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New Zealand Loan & Mercantile Agency, 81-95 King Street & 538-544 Collins Street, Melbourne

Butler, Graeme1985

Record details

Title:

Creator:

Butler, Graeme (Name details)

Date of work:

1985

Reference number:

BIF-CITY 102114

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-BaroqueConstruction date: 1910.ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER:.VICTORIA HERITAGE REGISTER H0478What is significant?The Former New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company Ltd Building was built in 1909-10The four storey red brick and freestone building was designed by Oakden and Ballantyne and built by Swanson Brothers. The walls are red brick, sitting on a granite plinth, with render around the windows and sandstone ashlar blocks at the bottom part of the wall and in some areas around the windows. The building?s prominent corner site is accentuated by a heavy corner tower with oriel windows. The windows of the ground and first floor are slightly recessed within extended arches featuring stone voussoirs, while balconettes separate the third and fourth floors.How is it significant?The Former New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company Ltd Building is of architectural significance to the State of Victoria.Why is it significant?The Former New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company Ltd Building is of architectural significance for its unusual and eclectic style which is symbolic of a transitional time in Victorian architecture. Its free and eclectic use of Classical elements, oversized and ruptured details, broken pediments, over-scaled keystones, balustraded balconettes, oriels, combination of contrasting red brick and stone, metal clad cupola with ventilation turret and circular and arching windows with stone voussoirs demonstrates a move away from the exotic art-nouveau/romanesque back towards more conservative Classical styles just prior to WW1. The use of the Free or Edwardian Baroque styles in commercial buildings was unusual in Melbourne, and this building is now a rare example. The building, particularly the King and Collins Street facades and the cupola with ventilation turret and flagpole on the roof, represents an example of excellent early twentieth century craftsmanship, and is a major contributor to the Collins Street streetscape..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYcites GRAEME BUTLER 1982-3, ROYAL AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS (VIC) 20TH CENTURY ARCHITECTURE SURVEY and 20th CENTURY BUILDINGS REGISTER ;.National Trust of Australia (Vic)Erected in 1909/10 for the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company Limited, this building is an excellent example of the architectural styling of the period with the then move from Art Nouveau towards more conservative motifs indicated on the various details of the elevations. The loss of the original entrance doorway is regretted but other features are intact and the stone dressings about windows and oriels are particularly elegant. The later extensions of 1960 at the rear of the site facing King Street are not included.Classified: 06/03/1980.HERITAGE BRANCH, MINISTRY FOR PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT 1987 CITY OF MELBOURNE CENTRAL CITY NOTABLE BUILDINGS CITATIONSConstructed in 1910 to a design by Oakden and Ballantyne, this Edwardian office building is significant for the manner in which it dominates the King and Collins Street corner and for its demonstration of the reversion back to conservative architectural styles shortly before the first World War..NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)The Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946)Saturday 1 October 1910 - Page 34 illusthttps://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/142932516/15070568NEW ZEALAND LOAN AND MERCANTILE AGENCY LTD.`In style of architecture it is classed as late Victorian, with pier treatment of Ionic order the materials used being red brick and Pyrmont free stone. Noteworthy features are the revolving door entrance, rock-faced stone base and dressing, projecting oriels and balconies. There is a well lit and ventilated auction room on the third floor with a lift to the same, which is arranged so as to serve this room direct from an entrance in King Street-independent of the company's offices. The building is heated throughout with a system of hot-water radiators. Both gas and electric-light have been installed throughout, and the fittings of the genera) office and board room are of cedar, and the balance red pine....The architects are Messrs. Oakden and Ballantyne, and the builders Messrs. Swanson Brothers.The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954) Thu 29 Nov 1917 Page 4 NOTED ARCHITECT DIES- Oakdenhttps://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/242434384`...Included in the buildings designed by Messrs Oakden and Ballantyne are the fine structure of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency CompanyLimited/corner of Collins street and William street. Champion's Buildings, and the City Club.

Names:

City of MelbourneMinistry for Planning & Environment, 1983-1990

Topics:

Central Activities District Conservation Study 1985Conservation studiesBrickOffices1910-1919Notable Building Citations (Melbourne Planning Scheme)Twentieth Century Architecture Register (RAIA)

Places:

Melbourne (Vic.)

Form/Genre:

Building Identification Forms (BIFs)

Record types:

Research and reports

Record number:

1195698