Albany Court, 228-232 Collins Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Total copies: 1
Title:
Albany Court, 228-232 Collins Street, Melbourne
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Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 102147
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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Style: ModernePeriod: Inter-War.ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER:.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cite Victoria Illustrated p157;.NewspapersThe Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Thu 3 Dec 1936 Page 7 HOWEY ESTATE BUILDING PROGRAMMEAlbany Court Completed (see image)LARGE CITY UNDERTAKINGS The formal handing over this week by the builders of the new Albany Court building at No. 230 Collins street, on The Block, marks the completion of another portion of a large rebuilding programme of the properties owned by the Howey Estate. In 1921 Howey House was built and in the following year Talma Building, in Swanston street, was remodelled. In 1930 the handsome Howey Court building was erected in Collins street, and last year Presgrave Building was completed, much to the improvement of Little Collins street near Swanston street. Albany Court represents an expenditure of about £100,000, bringing the total amount ex- pended by the estate to date to £800,000. The programme is not yet complete, be- cause it is announced that in 1938 the site of the Exchange Hotel, on the corner of Swanston street and Little Collins street, and the adjoining buildings, Hewitt House and Craigie's Building, will be used for the erection of a building equal in size to the Manchester Unity Building, al- though occupying a somewhat larger area. Tentative plans for this work are now being prepared.The Howey Estate, of which Albany Court is a part, dates back to the earliest days of Victoria. Captain Henry Howey, a former British naval officer, who owned a station in New South Wales decided in the early1830ss to take up land in Victoria. He settled at Gisborne, and in 1837 attended the first land sale in Melbourne. He bought four allotments, two fronting Swanston street, extending from Collins street to Little Collins street and two adjoining blocks in Collins street, extending through to Little Collins street. Four years later Henry Howey and his family were drowned when coming from Sydney. His brother, Captain John Werge Howey, came from India to administer the estate, and later succeeded to the property as his brother's heir at law. Captain Howey later bought property in William Street and Rockley, at South Yarra where he made his home. He died in 1868, and by his will entailed the whole of his estate to his nephew, Major J. E. W. Howey, for his life with remainder to his eldest son in tail male, thus tying up the property as long as he legally could. Major Howey died in 1924, and the property then passed to the present Captain J. E. P. Howey who lives in England. Several visits to Melbourne have been made by Captain Howey in connection with the estate. The estate is now divided among the various members of the family. Howey Court is owned by Captain Howey, also the properties on the Swanston and Little Collins street corner and Howey place. The new Presgrave Building, in Little Collins Street is in the joint names of Captain and Mrs Howey, and sisters of Captain Howey own parts of the estate in Swanston Street and Little Collins Street. Captain Howey has given Albany Court to his two children, Anthony and Gloria Howey. On his last visit to Melbourne Captain Howey appointed Mr. J. L. Kiddle and Mr. Raynes W. A. Dickson as new trustees to act with Mr. Raynes Dickson Sen.In designing Albany Court the architect, Mr. Marcus R. Barlow, of Temple Court, adopted a vertical treatment for the facade, which, while keeping the building distinct from its two tall neighbours, still keeps it in perfect harmony. It is of steel frame and reinforced concrete construction, and is soundproof and fire- proof. In planning the floors, advantage was taken of existing light courts in the adjoining buildings. Good light was also available from the rear, so that all sections of every floor are well lighted. Albany Court is another example of the efficiency of modern building methods, which allows large buildings to be erected in a very short time. The contract for the building work was entered into in December last by Simmie and Co. Pty. Ltd. Work began on January 11, and the building was completed in less than 11 months. It adds another arcade and specialty shopping centre to the Block. Already most of the building has been let. Albany Court has the distinction of being the first building in Melbourne in which high-speed, gearless elevators, of the duplex collective signal control type, have been installed. In both cars the control system provides the maximum of efficiency and flexibility of service. All the operations, including the opening and closing of the doors, is automatic. A single pair of call buttons serves the two lifts on each floor. The lifts are adjusted so that one will answer the pressure of the "up" button and the other the "down" button on any floor so that a call from any point will be answered with a minimum of delay. With this system of control it is impossible for any passenger to commandeer the lift when it is under automatic control, and ensures that the lift will stop at each floor, on its upward or downward journey, from which a call has been made. Should one lift be filled to capacity it will complete its journey and then return to the floors from which calls have been made, or the second lift will answer them. When no calls are registered one lift automatically returns to the ground floor and the other to the top floor. When the lifts are controlled by an attendant during the day passengers announce when entering the number of the floor required. These are recorded by the attendant, who, when the last passenger has entered, presses a starting button. The ground floor of the building has been designed as a shopping arcade ex- tending from Collins Street through to Howey place. There are seven shops in the arcade, and two in Collins Street. A bright and attractive appearance has been given to the show windows by the use of stainless steel mouldings. The Sound equipment in theatre. Help Sound equipment in theatre. (caption) angle points of the quarter-inch plate glass have been mitred and clipped together without the use of an angle bar. The top hamper is in sand-engraved figured rolled glass and the enclosure backs are of the flush type with walnut veneer finish. The two shops forming the entrance from Collins street have bent plate-glass corners making an interesting introduction to the arcade from this end. The top hamper in the Collins street shop fronts is carried across the arcade and forms a lighting box upon which a Neon sign is fixed. The theatre entrance in Collins street has showcases fixed to the piers matching those in the arcade. The ticket box inside the entrance is very well designed and carried out in stainless steel and glass. This work together with the paving lights was carried out by Brooks, Robinson Pty. Ltd. of South Melbourne. The floor of the arcade has been paved with cement tiles and the walls are panelled with Calcula marble. The basement of the building is occupied by the Albany Theatre and a modern coffee lounge, both under the same control. Air conditioning is provided in both the lounge and the theatre. The decoration follows the modem horizontal treatment. The special furniture in the lounge and theatre was designed by the theatre architects Messrs Taylor, So
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Record number:
1197166
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 102147 | 1 JPEG : 853 KB ; A4 | Single Item (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |