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Beehive Building, 92-94 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne

Butler, Graeme1985

Record details

Title:

Creator:

Butler, Graeme (Name details)

Date of work:

1985

Reference number:

BIF-CITY 103322

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:

Style: ModernePeriod: Inter-WarConstruction date: 1935Architect: J. PlottelNotable features:1. Terra cotta cladding,2. Curved/facetted forms used in façade for three dimension expression..ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2021:.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of Significance.HistoryRosenthal's Beehive Clothing Co. was at this address when the Honourable J A Wallace owned the building at the turn of the century. Bee-like industry appears to have paid dividends as Henry Rosenthal, the proprietor of the Beehive Mercer Company, also owned the site by 1934, commissioning architect J Plottel to design its limit-height replacement. The cost was to be around 33,000 pounds.Beehive Mercers, Wittner's Shoes and the invaluable Ladderless Hosiery co- occupied the ground floor, four years after completion. Reid's Business College took the second floor, the Book tea rooms sheltered denizens of the fourth and the expected collection of small clothing related companies held the majority of other tenancies with some exceptions like the Revelation Air- Conditioning Company.The architect, Plottel had done other work for the Melbourne Jewish community, including major buildings like the St. Kilda synagogue.DescriptionModerne in style and symmetrically composed, the facade is nevertheless bland and almost Modern. Three-dimensional expression is sought from the confines of a facade by rounded, protruding, spandrel forms and window bays, thrust out in the centre bays at each floor. Fluted terracotta-clad columns add to the play of three-dimensional forms on all but the top level where their rounded forms are magically compressed to meet the parapet line and presumed building line. Use of these decorative but deeply modelled forms achieved the fashionable massing but at no expense to floor area.External IntegrityThe shopfronts have been replaced and the canopy renovated; a stylised version of the `beehive' replacing the original. Air units have been added.StreetscapePart of a mixed streetscape.SignificanceAn assured design in the Moderne manner which retains the original colours and form of the upper facade whilst achieving maximum modelling within the limitations of a city commercial design..CITY OF MELBOURNE BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS 15977Drawings received 12 Jan 1935, owner H Rosenthal Esq,, architect J Plottel, 31 Queen Street, reinforced concrete, engineer John A Laing.Melbourne University Library CollectionsRosenthal Aronson & Company Warehousehttps://digitised-collections.unimelb.edu.au/handle/11343/70182Rosenthal Aronson & Company Warehouse, Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. Built in 1891 by master builders, Clements Langford Pty. Ltd. Designed by N. Barnet, Architect..NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957)Friday 14 December 1934 - Page 8https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11000977NEW CITY BUILDING£35,000 Contract in Elizabeth Street Plans for the erection of a new 3 story building at 84 Elizabeth street, between Little Collins street and Collins street, were announced yesterday by the architect, Mr. J. Plottel, of 31 Queen Street.The demolition of the present building of two stories, which is occupied by Beehive Pty. Ltd., mercers, will begin early in the new year, and it is expected that the new building will be completed by September The contract price is £35,000, and to allow for a building of 132ft. in height on a frontage to Elizabeth street of 36 ft….Steel will be used for the first six: floors and reinforced concrete for the remainder It is proposed that two shops and a kiosk will be provided on the ground floor, and Beehive Pty. Ltd. will carry on its present business in the new buildingThe Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954)Friday 14 December 1934 - Page 6https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/243084567Building descriptionThe Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954)Wednesday 19 December 1934 - Page 22https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/243082554The 12-storey building will be erected I on the site of the Beehive Pty. Ltd., 94 j Elizabeth Street, and the work has been planned so that the firm will carry on business during the whole period. Mr Rosenthal's decision to build reflects his belief in the future of the city. He said that no other city in the world has its business centre so definitely anchored as Melbourne's commercial centre. In his opinion there is little or no chance of the value of land in the Golden Square (i.e., the area bounded by Elizabeth, Bourke. Swanston and Collins Streets) depreciating.Each of the two shops on the ground floor will have n mezzanine gallery floor. The remaining floors will be let as offices and showrooms.The building presented certain difficulties because of the rights of adjoining owners, but these have now been overcome and arrangements have been made for a joint light well.The windows will have steel frames and the floors of offices and showrooms will be covered with a heavy battleship linoleum. The architect, Mr J. Plottel, is also preparing plans for a hotel at Hepburn Springs, near Daylesford, to be constructed at a cost of £11.000.

Names:

City of Melbourne

Topics:

Central Activities District Conservation Study 1985Conservation studiesInterwar periodModerne styleOfficesTerra cotta1930-1939Twentieth Century Architecture Register (RAIA)

Places:

Melbourne (Vic.)

Form/Genre:

Building Identification Forms (BIFs)

Record types:

Research and reports

Record number:

1205545