Shirley Hills Historic District (Boundary Increase and Additional Documentation)
Also known as: Shirley Hills Addition; Shirley Hills Annex
Why it's listed
Shirley Hills is a residential subdivision in northeast Macon, about a mile from downtown, with the Ocmulgee River as its western edge. Development began in 1922 on land from the estate of Senator Augustus Octavius Bacon and continued through 1941. The plan was prepared by John Leon Hoffman's planning firm in the Olmsted tradition of picturesque design. Streets wind along the hilly terrain, lots are large and wooded, and two parks, Jackson Spring Park and Andrew Jackson Park, were set aside. Restrictive covenants controlled setbacks, house siting and minimum value. The houses show many period styles, including Georgian Revival, Neoclassical Revival, English Vernacular Revival, Italian Renaissance Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival, with work by Macon architects W. Elliott Dunwody, Ellamae Ellis League and Dennis and Dennis. The district was recognized as the first and largest picturesquely planned subdivision in Macon and nearly unique in Georgia, and for its architecture.
Significance in brief: The form argues it is the first and largest picturesquely planned subdivision in Macon and nearly unique in Georgia, laid out in the Olmsted tradition with winding streets, large lots, parks and naturalistic landscaping. It is also significant for a fine collection of period-revival houses designed by prominent Macon architects. It qualifies under Criteria A and C.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF). NRHP reference 14000269, listed May 28, 2014. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly bounded by Boulevard Ave., Woodland Dr., Waveland Cir., Nottingham, Briarcliff & Upper River Rds., Macon |
|---|---|
| County | Bibb County |
| Listed | May 28, 2014 |
| Reference number | 14000269 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1922-1941 |
| Architect / builder | Dunwody, W. Elliott, IV; League, Ellamae Ellis; Dennis & Dennis; Hoffman, John Leon |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Classical Revival, Tudor Revival, Italian Renaissance, French Renaissance, Mission/Spanish Colonial Revival, Bungalow/Craftsman |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Community Planning and Development, Landscape Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic and current functions are both single-family dwellings and parks; the district remains in residential use. |
| Acreage | 280 |
| Coordinates | 32.86644, -83.63203 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 14000269.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives)
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q30622745
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.