279-285 Victoria Street, West Melbourne
Butler, Graeme21 Jan 1985
Archives
Total copies: 1
Title:
279-285 Victoria Street, West Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
21 Jan 1985
Reference number:
BIF-NORTH 109699 109700 109701 109702
Level of description:
Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
Type of materials:
Graphic materialsTextual material
Part of:
Access restrictions:
UnrestrictedOpen access.
Use restrictions:
UnrestrictedPlease contact City of Melbourne Libraries about obtaining permission to reproduce images.
General notes:
Grading as at 1985 : BPeriod : Mid Victorian (1880-1881)Grantee : J T Smith 1859In three of these four shops built for John Stedeford in 1880-1 the first tenants remained there until after 1900. In 279 Victoria Street there was George Prout the chemist; in 281; Kate Taylor the bookseller; and John Cain; the tailor was in 283. The fourth shop, 285 Victoria Street had a much less stable population, which included Mary Owen, William Keagan and James McAllister. John Stedeford owned considerable property around the area. (Refer to 19 Howard Street, 297-307 Victoria Street and 465-483 Queensberry Street)Builders Thomas Cockram & Co carried out the work [Melbourne Building Permit Applications 8541/1880]A two-storey, parapetted stuccoed brick row of shops and residences with part of an iron Corporation street verandah (279) and upper tripartite fenestration configured in the serlian manner. Guilloche patterns are used to ornament the stepped parapet entablature, as are orbs to the parapet piers and the associated pilasters dividing the upper wall surfaces. Decorative friezes have been applied to the architraves of each main light: the general arrangement being repeated on 297-307 and 349-53 Victoria Street. The original ingo timber shop fronts are in evidence only at 285. Notable features include intact shop front; post supported shop verandah.Architecturally, a well composed and near original group, for corner shops and a hillside site, which possess some of the rare elements of commercial architecture (shop fronts and verandahs), a distinctive upper fenestration and a major role in a valuable streetscape: of regional importance. Historically, linked with John Stedeford whose other remarkable rows in Queensberry Street mark him as a prolific builder of conservative, but tasteful architecture in the area, also occupying a prominent commercial site with long tenure tenants, lending each shop with a personality and distinct use pattern: of high local importance.
Related material link:
Topics:
Places:
Form/Genre:
Record types:
Images, maps and artefacts
Record number:
1614101
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 109699 109700 109701 109702 | 1 PDF : 911 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |