A Glimpse into Victoria’s Heritage: Spotlight on the Salter House

Owning a Victorian heritage property can be both a privilege and a deeply rewarding experience. These homes carry stories, craftsmanship, and cultural value that deserve careful stewardship. Yet, like all houses, they require maintenance, and often sensitive renovations or extensions, to meet the needs of growing families and contemporary living. The key is ensuring that any new intervention integrates seamlessly with the original architecture, enriching the home’s ongoing narrative without diminishing its past.

Victoria is home to an extraordinary range of heritage properties. Some are protected under the Victorian Heritage Register or local council Heritage Overlays, while others, though architecturally or culturally significant, await formal recognition.

Supporting Victorian Heritage Homeowners

To guide owners through the complexities of renovating or adapting heritage buildings, the Heritage Council of Victoria has developed an excellent resource, available here. This guide balances modern design principles with a strong respect for cultural significance. It outlines the foundations of heritage value, identifies potential opportunities and challenges. It also offers design considerations, and provides an overview of Victoria’s heritage planning system.

We are proud that the guide features our Former Salter House. It is a restoration and alteration project that preserves an important chapter in Australia’s architectural history. You can explore this project in further detail here.

The Heritage Council of Victoria has also produced a series of case studies. These showcase innovative approaches to adapting homes, while maintaining their heritage integrity. The Former Salter House is included as one of these case studies, which you can view here.

About the Former Salter House

Located in Toorak, Melbourne, the Former Salter House. It was originally designed by renowned architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin. They were the winners of the Canberra design competition and pioneers in modern Australian architecture. The home has undergone a careful renovation and alteration to preserve its heritage significance while supporting contemporary living.

To learn more about the Griffins’ architectural legacy, you can watch the Restoration Australia episode on Castlecrag. You can find the link here.

This project was also shortlisted for the 2019 Houses Awards in the House in a Heritage Context category.

Planning a Heritage Project?

If you’re considering a renovation or adaptation of a heritage property, we’d love to support you through the process. Get in touch with our studio here.