Leviathan, 271 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1982
Archives
Total copies: 1
Title:
Leviathan, 271 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1982
Search dates:
01 Jan 1982 - 31 Dec 1982
Reference number:
Butler16241
Level of description:
Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
Type of materials:
Graphic materials
Part of:
Access restrictions:
Unrestricted
Use restrictions:
Unrestricted
General notes:
SSOCIATED RESEARCH BY GRAEME BUTLER:Style: Neo-BaroquePeriod: EdwardianConstruction Date: 1912 - 1913, also added matching wingNotable features: Perhaps the earliest of the big 'Emporiums' on CBD. Open floor marketing.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceHistoryThe Leviathan Co. rose from the old importing firm of Levy Brothers Co. (Goodman, Louis and Nathaniel). By the 1880's, they had established a London branch and outgrown many Melbourne premises. The London Whitely Building was the citied inspiration for the scheme, particularly its concealed lighting which was pronounced.. 'quite a new feature' as were the mirror-clad columns internally. One of the handsomest buildings of its kind in the city, the Leviathan was cloaked in shining white cement, supported by a combination of reinforced concrete walls and floors and steel framing, all used to achieve the 'great plate glass windows.. Aglow with light.. At the street frontage. It was the city's first major reprisal to the Chapel Street assault.DescriptionLeviathan shared with Moore's the style label of Edwardian Neo- Baroque, in the grand manner. At the Leviathan this was characterised by the deep consoles at every pier and the attached dripping foliation also provided a French note. By contrast, the overall box-like form and stepped geometry, along the parapet line (possibly an alteration), departed from the curvaceous Baroque character. A contemporary, but more articulate Neo-Baroque design was the Commercial Travellers Association Building, Flinders St (1913) but, in its flamboyant revival, it possesses none of the modernistic elements of the Leviathan. Other Baroque or English Queen Anne revival designs predated both these designs (i.e. Barnet's Empire Arcade, Flinders Street, 1905 qv) but in comparison they are more concerned with dynamic form and detail and do not reflect the possible Modernism of the Leviathan.External IntegrityShopfronts have been replaced and the white cement finish painted.StreetscapeRelating to the adjoining Swanston Street elevation, it shares its fenestration and wall finish and some stylistic elements.SignificanceAn early and major return to classicism for large commercial buildings in Melbourne city, after the wave of Romanesque and similarly Medieval inspired designs in the early 1900's. It also displays a modernistic parapet treatment which (if original) has few, if any, contemporary parallels..NEWSPAPERS (TROVE).Leader (Melbourne, Vic. : 1862 - 1918, 1935)Saturday 27 February 1864 - Page 23THE LEVIATHAN is the LargestCLOTHING, OUTFITTING, TAILORING, BOOT and SHOE ESTABLISHMENTIn the Colonies.The Proprietors of the Leviathan Clothing and Boot and Shoe Establishment beg to inform the public of Victoria, and the adjacent colonies, that they have made extensive alterations, enlarged their old premises, and added 66 Bourke street, the whole of which communicate with corner Bourke and Swanston streets, 64 and «8 Bourke street, 109 and 111 Swanston streets, all forming one GIGANTIC ESTABLISHMENT, where the largest, best, and most fashionable assortment of Colonial and English READY-MADE CLOTHING, Hats, Hosiery, Shirts, Ties, Gloves, &c, and Ladies' and Gentlemen's BOOTS and SHOES, Manufactured by the most celebrated French and English houses, are to be selected from.COLONIAL HAND-MADE CLOTHING. The proprietors of the Leviathan would call especial attention to their colonial hand-made clothing. The patterns are the best and the materials the best that can be purchased, and being manufactured by themselves they can guarantee the workmanship ; also,, then being well shrunk. Their stock of colonial-made suits numbers over 1000.Colonial hand- made suits, 40s, 50s, 60s, 75s.Colonial hand-made sacs, 21s, 25s, 35s and 45s. Colonial hand-made trousers and vests, 25s,. 30s and 35sColonial hand-made pegtop trousers, 14s 6d, 17s 6d, 21a and 25s :;...- Best English tweed suits, from 50s to 60s.An endless variety of — Boys'- and youths' knickerbockers, tunic and … suits, suitable for the season. Also, All the newest styles in boys' and youths' straw and felt hats. , Caps of every description Hosiery, gloves ….`The Argus': TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1873.`...The following additional awards have been made in section "Silk and Clothing" in the way of "honourable mention," namely :-Cohen and Co., 337A, rugs, &c. Leviathan Clothing Company, 350, colonial-made clothing ; ..'.Hamilton Spectator (Vic. : 1870 - 1918)Saturday 30 December 1911 - Page 6SIXTY YEARS IN BUSINESS.DEATH OF MR. L. SANDERS.FOUNDER OF LEVIATHAN.(Wire From Our Correspondent MELBOURNE. Friday. )Mr. Lewis Sanders, the founder of the Leviathan Clothing Company 1 In Bourke-street, where he was in business for 60 years, died to-day, aged 80. He was one of the eldest justices of the peace in Victoria.The Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946)Saturday 17 May 1913 - Page 34https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/142963358NEW LEVIATHAN STORE.The new Leviathan store, at the corner of Bourke and Swanston streets, opened this week, a view' of which appears among our illustrations, stands on a site which an older -building - itself enlarged -had occupied for half a century or more, and a comparison between the two represents the progress made by the proprietary during that period. In the latest building steel frames and brick clothing and reinforced concrete have both been employed. A peculiar and striking effect is gained by carrying the whole weight of building from the first floor upwards on. steel columns, which are plated on every side with mirrors, and as the intervening spaces are filled in. with large sheets of plate glass the whole of the superstructure, when viewed from a distance, appears to be floating. There are one or two other new buildings id the city where the same method of construction is employed, but in the case of the Leviathan, which has two frontages, the effect noted is greatly enhanced. 