Wilson's shop & residence, 299 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Total copies: 1
Title:
Wilson's shop & residence, 299 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 103203
Level of description:
Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
Type of materials:
Graphic materialsTextual material
Part of:
Series: Central City (BIF-CITY)
Access restrictions:
UnrestrictedOpen access.
Use restrictions:
UnrestrictedPlease contact City of Melbourne Libraries about obtaining permission to reproduce images.
General notes:
ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER:.GRAEME BUTLER & ASSOCIATES 2011, CENTRAL CITY (HODDLE GRID) HERITAGE REVIEWStatement of SignificanceWhat is significant?Wilson's shop & residence was created by and for Charles Wilson in 1884-5 to the design of JW Roberts & Company. The development appears to have been speculative as persons such as J. & A Boyes , ironmongers and hardware importers, occupied the building on completion.Rising three levels the upper-levels evoke a conservative Italian renaissance revival character in moulded cement, set out with pilasters on either side of the facade supporting the raised segmentally arched entablature and cornice of the parapet which has the words `Estabd 1859'. Twin arched openings at the first floor level, with bracketed sills, deeply moulded architraves, keystones and foliated capitals, progress to rectangular openings at the top level with bracketed sills, and label moulds for diversity of ornament. The ground floor has been changed and a suspended canopy added. Judged within the inner Melbourne context, the three-level scale of the building is uncommon among other Victorian-era commercial places.Within the Capital City Zone, the building is one of a group of over thirty shop & dwellings that date from the mid 1880s or earlier and have been valued individually- being around 9.4% of the identified buildings within the Zone . This building has been identified in four heritage studies of the Capital City Zone conducted in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2002: all have valued it as an individually significant place within the local context.How is it significant?Wilson's shop & residence is aesthetically and historically significant to the Melbourne Capital City Zone.Why is it significant?Wilson's shop & residence is aesthetically significant as a conservative but well executed Italian Renaissance Revival design evocative of the architectural restraint offered in the pre boom era, as applied to a medium sized Victorian-era commercial building.Historically the place is among a relatively small early to mid Victorian-era shop & dwelling group within the Capital City Zone...RAYWORTH, B 2002. REVIEW OF HERITAGE OVERLAY LISTINGS IN THE CBDfor the City of MelbourneHistory and Description299 Elizabeth Street was constructed c.1864 as three storey retail premises finished in rendered brick. The architect and builders are not known. It is an unusaal example of an early Victorian retail establishment employing uncommon and particularly intricate Italianate decorative details to good. effect, The ground floor has been completely refurbished and a cantilevering verandah added but at the upper levels, the arcades retain a high level of integrity to their early state. Paired windows at the first floor feature pilasters and capitals to either side and architraves with faces in the keystones. The upper storey features simpler rectangular fenestration. Pilasters rise to either side of the facade at each of the upper storeys. String courses below the top floor and the parapet are supported on paired consoles with lion's head motifs integrated into the design of the console. The pediment features the inscription, Estab'd 1859 which may refer to the establishment of the first business to occupy the premises, a saddlery operated by T Carew, rather than the construction date of the building. The building is generally in good condition.Statement of Significance299 Elizabeth Street is of aesthetic significance at a local level as an unusually decorative example of a three storey retail premises within Melbourne's CBD..Yuncken Freeman Architects P/L 1976.. Historic Buildings Preservation Council Melbourne CBD Study Area 5 (82):p21 states rate books 1864 list a brick shop 1 room, 3 floors, Not recommended to Victorian Historic Buildings Register.Building Permit Application1884,1239VPRO:299:1926 8541 addition of shopfront1970 shopfront and new suspended verandah(301)1922 shopfront1936 sign under post verandah1956 30307 shopfront1962 ₤7,500 alterations (at MCC)1982 refit ground level, seal off 1st level.MCC i-Heritage:Central Activities District Conservation Study - Graeme Butler, 1984 : Building Identification Form (BIF): : Alterations / Recommendations: Bricks painted (side) (inappropriate - remove) Shopfront / canopy new (inappropriate - reinstate original design or sympathetic alternative) Other Comments CBD study (82, p.21) implies c 1864 - as date , not shown in 1869 . Possible renovation late 1800's. Parapet `est 1859'.Raworth, MCC i-Heritage: Central Activities District Conservation Study Building Identification form 2000:cites Graeme Butler MCC i-Heritage: Central Activities District Conservation Study 1985 BIF, Sands & MacDougall, Directory of Victoria, 1865-1886 show uninterrupted tenancy of T Carew, a saddler, at 299 Elizabeth Street..Australian Architecture Index (AAI)J.W. Roberts & Co. listings:Tenders wanted for brick additions, for coach factory, Elizabeth St. for Ward and Reid.Argus 2.7.1883, p 2;J.W. Roberts and Co.Tenders wanted for additions to Lincoln House, Bouverie St., Carlton, for Thomas Roberts, Esq.Argus 14.2.1887, p 3;J.W. Roberts & Co.Tenders wanted for additions, (brick and wood) to residence at Kensington, near Melbourne.Argus 1.3.1884, p 15;J.W. Roberts & Co.Tenders wanted for cementing fronts of 2 shops (labour only) in Elizabeth St.Argus 4.12.1884, p 3;J.W. Roberts.Tenders wanted for blacksmith and wheelwright's shop for Burton & Sons, Latrobe St.Argus 10.3.1886, p 3;J.W. Roberts & Co.Tenders wanted for 3 shops and dwellings in Lygon St., Carlton, for Mrs Williams.Argus 30.4.1881, p 10;J.W. Roberts & Co..Tenders wanted for erection of wood shop and dwelling at South Yarra for Frederick Tate.Argus 21.10.1882, p 5;J.W. Roberts & Co.Tenders wanted for additions to stabling in Latrobe St. east for Burton & Sons, coachbuilders.At risk of former contractor.Argus 26.9.1882 p 3;J. W. Roberts & Co.Tenders wanted for brick warehouse in Elizabeth St. for Anthon Sage, Esq., iron merchant.Argus 15.9.1883, p 15;J.W. Roberts and Co., architects.Tenders wanted for erecting warehouse in Flinders La. for Warne and Reid.Argus 12.2.1881, p 11;.DIRECTORIES OF VICTORIA, MELBOURNE-SANDS AND KENNY, SANDS & MCDOUGALL1930 299 Cooper, John & Sons ironmongers(297 Pellegrini and Co church furnishers)1924 299 Cooper, John & Sons ironmongersThe Union Manufacturing Agency Co1920, D1915 The Union Manufacturing Agency Co1910 299 Gibband & Son, P/L brush manufacts.1905 Pellegrini and Co modellers and importers1889-1893: 299 Boyes , J. & A., ironmongers and hardw importers(D1880-D1885: 299 Carew, Thomas, saddler).City of Melbourne rate books: VPRS 5780 MicroficheElizabeth Street 299 – Bourke ward (extract)1886 373 Chas Wilson Chas Wilson 201 Bk. Shop 3 flats 15 x 60 2001885 370 Chas Wilson Chas Wilson 201 Bk. Shop 2 flats 15 x 60 200(1884 218 Chas Wilson Chas Wilson Bk. shop 1 rm. 15 x 60 65).
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Record number:
1204530
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 103203 | 1 JPEG : 254 KB ; A4 | Single Item (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |