Phoenix Clothing Factory complex, 347-349 King Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
Archives
Total copies: 1
Title:
Phoenix Clothing Factory complex, 347-349 King Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 105322
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 2021:__________________________________________________DATE: 1854-1859;ASSOCIATIONS: Fenwick, Orlando; Fenwick BrothersBUILDER: Eadie, John - MelbourneStyle: ItalianatePeriod: Early VictorianConstruction date: 1859Notable features: 1. Stone pilasters, ground level. 2. Stone/brick warehouse at rear.Victorian Heritage Register Statement of SignificanceVictorian Heritage Register number: H0801`What is significant?The Former Phoenix Clothing Company building is a three storey stone and brick shop, residence and store complex. It contains fabric from several different periods of building and alteration. The earliest section dates from the early gold rush era, while three storey additions were made in 1859 and the ground floor of the rear store/factory section probably dates from the 1860s. An 1869 photograph of the building showed a loggia, but this has been filled with windows.How is it significant?The Former Phoenix Clothing Company building is of historical and architectural significance to the State of Victoria.Why is it significant?The Former Phoenix Clothing Company building is of historical significance as one of the oldest examples of a commercial building and factory in the State. Its King Street facade contains rare gold rush-era elements, from a time when King Street was an unmade although busy road with bullock drays and other carriers' wagons, loaded with goods, continually passing on their way to Bendigo and the other diggings. The factory proper dates from the 1860s and provides important evidence of the character of early industrial organisation in Melbourne. The Phoenix Clothing Company was established in the wake of post gold rush metropolitan growth and benefited from the introduction of tariff legislation in the 1870s. The Phoenix factory was one of the few mechanised 19th century clothing manufacturers, and has been credited with introducing advanced overseas technology to Victoria. Although there have been many structural changes to the building over the years, the essential design and structure of the complex provide a substantially intact representation of contemporary factory design and working conditions, and of aspects of 19th century building technology.The Former Phoenix Clothing Company building is of historical significance as evidence of the character of Melbourne's early development. The combination of residence, shop and factory is a reminder of a time when the city was much more compact, and residence and workplace were often located in the same building or very nearby. The building also demonstrates the long-term continuity of industrial usage in this part of Melbourne.The Former Phoenix Clothing Company building is of historical significance for its associations with the notable Fenwick Brothers, and Albion T. Walkley. The Fenwick Brothers were London clothing manufacturers and importers, who owned the site from the 1850s and established the Phoenix Clothing Company there in the 1870s. Orlando Fenwick (1822-1897) who once lived on the premises, was a prominent Victorian clothing manufacturer and importer. He also took a leading role in Melbourne harbour development schemes and was a Melbourne City councillor over a long period and Mayor of the city. Walkley, the factory manager from 1875 and owner of the manufacturing section of the business from 1878, was responsible for introducing into the Victorian clothing trade the innovative mechanical knife system of cutting which revolutionised the industry in the pre-WW1 period.The Former Phoenix Clothing Company building is of architectural significance because of its first floor loggia, perhaps the earliest example in Melbourne (although it has subsequently been built in, it is restorable) and as part of a coherent mid-19th century commercial streetscape which gives some idea of the architectural character of this part of Melbourne in the post-gold rush period. '.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM.LEWIS, M- AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURE INDEX:Records 76236 Fenwick,- Melbourne VIC Warehouses McKenzie & Murray - Melbourne 1854 01 5 14, MCC registration no 14 [Burchett Index]. Fee 2.0.0 brick store Latrobe near near cnr Latrobe & King77161 Fenwick, Robert - Melbourne West Melbourne VIC Factories; Houses Fenwick, Robert 1854 07 3 1213, MCC registration no 1213 [Burchett Index]. Fee 2.0.0 iron house & workshops Dudley - near King71836 Fenwick,- Melbourne VIC alterations Eadie, John - Melbourne 1859 04 26 314, MCC registration no 314 [Burchett Index]. Fee 2.0.0 three-storey bluestone additions, King - 125 -.VICTORIA HERITAGE REGISTERH0801Extent of RegistrationAMENDMENT OF REGISTER OF HISTORIC BUILDINGSHistoric Building No. 801.The Former Phoenix Clothing Company, 347-349 King Street, Melbourne.(To the extent of all the buildings and land in part of Crown Allotment 9, Section 33, City of Melbourne, Parish of North Melbourne as shown hatched in Certificate of Title Volume 2730 Folio 1905).[Victoria Government Gazette No. G25 27 June 1990 p.1972]- See more at: http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/765#sthash.2RnTi54Q.dpuf.VICTORIAN HERITAGE INVENTORY H7822-20981866 map shows building on King St frontage (& laneway pattern).1905 - 3 storey buildings (phoenix Clothing Co).NATIONAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA (VIC)`Former Phoenix Clothing Factory - Group Classification347-349 King Street, MELBOURNE, MELBOURNE CITYStatement of SignificanceLast updated on - August 23, 2005Individual Statement of Significance : 347-349 King Street is an unusual three-storey stone and brick shop, residence and store complex, distinguished by its first floor loggia (the earliest known example) and its external integrity. The section facing King Street dates from 1854-1859, while the ground floor of the rear store section is probably of the 1860's. The building is part of a coherent mid 19th century commercial streetscape.Additions to the rear of the building relate to its use by the Phoenix Clothing Company, an early 1870's Melbourne clothing factory. This building appears to be a very rare survivor in the Central Business District, and amongst the earliest known surviving factories in the state. In fact, the whole of the building has important historical associations with the notable Fenwick Brothers, who owned it from the 1850's and founded the Phoenix clothing Company in 1870.Orlando Fenwick (1822-1897), who once lived on the premises, was a prominent Victorian clothing manufacturer and importer, and took a leading role in Melbourne harbour development schemes. He was also a Melbourne City Councillor over a long period, and Lord Mayor. More recently the structure has associations with J.H. Langdon and company, wool merchants, who also owned the adjoining buildings at 351-355 King Street.The site constitutes an important representation of Melbourne's nineteenth century industrial development, from the importation of clothing in the gold rush era to the establishment of the flourishing clothing manufacturing industry which occurred in the wake of post gold rush metropolitan growth and the introduction of tariff legislation in the 1970s.The Phoenix factory was one of Melbourne's larger and more highly mechanised nineteenth century clothing manufacturers, and has been credited with introducing advanced overseas technology to Victoria. It appears to be a very rare survivor of early Central Activities District Manufacturers and amongst the earliest known surviving factories in the state. It is the only early Melbourne clothing factory which is known to survive. It is a survivor of an industry which has been especially important in Victoria's history, particularly in relation to the issues of protection and industrial legislation. This industry is also of key importance to new fields of historical research, such as the development of assembly line production processes and women in the workforce.The essential design and structure of the complex provides a substantially intact representation of contemporary factory design and working conditions, and of aspects of nineteenth century building technology. Parts of its design may be directly related to the requirements of the Factory Acts for ventilation, sanitation and lighting.Classified: 21/03/1990Also part of a Group Classification with B1701 351- 5 King StreetGroup Statement of Significance : 351-355 and 347-349 King Street, Robert Kidd's buildings (351-5) and the Fenwick Brothers complex (347-9) were both built in the period between the gold rush of the early 1850s and the development of the colony's secondary industries in the 1870s. Parts of each complex relate to both important historical phases, in particular the former Phoenix Clothing Factory at the rear of 347-9 King Street and Isaac Davidson's clothing factory at the rear of 355 king Street. These early factories share a party wall, were once united via twin archways, and are still linked by a pitched loading lane from King Street.In King Street, the early date of the facades (1857 and 1856-9) distinguishes them among commercial streetscapes elsewhere in Melbourne and compares directly with the notable basalt stores of King Street South.Classified: 28/05/1990' - See more at: http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/65190#sthash.lDR5i2Ah.dpuf.NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)1854FENWICK, BROS., King-street, Flagstaff-hill,Wholesale Clothiers and Warehousemen, are constantly supplied from their English House, London and Gravesend. 3 Jul 131857NOTICE to all who wish to Save their Money —FENWICK BROS, are selling-Strong jumpers, 1s.Flannel drawers, 1s 6dThe best double back Scotch twill shirts, 3s. 6dMoleskin cord trowsers, 5s,A good coat, 2s. 6d.Stout winter coats, 7s. 6d.The very best bluchers, 10s.Watertights, 10s. 6d.Melbourne Clothes Exchange, 225 King streetFlagstaff hill.
Related material link:
347-349 King Street, Melbourne (Butler16532\\)347-349 King Street, Melbourne (Butler16531\\)347-349 King Street, Melbourne (Butler16535\\)347-349 King Street, Melbourne (Butler16530\\)347-349 King Street, Melbourne (Butler16533\\)347-349 King Street, Melbourne (Butler16534\\)347-349 King Street, Melbourne (Butler16529\\)
Names:
Topics:
Places:
Form/Genre:
Record types:
Research and reports
Record number:
1247809
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 105322 | 1 PDF : 945 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |