Globe Hotel, later Latham House, 230-238 Swanston Street & 246-260 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne
Graeme Butler and Associates01/07/1989
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Title:
Globe Hotel, later Latham House, 230-238 Swanston Street & 246-260 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne
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Date of work:
01/07/1989
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 109397
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Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
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Graphic materialsTextual material
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Series: Central City (BIF-CITY)
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RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2023:__________________________________________________DATE: 1858-9, 1925-7;ASSOCIATIONS: Bennett, Robert;DESIGNER: BARRY, John M.;BUILDER: Bennett, Robert?Early Victorian Period__________________GRAEME BUTLER 1989, LITTLE BOURKE STREET PRECINCT CONSERVATION STUDY partHistoryRobert Bennett's story has been recounted as the necessary prelude to that of this hotel. Bennett, a stone mason, had arrived at Port Phillip in 1842 and eventually used his trade to construct this hotel's predecessor in stone quarried from the Merri Creek. It opened as the Globe Hotel, in April 1848, as 'built of the darkest granite, painted to relieve the sombre aspect which it would otherwise present and containing upwards of 20 rooms' so said the Argus, August 1848. Bennett built 'public stables and a hay shop' in Swanston Street (at the rear) in 1864, but otherwise no permits were sought for major building works until the added floor in 1925.An early photograph (Faunchery-Daintree, 1858) shows a similar building volume, while a later photograph shows the facade in detail, matching much of today's appearance (Jacobs Lewis Vines, p.35). Bennett at first owned only 37 feet of today's 67 feet Swanston Street frontage, the first hotel occupying this smaller site and shown as such in Bibb's c1855 - 6 plan. Peter Ferrie owned the balance of the site, selling to Henry Atkinson in 1842, but reselling some retained interest in what was described as 'land on the north side of the Globe Inn' to Bennett in 1858, for 300 pounds. Despite these transactions, Bennett was still able to lease the entire 67 foot frontage to John Ricketts, from 1852 - 63 and John Holland from 1853, presumably as a sub-lease arranged with Ferrie and Atkinson. Bennett also arranged a series of mortgages on the 37 foot site, including one for 2,000 pounds in the boom period of 1855. It was only after the apparent enlargement (and redecoration) of the hotel in 1858 that a mortgage was taken out with Hugh Glass for the entire site and, given the approaching depressed state of the economy, it was a large sum of 3,872 pounds paid. Bennett parted with his right to redeem the mortgage in 1864 for a spectacular 10,942 pounds. Confirmation of the hotel's reconstruction in 1858 - 9 can be gained from rate books.DescriptionGiven the early date, this fine Italian High Renaissance revival building is made more notably by its age. Superposed facade columns, in successive orders, are the distinctive elements of the design, framing segment-arched aedicule windows and supporting deep bracketed cornices over plain entablatures. The ground level was rusticated and once consisted of complementary flat and fully arched openings to both street elevations. Shopfronts, with arcaded joinery and recessed entries, occupied the two northernmost bays in Swanston Street. Another unusual aspect of the design was the curved corner, with its attendant curved glazing and cement detail. As a refined and ornate classical design, it compared with the original form of the smaller Imperial Hotel, Castlemaine, designed by Purchas & Swyer, in 1861.Statement of SignificanceThe original Globe Hotel, built 1848, was replaced by the present building in 1858 and continued to trade as such until 1927. The building was constructed as a three storey building without a verandah; the top storey appears to have been added in 1927 when it became 'Latham House' owned by the Victoria Society for the Protection of Animals. The elegant curve of the corner is emphasised as the major decorative feature by the use of double engaged Corinthian columns in this restrained design of classical elements. The building performs an important gateway function in conjunction with the former Ballarat Star Hotel opposite.Architecturally a sophisticated and successful Renaissance revival design for its age and type (upper two levels), also built for a relatively prominent Melbourne councillor and parliamentarian, whose involvement with the site stemmed from some of the earliest land sales. It complements a notable early Renaissance revival streetscape._____________________GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites PPT; 76-p11;VI p53,147___________________________NIGEL LEWIS DECEMBER 1976, HISTORIC AND ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY OF THE CENTRAL CITY OF MELBOURNE BOURKE STREET, EAST AREA 8 OF THE SURVEY COMMISSIONED BY THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS PRESERVATION COUNCIL (source 76)NAME: Latham House - Globe HotelADDRESS: 230-238 Swanston StreetTITLE DETAILS:CONSTRUCTION DATE: 1858ARCHITECTS: UnknownBUILDER: UnknownPROPRIETOR: Robert BennettFIRST OCCUPIER/USE: Globe HotelPREDOMINANT USE: do.CURRENT USE:Ground floor, A.N.Z. Bank officesMAIN CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS:HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE: GlobeBrick Hotel on site since 1848INTACTNESS/CONDITION: First and second floor facades intact and in good condition. Newshop front, awning and top floor.ALTERATIONS/ADDITIONS: Floor added and shop fronts alteredRECOMMENDATIONS: The Bourke and Little Bourke Street facades of this building are recommended for addition to the Historic Buildings Register on architectural and historical grounds.LATHAM HOUSE - GLOBE HOTEL M23 L14230-238 Swanston StreetThis history of the first building on this site as reported in the Victorian Historical Magazine, vol. 23, p. 66"Robert Bennett, stonemason and builder, arrived in Melbourne from Greenock in 1842, by the ship "Robert Benn". After working at his trade for 18 months he had saved sufficient money to buy portion of Lot 19, Block 22; this was the corner of Swanston and Little Bourke Streets. Times were bad, and on the days he was not working at his trade, he would set· off to Merri Creek with a large iron bar and a hammer, where he quarried and dressed stone, had it carted to his allotment, and then single-handed except for the help of a labourer for two weeks, he set the stone forming the walls of a building, doing much of the work by moonlight. When the roof was covered, he did nearly all the carpentering work by candle-light, after his day's labour. On completion of the building he applied for a Publican's Licence, which was refused. Bennett then obtained a transfer of the licence of the Travellers' Rest Hotel from G. H. Brownhill on 10th July, 1847, and was granted permission to remove this licence to his new house. The Argus of 18th August,. 1848 stated "One of the new buildings situated at the corner of Swanston and Little Bourke Streets, to which a considerable addition has been made by Mr. Bennett, mine host of the Travellers' Rest, who proposes transferring his licence there, is really a super [sic] affair, built of the darkest description granite, painted to relieve the sombre aspect which it would otherwise present, and containing upwards of 20 rooms".Bennett opened the new house on the 29th April 1848, as the Globe Hotel, and remained there until the 7th December 1852, when he leased the· place to John Richett. Robert Bennett (1822-91) owned a number of properties in the city from which the yearly income was reputed to be £11,000. Bennett joined the Melbourne City Council in 1853 and was Mayor in 1861-62. Entering politics, Bennett was an M.L.A. from 1856-57 and 1859-64. Like many city men, Bennett had pastoral interests taking up runs in the Swan Hill district in 1860-61. It was an unhappy venture and Bennett quarrelled with his neighbours and with the Lands Department over boundaries, stock and surveys. Neighbours allegedly burned down his homestead in 1866 and he was forced to abandon them a few years later, claiming that political . opponents were responsible for his misfortunes. Bennett appealed to a Parliamentary Select Committee in 1873 and, despite opposition, it awarded him compensation. 2 The present building was constructed in 18581 and since the next owner found in the Rate books is Robert Bennett in 1863, it is presumed he owned it in 1858. The building consisted of a ground floor and two storeys above with no verandah. The building operated as the Globe Hotel until 1927 when it became "Latham House" and was owned by the Victoria Society for the protection of Animals. Photographic evidence suggests that it was at this time that the top storey was added. It is felt that the rebuilding of the rear, and possible rebuilding of the interior occurred at this time. The extra storey and rear rebuilding have not detracted from the original composition but the corner splay of the top floor is out of character with the elegant curve of the original building. The addition of the cantilever awning and the complete destruction of the ground floor facade are regretted. The intrusion of the Chinatown 'arch' is also unsympathetic. The original facade shows an early use of classical elements in a restrained design. The elegant curve of the corner is an unusual solution for the transition into Little Bourke Street and adds greatly to the building's charm. This corner is emphasised as the major decorative feature by the use of double engaged Corinthian columns and the decoration trailing off away from the corner.RECOMMENDATION: The Bourke Street and Little Bourke Street facades are recommended for inclusion on the Historic Buildings Register as this building is an early and unusually elegant design. Latham House, with Armith House, forms a gateway effect to Chinatown. The appearance of these buildings would be enhanced if the Chinese 'arch' was supported independently and perhaps relocated further away from the corner of the building. Restoration of some of the ground floor work should be encouraged for this handsome building.1 Rate books and Sands and McDougall2. Bibliography File (Lord Mayors),· La Trobe Library3.Thomson, Kathleen and Geoffrey Serle: A biographical Register of Victorian Parliamentarians, 1851-1900. Canberra, 1972.