Russell's building, 361-363 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Title:
Russell's building, 361-363 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne
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Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 105844
Level of description:
Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
Type of materials:
Graphic materialsTextual material
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Series: Central City (BIF-CITY)
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UnrestrictedOpen access.
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UnrestrictedPlease contact City of Melbourne Libraries about obtaining permission to reproduce images.
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RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2022:__________________________________________________Style: ModernePeriod: Inter-WarNotable features: Glass bricksDATE: 1939;ASSOCIATIONS: Russell, R.G. Esq.; Phillips, WRDESIGNER: Peck, Arthur & Hugh.GRAEME BUTLER & ASSOCIATES 2011, CENTRAL CITY (HODDLE GRID) HERITAGE REVIEWStatement of SignificanceWhat is significant?The building at 361-363 Little Bourke Street, was completed in 1939 as a three storey brick building to the design of architects Arthur & Hugh Peck of 99 Queen Street for the Repco entrepreneur, Robert Geoffrey Russell.Robert Geoffrey Russell and RepcoRobert Geoffrey Russell set up the Russell Manufacturing Co. Pty Ltd (automotive spare parts, accessories and general equipment) in 1927 at North Melbourne. By 1930 his piston-making factory moved to Burnley Street, Richmond. The trade name Repco was registered in that year. The Modernistic style building in Doonside Street, Richmond was also built for the Russell Manufacturing Co., c1939. The company purchased a former plaster making factory at the site of 85-89 Burnley Street, on the corner of Doonside Street, and gradually expanded its works along Doonside Street: the Brabham Formula One engine was developed in the adjoining Repco factory at the Burnley Street corner. The Little Bourke Street building was developed at a time of major company growth leading up to the Second War, after the advent of Repco Ltd. on the Australian Stock Exchange.The Peck brothers were associated with a number of significant designs within the Capital City Zone such as Capitol House ( with Griffin), the Moderne style Commercial Union Building, and the classical revival State Savings Bank of Victoria, 615-623 Collins Street, 1924.The building adopted the style of contemporary European Modernists most notably Willem Dudok, Director of Public Works for Hilversum in Holland from 1915. Dudok exerted a powerful influence on local architectural discourse in Australia during the interwar period although a relatively small number of buildings drawing on his work were constructed locally. The asymmetric façade of Russell's shop & offices building comprises a tower at one end, containing the entry and stairwell which terminates a large horizontal window group at each floor level. Each window strip is set under concealed concrete lintels detailed as slim projecting hoods. The building has a reinforced concrete frame, a timber trussed roof, and cream and red brick external walls; the facade being finished in cream face brick with face red brick walls along the lane. Contrasting panels of brown heeler bricks are adjacent to the upper windows to accentuate the horizontality of the fenestration. The cream brickwork, glass bricks to the stairwell and steel framed windows elsewhere, are hallmarks of Dudok's work. The Modernistic façade is an effective stylistic appliqué to what is otherwise a conventional interwar building.Some brickwork has been painted and the ground floor former café shopfront has been modified, albeit for another café, but the building as a whole retains a high degree of integrity to its early state at the upper levels.How is it significant?Russell's building is significant historically and aesthetically to the Melbourne Capital City Zone.Why is it significant?Russell's building is of aesthetic significance as a good example of a City building after the Modernistic style of Willem Dudok. Buildings in this mode are relatively uncommon within Melbourne's Capital City Zone.The building is of historical interest for its association with the entrepreneur Robert G Russell, built at a period of major growth within his new Repco company.,RAWORTH, B 2002. REVIEW OF HERITAGE OVERLAY LISTINGS IN THE CBDfor the City of MelbourneHistory and DescriptionThe building at 361-363 Little Bourke Street, was completed in 1939 as a three storey factory [BPA]. It was designed by architects A & HL Peck of 99 Queen Street for RJ Russell [BPA]. As constructed, the building adopted the style of contemporary European Modernists most notably Willem Dudok, Director of Public Works for Hilversum in Holland from 1915. Dudok exerted a powerful influence on local architectural discourse during the interwar period although few buildings drawing on his work were constructed locally. Comparative factory examples generally comprise considerably larger buildings such as Harry Norris' Northern bakeries complex, (1939) or Edward Bilson's Signs Publishing Co (1936) and Sanitarium Health Food Company (1937). This building compares more readily with a number of blocks of flats constructed immediately prior to WWII in suburban Melbourne such as those at 56, 60 and 62 Simpson Street in East Melbourne.The asymmetric facade comprises a tower containing the entry and stairwell adjacent to a large window grouping at each floor level. It is a reinforced concrete design finished in cream face brick with contrasting panels of smaller brown bricks adjacent to the upper windows. The glass bricks to the stairwell and steel framed windows elsewhere are hallmarks of Dudok's work. It is of note that the Modern facade is a stylistic applique to, what is otherwise, a conventional interwar building.The ground floor has been extensively modified but the building retains a high degree of integrity to its early state at the upper levels. The building appears to be generally in good condition.Statement of SignificanceThe factory building at 361-363 Little Bourke Street is of aesthetic significance at a local level as a good example of a building after the style of Dutch Modernist Willem Dudok. Buildings in this mode a rare within Melbourne's CBD.Footnotes:MCC building permit application (BPA) 20703, construction completed October 1939..City of Melbourne i-Heritage:Central Activities District Conservation Study - Graeme Butler, 1984 Building Identification Form (BIF): Notable features include unpainted decorative brickwork and glass bricks. Alterations / Recommendations: Shopfront details altered (inappropriate - reinstate original design or sympathetic alternative), new awnings and signs extensive (both inappropriate - remove or reinstate sympathetic alternative)..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM.CITY OF MELBOURNE BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONSBuilding Permit Application 1939, 20703; builders, designers, owner..VICTORIAN HERITAGE INVENTORY1839 map - building on Lot 6 (street frontage) may be on this site.1866 - building on site. 1880 - 2 (possibly 3) storey building.1888 & 1905 - 2 storey building(s).AUSTRALIAN DICTIONARY OF BIOGRAPHYRobert Murray, 'Russell, Robert Geoffrey (1892 - 1946)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 16, Melbourne University Press, 2002, p. 154.See http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A160181b.htm.Graeme Butler & Associates, 2010.City of Yarra Heritage Gaps study: Repco buildings, Burnley St, Richmond.LEWIS, M- AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURE INDEX:(Peck)Hugh Peck (Hugh Leonard Peck)Admitted to Fellowship RVIA and into partnership with Father Arthur Peck LF RVIA.A & H L Peck 99 Queen St.Royal Victorian Institute of Architects Journal May 1937 p 68.VICTORIA HERITAGE DATABASEEDMUND RICE CENTRE7 Amberley Way LOWER PLENTY, Banyule CityGoogle Maps and Google StreetviewHeritage Overlay Number HO94`By 1935 Robert Geoffrey Russell, of the firm Robert Russell Pty Ltd, became the owner of the (former) house and 69 acres in Parts 3 and 4 (NAV £550). A second house was constructed in 1936-7...'.Repco unofficial web site:http://ocper.com/about/Robert Geoffrey RussellThe Australian Dictionary of Biography, Online Edition has a reasonably comprehensive biography for Geoff Russell, the man who almost laid the foundations for the early years of Repco.Geoff Russell set-up a specialist engine reconditioning business known as “Auto Grinding Co Pty Ltd”, in a “tin-shed” in Collingwood. Mr Russell was also the co-founder of Replacement Parts Pty Ltd, along with Bill Ryan in 1926. The Replacement Part Co was established as an importer of motor parts on an indent basis, and it was this company that went on to become Repco. According to the biography the “Repco” name was first registered in 1930.The depression had a mixed impact on the fledgling company, with more people choosing to recondition cars rather than buy new ones. Protective tariffs increased by the federal government also helped to bolster the business. It was this increase in repairs and protectionism that helped buffer the company from the effects of reduced cash-flow; in this difficult time many customers were slow to pay or unable to pay their bills on time.1936 saw Russell buy-out Ryan’s share in the company. This was followed in 1937 by Repco’s debut on the Stock Exchange as Repco Ltd, with Mr Russell serving as both Chairman and Managing Director.The war years saw Mr Russell dedicated to war work both personally and professionally. Repco worked hard to meet the military’s need for engine parts and repairs. Mr Russell was responsible for managing a plant for the Department of Aircraft Production. A sign of his dedication is the fact that Mr Russell worked on aircraft cylinder heads in his own home in his spare moments.In 1945 Mr Russell fell seriously ill and resigned from the board. Mr Russell died of a cerebral tumour in April 1946 in Heidelberg.Sources:Australian Dictionary of Biography: http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A160181b.htmTeam Repco: http://www.teamrepco.com.au/ASP/Public/AboutRepco/History.aspAutomotive Aftermarket Magazine April/May 2001 (PDF): http://www.aftermarket.com.au/aftermarket/Archive/AM_AM01.pdfWikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RepcoInternational Library of Company Histories: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_gx5202/is_2003/ai_n19123307ACL Corporate History: http://www.acl.com.au/web/aclwebsite.nsf/pg_corp_hist?OpenPage'.LOVELL CHEN 2017. GUILDFORD & HARDWARE LANEWAYS PRECINCT361-363 Little Bourke Street C Significant Three storey interwar factory/commercial building HO1050 - Also significant to Rankins Lane.NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)`The Argus':23 October 1940` Company by the Name of R G RUSSELL PRO PRIFTARY LIMITED -Pursuant to Section 20 (8) (a) (II ) -The particulars of the company are as...1 The name address and description of the promoter Is Robert Geoffrey Russell 618 Elizabeth street Melbourne manufacturer…2 The names, addresses and descrlptlon of the proposed directors are -Robert Geoffrey Russell of 618 Elisabeth street Melbourne manufacturer and Hariet Margaret Russell of Amberley Lower Plenty married woman3 The proposed situation of the registered office of the company Is 409 Little Collins street Melbourne'.DIRECTORIES OF VICTORIA, MELBOURNE-SANDS AND KENNY, SANDS & MCDOUGALL(1935 small business listings)(1939 small business listings)1944-5361 Phillips, Celerity sandwich shop, AJ Williams, 363 Perce, N engraver etc.1950Phillips, WR welding supplies; Waltz-Inn Coffee Lounge; AJ Williams electrical instrument manuf.; 363 Perce, N engraver1955Phillips, WR fibrous plaster manufs; Waltz-Inn Coffee Lounge; AJ Williams electrical instrument manuf.; 363 Perce, N engraver
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| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 105844 | 1 JPEG : 499 KB ; A4 | Single Item (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |