The use of asbestos cement louvres with glass casement windows provided full screened walls that could be adjusted to suit prevailing weather conditions. All roofs were steeply pitched with an asbestos ridge vent at the top. Air circulated from open eaves through the ceiling space and out the ridge.
A number of individuals significant in the history and development of the Top End have been associated with the houses, such as Hugh Barclay who was Director of Lands at the time of the Territory Rice Project and H.C. Giese Director of Welfare.
The houses have had continuous use as housing from their date of construction. Overall there has been little alteration to the original fabric or design. Where this has occurred it has been sympathetic to the structure. The houses represent a major design development and the best surviving examples of B.C.G. Burnett's work for civilian occupation as opposed to military housing.
Value
Historic
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