___________________________Victorian Heritage Inventory H7822-1346Block on corner of Swanston & Little Bourke Sts purchased by Robert Bennett 1843. Hotel building constructed on the site by 1847. Obtained licence & opened as the "Globe Inn" (shown 1850 & 1855 maps). Leased to John Rickett 1852. Present building 3 storeys constructed 1858 as rebuild. Operated as the Globe Hotel until c.1927 when taken over by the Victorian Society for the protection of Animals and became Latham House (extensive alterations).Heritage Inventory Significance:CITATION - NOTABLE BUILDING (AM425): THE ORIGINAL GLOBE HOTEL, BUILT 1848, WAS REPLACED BY THE PRESENT BUILDING IN 1858 AND CONTINUED TO TRADE AS SUCH UNTIL 1927. THE BUILDING WAS CONSTRUCTED AS A THREE STOREY BUILDING WITHOUT A VERANDAH; THE TOP STOREY APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN ADDED IN 1927 WHEN IT BECAME "LATHAM HOUSE" OWNED BY THE VICTORIA SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF ANIMALS. THE ELEGANT CURVE OF THE CORNER IS EMPHASISED AS THE MAJOR DECORATIVE FEATURE BY THE USE OF DOUBLE ENGAGED CORINTHIAN COLUMNS IN THIS RESTRAINED DESIGN OF CLASSICAL ELEMENTS. THE BUILDING PERFORMS AN IMPORTANT GATEWAY FUNCTION IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FORMER BALLARAT STAR HOTEL OPPOSITE.___________________________VICTORIA HERITAGE DATABASELittle Bourke Street Precinct Statement of SignificanceChinese immigrants settled in Little Bourke Street as early as the mid 1850s. Chinese occupation in the city centre then extended north and west, creating a distinct enclave. The buildings that they occupied were not distinctively "Chinese" in their appearance but were rather the typical small brick shops, dwellings, warehouses and factories of the less affluent areas of Victorian Melbourne (indeed the area was not known as "Chinatown" until the 1970s).A number of architecturally distinctive, community oriented buildings were constructed in the heart of the precinct on Little Bourke Street. These included the Num Pon Soon Chinese Club House (1861), the Chinese Mission Church (1872), and the premises of leading Chinese merchant Sum Kum Lee (1888). However, the most obvious features of Chinatown were the Chinese themselves, their characteristic trades, and the often run-down general character of their quarter of the city. The overwhelmingly Anglo-Celtic community stigmatized both the Chinese and their portion of the city for an association with vice but, for many Chinese, Little Bourke Street was a centre of trade and community life.The precinct is bordered on its northern boundary by taller strip development fronting Lonsdale Street. Many Victorian and Edwardian buildings survive in this location and they provide an important contextural link between the "back streets and lanes" of the heart of the precinct and the more public areas of the city. Since the Second World War Lonsdale Street has become a centre for Melbourne's Greek immigrant community, further enhancing the cultural diversity of this cosmopolitan precinct of the city.___________________________LEWIS, M- AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURE INDEX: RecordJohn M. BARRY: tenders wanted - fitting up the Globe Inn, Swanston St for Robert BennettArgus 6.1.1858 p 777546 Bennett, Robert - innkeeper - Swanston St Melbourne VIC Stables Bennett, Robert 1850 12 20 536- MCC registration no 536 [Burchett Index]. Fee 2.2.0public stables and hay store___________________________City of Melbourne Central City Notable Buildings Citations 1987:The original Globe Hotel, built 1848, was replaced by the present building in 1858 and continued to trade as such until 1927. The building was constructed as a three storey building without a verandah; the top storey appears to have been added in 1927 when it became "Latham House" owned by the Victoria Society for the Protection of Animals. The elegant curve of the corner is emphasised as the major decorative feature by the use of double engaged corinthian columns in this restrained design of classical elements . The building performs an important gateway function in conjunction with the former Ballarat Star Hotel opposite___________________________NEWSPAPERS:1858William Holland obtained a licence for the Globe Hotel, Swanston-street1859TO LET, the SHOPS, newly-erected, adjoining Globe Hotel, Swanston, streot. Apply to Dr.Fletcher, Lygon-strcct, Carlton....https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/154876807GLOBE HOTEL, SWANSTON STREET.W. HALLIDAYBegs to inform his friends, and the public generally, that he has taken those extensive and magnificent premises now known as the GLOBE HOTEL, Which are fitted up in a style, which for Comfort and Convenience, is Unrivalled in the Australian Colonics.THE SUPPLY OF Ale Wines and Spirits has been well and carefully selected, the long experience of the Proprietor giving him great advantage in laying in his stock.Private Sitting-rooms, lofty and well ventilated Bed-rooms, Stabling, and every convenience of a first class Hotel with the latest home improvements.THE DAY OP OPENING WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN FUTURE ADVERTISEMENTS..The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957)Wednesday 5 October 1859 - Page 8https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5689388TO LET, by TENDER, up to Friday, the 14th of October, the GLOBE HOTEL, situate in Swanston-street, lately in the occupation of Wm. Halliday. This magnificent hotel has been recently erected regardless of expense, and is superior to any other hotel in the colonies. The rooms are spacious, well ventilated, and elegantly fitted up with every convenience. Baths, water, gas, and bells laid on all though the buildings. The tender to be addressed to David Lyons, Esq., spirit merchant, Swanston- street, where all information can be obtained; or the proprietor, Robert Bennett, Fitzroy-street, St. Kilda.
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| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
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| Original | 109397 | 1 JPEG : 987 KB ; A4 | Single Item (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |