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Post Office Stores, 633 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne

Butler, Graeme1985

Record details

Title:

Creator:

Butler, Graeme (Name details)

Date of work:

1985

Reference number:

BIF-CITY 558316 2

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:

RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2024:__________________________________________________DATE: 1915-16;ASSOCIATIONS: Post Master General, Australian Government;DESIGNER: J S Murdoch, Dept Home Affairs;BUILDER: Various sub-contractors to Department of Home AffairsStyle: Neo-BaroquePeriod: Edwardian-era___________________________VICTORIA HERITAGE REGISTER H0881Statement of Significance, 164-200 Spencer Street Melbourne (rear part)What is significant?The Former Mail Exchange, completed in 1917, was designed by Commonwealth Home Affairs architect John Smith Murdoch. The seven storey, steel-framed building was constructed in a beaux-arts classical style, with a red brick facade featuring rustication at the corners and a trabeated facade at first to third floor levels. The dominant feature of the facade is the paired giant order fluted columns, with ionic capitals, rising through three storeys. Bronzed steel framed windows fill the bays between the columns, contrasting with the mass and solidity of the masonry. Windows in each corner also rise three storeys from small balconettes with a simple bronzed steel balustrade. An under-road tunnel connects the sub-basement to Platform 2 at Spencer Street Station and was used for the conveyance of mail to trains.How is it significant?The Former Mail Exchange is of architectural and historical significance to the State of Victoria.Why is it significant?The Former Mail Exchange is of architectural significance as a major example of the early work of the Commonwealth Department of Works and its first chief architect, J.S. Murdoch. The building is a distinguished example of beaux-arts classical design, and its Greek flavour was ten years ahead of Melbourne’s mainstream Modern Greek revival. The beaux-arts style was not common in Australia, tending to be used for large and important buildings. It was the sense of monumentality that it imparted that Murdoch considered appropriate for Commonwealth buildings. Classicism became the style of choice for Commonwealth buildings during Murdoch’s time. Its dignified conservatism was thought appropriate for major public buildings, and is particularly evident in the public buildings of Canberra, such as the Old Parliament House (1927), also designed by Murdoch. Murdoch was a major figure in the development of Canberra, being a judge of the competition to design the city and responsible for many of the capital’s buildings himself. He was also responsible for a number of other significant public buildings throughout Australia.The Former Mail Exchange is of historical significance as an important reminder of the development of the Australian mail service in the early decades of the 20th century. The building was erected to ease congestion and provide better conditions than those prevailing at the Melbourne GPO. Its direct tunnel link to Spencer Street Station, modern and well-designed internal spaces and system of chutes to transport mail around the building demonstrated a concerted effort to modernise the mail system in the early years of the new Commonwealth. This modernity was reflected in the materials of the building, the steel framed windows being an early example of the use of such technology. The proximity of the building to Spencer Street Station reflects the important connections between the railways and the postal service in the development of postal communications throughout the State.___________________________GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM___________________________MAHLSTEDT FIRE INSURANCE PLAN SERIES STATE LIBRARY OF VICTORIASeries 1, map 221910- 631 Post Office Store, shown as rear wing of Parcels Post Building,, both pasted in, reinforced concrete, 6 levels, basement, wired glass windows in metal frames.___________________________Australian Dictionary of BiographyMurdoch, John Smith (1862–1945)by D. I. McDonaldJSM architect in 1914, and chief architect, Department of Works and Railways, in 1919-29 Murdoch was responsible for the design and construction of many early Canberra buildings, such as the provisional parliament house, the power-house and the Hotel Canberra. With (Sir) John Sulman and K. A. Henderson he assessed residential-area plans for Canberra in 1923. In 1926 he was an adjudicator of competitions for design of the Australian war memorials in Canberra and Villers-Bretonneux, France. As Commonwealth architect he was responsible for the design of the General Post Office, Perth (1923), Spencer Street Post Office and the High Court of Australia (1925, now Federal Court), Melbourne. He laid out Forrest Place, Perth, and Anzac Square, Brisbane...Director-general of works from 1927, Murdoch transferred with the department to Canberra in 1929. He retired in September and was appointed to the Federal Capital Commission, serving until its abolition in April 1930.___________________________Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 2016In 1904 Murdoch transferred to the Commonwealth Department of Home Affairs in Melbourne, as a Senior Clerk.[11][14] Here he was promoted to Architect in 1914 and Chief Architect in 1919–29___________________________NEWSPAPERS (TROVE):The Age (Melbourne, Vic)Sat 9 Jan 1915 Page 10MELBOURNE G.P.O.`...Some time ago the announcement was made that congestion was to be relieved by the erection of new buildings at the corner of Bourke and Spencer streets. The scheme then outlined has been so far advanced that one of the buildings, which is to be utilised as a departmental store, is already completed and about to be occupied. This structure is seven stories high, : and is built of reinforced concrete. It faces Little Bourke-street. The other building, in which it is proposed to handle all mail matter, and from which the letter carriers will be despatched on their rounds, faces Bourke-street, and is in an advanced stage. It is to be of eight stories, and under favorable conditions will be completed and in occupation within twelve months. It appears, however, that the original scheme has now been extended, and the department has secured additional land and buildings adjacent to the new structures for the purposes of providing accommodation for telephone offices and mechanics' quarters. This land brings the whole block, bounded by Bourke-street, Spencer-street, Little Bourke-street, and a lane running from Bourke-street to Little Bourke-street, into the department's possession. On the new land acquired are situated at present extensive skin stores in occupation comprising a three-story blue stone building.___________________________DIRECTORIES OF VICTORIA, MELBOURNE-SANDS AND KENNY, SANDS & MCDOUGALL1915Home Affairs Department-Owen Col P. T. Director Gent of WorksMurdoch, J. S., architectSmith H. W., electrical engineer.1920633-637 Postmaster-General's Dept. stores braucb

Names:

City of Melbourne

Topics:

Central Activities District Conservation Study 1985Conservation studiesNeo-Baroque styleInterwar periodWarehouses

Places:

Melbourne (Vic.)

Form/Genre:

Building Identification Forms (BIFs)

Record types:

Research and reports

Record number:

1267448