1 The Leviathan Of 1913 is five stories high.The floor space is 20,000 -square feet, and, talking advantage of the strength of steel frame and -ferro-concrete, . the architects, Messrs. Bates, Peebles, and Smart, have cut away very large window spaces, and the result is that every story is splendidly lighted..Punch (Melbourne, Vic. : 1900 - 1918; 1925)Thursday 15 May 1913 - Page 17https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/176034487A CITY'S ORNAMENT. (see image)THE NEW LEVIATHAN BUILDING."Leviathan in name. Leviathan in appearance, and a Leviathan achievement"—such are the expressions one might aptly use when viewing the new and handsome structure that has so quickly risen upon the site of one of the oldest established and most popular businesses of Melbourne—the Leviathan Stores The proprietors sought to realise the company's name in the outward design, and the architect, Mr. Peebles, has succeeded to the full in carrying out the conception.The effect is both artistic and true. High up, and round the otherwise simple exterior, an immense scrolled coping looms out some three feet, and the building is crowned at the top in a striking manner. The whole effect is a speaking one, and a high tribute must be paid to the collaborators. Not only in this has the company been successful, but the building, both in its exterior and interior arrangements, is fitted up and completed in a most up-to-date manner. There is nothing in Melbourne to equal the new, huge verandah over the sidewalk which is built upon tile cantilever principle, and stands out over the whole corner block, quite bare and devoid of any supporting posts. It is ceiled with stamped metal, and leaves an impression upon one not soon to be forgotten.The Leviathan Building stands upon the most popular corner in the City of Melbourne. The land upon which it is built is some 65 feet square—an ideal corner block. The building is of some five stories, and, in addition, has a concrete and malthoid-covered roof garden, with weather shelters, tor the employes. The total floor space is something like 20,000 square feet. Nothing has been omitted or overlooked. Everything modern and new has been brought into the scheme, and the result is perfect. The several entrances are beautifully tiled and overhung with handsome leaded light canopiesThe island show-case windows, which can make n i e s one sea of clear, square plate-glass right round the whole ground floor, are a special attraction. There are no posts or pillars to obstruct the vision. The columns supporting the building have been placed in the entrances, and are surrounded by special show-cases. At night the widows are illuminated by electric lamps cunningly hidden from view, yet giving forth a copious light, the Leviathan Building is perfectly lighted through- From farthest South to furthest out by the natural light of day. This is one of its finest features. There is much of interest in the new and wonderful fittings incorporated within. Some twenty-six large show-cases, designed and built upon the plans of an American invention called "The New Way," come in for special attention. The doors of these cases open in such a way that they never extend or protrude outward, but run back along either side.The fittings within may then be drawn forward and swung right round to show everything at front or rear. At the rear of the street windows are a series of sliding show-cases, so that no doors shall protrude outwards and take up valuable space. The whole building is fitted with the new pneumatic tube cash system. Every ceiling is of stamped metal, and an electric parcels hoist is something new in the way of up-to-date ideas. An exceptionally wide and handsome staircase runs from floor to floor, and a most commodious electric lift is at the' service of everyone. The ground floor is resplendent with numberless handsome bevelled glass counters. The fittings are all in oak and copper and oxidised copper. Upon the. first floor is the juvenile department, men's ready-to-wear clothing, and the offices and managerial department. The second floor is given over to ladies' and gentlemen's tailoring, where the most modem ideas have been introduced to meet the requirements of patrons. Handsome oak-panelled fitting-rooms, cutting-rooms, and cases grace this floor, and add a special charm to the surroundings. The workrooms upon the third and fourth floors are ideal on account of the perfect ventilation and the flood of daylight which flows in through the many windows. The workrooms are fitted up with gas irons driven by motor power, and all the machines and appliances are most modern and upto-date in every way. The floors of the building will be handsomely carpeted, and the appointments and adornments throughout will be a special feature of the general scheme. In addition to the wide staircase and the electric elevator within the building, another special stairway of jarrah has been built upon the outer walls as extra protection or escape in case of fire. The builder, Mr. J. G. Hollow, must be complimented for his great share in the work of erection. The Leviathan is indeed an ornament to the city. As one's eye takes in the grandeur of the exterior design and the beauty of the interior decoration, one must indeed say—"Here is an artistic triumph. *Leviathan in name, Leviathan in appearance, and a Leviathan achievement.'OPENS ITS DOORS TO THE PUBLIC ON FRIDAY. 16th MAY-THE FINE NEW LEVIATHAN STORE ON THE CORNER OF SWANSTON AND BOURKE STREETS. Help OPENS ITS DOORS TO THE PUBLIC ON FRIDAY. 16th MAY-.The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954) Sat 17 May 1913 Page 15BOURKE-STREET ARCHITECTURESee https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/199448093… Messrs. Thomas Duff and Brother Proprietary Limited constructed the. Fittings…The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954)Thursday 15 May 1913 - Page 3 -imagehttps://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/241820775
Location of originals:
\\mcc\groups\comserv\Melbourne Library Service\Community Heritage\Spydus\Butler collection\Butler16241.tif
Places:
Record types:
Images, maps and artefacts
Record number:
748482
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | Butler16241 | 19.1 MB ; 5578 x 3546 px | Single Item (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |