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ANZAC House, 4-6 Collins Street, Melbourne

Butler, Graeme1985

Record details

Title:

Creator:

Butler, Graeme (Name details)

Date of work:

1985

Reference number:

BIF-CITY 102173

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: Neo-RenaissancePeriod: Inter-WarConstruction date: 1937-1938Architect: Oakley & ParkesMaterials: Hawkesbury River sandstoneNotable features: Stone facing__________________________________________________ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER:__________________________________________________VICTORIA HERITAGE REGISTER H0415What is significant?ANZAC House is a brick and reinforced concrete building with a facade of Hawkesbury River Stone. It was designed by Stanley Parkes, principal of the firm Oakley and Parkes, and built in 1938 for the Victorian Branch of the Returned Soldiers and Sailors Imperial League of Australia (later known as the RSL) to provide accommodation for administrative functions, including welfare assistance; and for associated bureau activities and groups, such as Returned Nurses, Father's Association, and the women's auxiliaries. It also provides tenantable office space. The building consists of four storeys, a basement and caretaker's residence on the roof. A notable feature of the front elevation is a carved symbolic sculpture by Orlando Dutton representing a man holding high the Lamp of Honour with his heel crushing the serpent of Evil.How is it significant?ANZAC House is of architectural and historical significance to the State of Victoria.Why is it significant?ANZAC House is of architectural significance as a finely detailed example of the 20th century Georgian revival which manages to blend a muted modernism with sympathy to the older styles characteristic of the buildings at the eastern end of Collins Street. The facade is a restrained exercise in modern classicism, complementing the surrounding buildings, which date from between 1872 and 1928. Parkes was a prominent proponent of the "moderne style" in Melbourne, but was keen to ensure that his building was in harmony with the Collins Street streetscape. The interiors, particularly the entrance vestibule and stairwell, which feature highly polished stone, metal and glass surfaces, are more recognisably modern than the revivalist facade. The restrained and dignified building, together with its prestigious address, reflects the prominent place occupied by the RSL in Australian society.ANZAC House is of architectural significance as a fine example of the work of the important architectural firm Oakley and Parkes. Oakley and Parkes were innovators in the moderne style, with their Yule House (1932) in Little Collins Street thought to be Victoria's, and even Australia's, first example of a moderne-style commercial building. Their Kodak House (1934-35) in Collins Street may have been the first in the city to employ stainless steel in the facade. Although less innovative, ANZAC House demonstrates the ability of Oakley and Parkes to adapt the moderne style to a sensitive streetscape environment.ANZAC House is of historical significance as the headquarters of the Victorian Branch of the RSL since 1938. Its prominent siting reflects the RSL's ongoing social welfare role and important contribution to Australian cultural life. The large collection of photographs, historical records and memorabilia held at the site, and the RSL's continuing occupation of the building, contribute to this significance. As a monument itself, Anzac House represents the important role played by the RSL in the 1920s and 1930s in its contribution to the physical landscape of memorialisation in the wake of the Great War, for example through the erection of the Shrine of Remembrance (1934), and the numerous RSL memorial halls and war memorials erected in the State's cities and country towns.__________________________________________________GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites GRAEME BUTLER 1982-3, ROYAL AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS (VIC) 20TH CENTURY ARCHITECTURE SURVEY and 20th CENTURY BUILDINGS REGISTER__________________________________________________NATIONAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA (VIC)Anzac House was constructed for the Victorian branch of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers' Imperial League of Australia in 1938-39 to provide accommodation for administrative functions as well as tenantable office space. Architect Stanley Parkes, treasurer of Junior Legacy and principal of Oakley and Parkes, designed this four storey brick and reinforced concrete structure faced with Sydney sandstone in renaissance revival mode which complimented the buildings at the eastern end of Collins street. As such, it is important for the streetscape relationship with adjacent buildings including 'Portland House' and 'Alcaston House'. Oakley and Parkes accomplished proponents of the emerging modern style, integrated details from this movement within the interiors of Anzac House to contrasr with the notable renaissance piazzo facade.Anzac House is maintained intact and in excellent conditionAdapted from AHC Citation.Classified: 08/07/1976__________________________________________________HERITAGE BRANCH, MINISTRY FOR PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT 1987 CITY OF MELBOURNE CENTRAL CITY NOTABLE BUILDINGS CITATIONSDesigned by Stanley Parkes and built as offices for the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia in 1938-39, this four-storey reinforced concrete building was faced with sandstone in a renaissance revival design in order for it to fit in with the surrounding buildings at the top of Collins Street. The building is significant as an example of environmental design combined with the design principles of the emerging modern movement.__________________________________________________NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954)Thursday 24 December 1936 - Page 8https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205947959NEW ANZAC HOUSE. SITE IN COLLINS-STREET.Purchased for £19,000. A new site at Nos. 4-6 Collins-street has been purchased by the Victorian State branch of the Returned Soldiers' League, and a new building to house the league's activities will be erected there about the middle of next year. The purchase price was £ 16,000. Authority for the trustees of Anzac House to make the purchase was riven by the State council of the R.S.L. at Its meeting on Tuesday night, and the sale w as completed last evening. The pre sent building was recently sold to the Australian Temperance and General Mutual Life Assurance Society Ltd. for £70,000, and the league was given tenure of twelve months ns from 1st January, 1037, before having to vacate the present building. At the present time to now Collins-street site Is temporarily occupied as a motor car park. The property has a frontage of 57 feet 10% inches to Collins-street, with a depth ol 145 feet 1 in. to a right of way at the rear…. and .is considered in league circles to be ideal for returned-soldier activities. The vendor was Mr. L. H. Green, of St. Kilda. The State president (Mr. G. W. Hol land) stated yesterday afternoon: —"The trustees have entered into a contract to buy the property at Nos. 4-6 Collins- Street for ,£19,000, and the State council of the league has agreed to the purchase. - No decision has yet been made by the trustees as ,to the type of building to ' be erected on the site, but representatives of the State council and the trustees will confer, and it is expected that some decision will be reached about the beginning of March. The site is considered an excellent one for the league's purposes, being in close proximity to the State Public Offices and Parliament House. It Is also close enough to the centre of the city to be convenient to members of the organisation and to the various people who have association with the movement." . The purchase was a cash transaction of the £70,000 obtained by the league for the present site, it is understood that £8000 will be set aside to liquidate an overdraft on the building, and the remainder will be used in the construction end furnishing of a new building. Accommodation will have to be found at the new site for the Returned Army Nurses' Club, the T.B. Soldiers' Association, the Melbourne sub-branch of the R.S.L., State executive head quarters, " ' Children's Health Bureau… relief officers; "Mufti" the organisation 's official journal, and club rooms.All of these activities are housed within the four floors of Anzac House, but owing to the unsuitability of the 1 building the occupants are cramped for space. Because of this position the new building will be at least four stories high. Although portion of the frontage of -Anzac House is leased to business firms, it is not yet known whether any of the new building will be similarly leased….The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954)Wednesday 3 March 1937 - Page 3https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/244642213ANZAC HOUSE At a joint meeting of the trustees of Anzac House and the council of the Victorian branch of the Returned Soldiers' League held today, Mr Stanley T. Parkes, of the Arm of Messrs Oakley and Parkes, Bourke Street, was appointed architect for the new Anzac House, to be erected at Nos. 4-6 Collins Street, city. Mr Parkes saw service with the Australian Light Horse at Gallipoli and in Palestine….The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957)Tuesday 27 July 1937 - Page 10https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11100075THE DESIGN for the new Anzac House …(illust.)The new building will contain four floors with a small basement at the rear housing the mechanical equipment the employment bureau and the vocational guidance office On the street frontage to Collins street there will be professional looms available for letting and the remainder of the ground floor will be used for offices of the Victorian branch of the league and the main committee rooms On the first floor portion of the space will be used for members club accommodation This will include a billiard room with two tables and a buffet Various meeting rooms executive committee rooms trustees offices and the Children s Health Bureau will occupy the remainder of the space Clubrooms will be provided for the Re turned Nurses Association on portion of the second floor The accommodation vv ill include lounge room ante-rooms kitchen and secretary s loom The balance of this floor and the whole of the third floor will be available for letting as professional rooms Caretakers quarters will be built on the roofIn designing the facade the architect has adopted the traditional style he was influenced by the architectural style of the buildings in the vicinity and was anxious not to strike a discordant note The building will be of brick and concrete construction and will be faced with either Hawkesbury River or Pyrmont stone The base will be of polished granite. A feature of the design will be a symbolical composition, sculptured in relief above the second floor windows and flanked by two sculptured plaquesA central heating and ventilating system will be installed The site, which has a frontage of 58ft to Collins street, reducing to 46ft at the rear by a depth of 145ft was purchased by the league for £19,000, shortly after the present Anzac House had been sold foe £70 000, to the Australian Temperance and General Mutual Life Assurance Society Ltd Tenders will be Invited shortly for the new building, which it is estimated will cost £39,680 Work will commence about October, and will occupy about nine months. The architect is Mr Stanley T Parkes of Messrs Oakley and Parkes, of 472 Bourke street.The Dandenong Journal (Vic. : 1927 - 1954)Thursday 4 November 1937 - Page 5https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/200681897ANZAC HOUSE Now under construction, the new Anzac House, at Nos. 4-6 Collins street, is being built by an ex-soldier, Mr. Norman Taylor, of Dandenong. The four-storey building, to cost £39,680, will be the most important built by Mr. Taylor in Melbourne, but he has been builder and contractor for many important works since the war, and has just completed the construction of the big Carmelite Monastery at Ringwood.Mr. Taylor served with the 22nd' Battalion on Gallipoli, and with the 7th Battalion in France. He is a past president of the Dandenong branch of the Returned Soldiers’ -League, secretary of the Dandenong. Cricket Association, a popular member of Kings wood Golf Club, and also a member of Rotary. (illust).The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957)Tuesday 15 March 1938 - Page 4https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11172874Nearing Completion .Work on the new Anzac House, on' the north side of Collins street, near Spring street, is proceeding according to schedule, and the architect, Mr, Stanley T. Parkes, of Oakley and Parkes, expects that it will be completed early in June…Old Anzac House at 151 Collins street, near Russell street, which was sold by the league to the Temperance and General Mutual Life Assurance Society Ltd, for £70,000, is now being demolished. The site will be used by the society for extension to the present building. Plans for this work are now being prepared by A. and K. Henderson and partners, architects, of Bank place..The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954)Wednesday 13 July 1938 - Page 10https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205131236Anzac House Opening.The official opening of Anzac House 4 Collins-street, will take place at 3.30 p.m. to-day. One hundred guests have been invited to attend. The Minister of Lands (Mr. Lind) will represent the State Ministry. The chairman (Mr. C J. Mulllns) will perform the opening ceremony.

Names:

City of MelbourneOakley & Parkes, c1920-c1938

Topics:

Central Activities District Conservation Study 1985Conservation studiesNeo-Renaissance styleInterwar periodStone facing1930-1939Twentieth Century Architecture Register (RAIA)Notable Building Citations (Melbourne Planning Scheme)

Places:

Melbourne (Vic.)

Form/Genre:

Building Identification Forms (BIFs)

Record types:

Research and reports

Record number:

1197776