Levicks and Piper's store, later Austral Grain & Ambler, 46-52 King Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Title:
Levicks and Piper's store, later Austral Grain & Ambler, 46-52 King Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 105396
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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Period: Early VictorianConstruction date: 1857-Architects: Leonard Terry.ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER:.VICTORIA HERITAGE REGISTER H0431Statement of Significance'What is significant?The Former Levicks and Piper Wholesale Ironmongers Warehouse was erected in 1859 to a design by Leonard Terry. It is a two storey bluestone building, with a facade composed of classically decorated fenestration, storey divisions and cyclopean rustication below the first storey cornice. Above this cornice the facade is composed of finished bluestone broken by horizontal mouldings at window sill level and below the projecting parapet cornice. The upper window openings are topped with cornice mouldings and slightly recessed.How is it significant?The Former Levicks and Piper Wholesale Ironmongers Warehouse is of historical and architectural significance to the State of Victoria.Why is it significant?The Former Levicks and Piper Wholesale Ironmongers Warehouse is of historical significance as one of the few surviving warehouses in the south-west part of the city, serving as a reminder of the maritime and commercial character of this part of the city in the 19th and early 20th centuries. When Melbourne's port facilities extended almost as far up the Yarra as Queen Street, the south-western portion of the city was the location for numerous warehouses and other buildings with maritime and commercial functions. This warehouse, and the others in its vicinity, provide some evidence of the original maritime character of this precinct, and suggest, by their substantial appearance, the growing wealth and importance of Melbourne as a port city in the wake of the gold rushes.The Former Levicks and Piper Wholesale Ironmongers Warehouse is of architectural significance as a fine example of a 19th century bluestone warehouse, and of Leonard Terry's warehouse buildings. The building is typical of Terry's conservative classical style, with graceful proportions and skilful use of bluestone. This is one of Terry's earlier commissions, although in 1858 he had designed the Melbourne Club. He went on to become the colony's principal designer of banks and Anglican Churches, becoming the diocesan architect in 1860..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites Perrott Lyon Timlock & Kesa 1976 (79), p26:cites land owners as Allison & Knight 1859-, Levicks & Piper 1858-1868 and occupirs 1859-65; Graham & Bergin 1866- also Greig & Co; Hardy Wilson & Co 1869-; Russell & Gillespie..; Eliza Tinsley, Iron & Steel Merchants 1883-, 1920s Austral Grain & AmblerJ & J Levick and F Piper, Ironmongers, see p.58 "Early Melbourne Architecture".LEWIS, M- AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURE INDEX(74759 Levicks & Piper Melbourne VIC Warehouses Lawrence, James - 51 Young St. Coll. 1857 05 25 440, MCC registration no 440 [Burchett Index]. Fee 3.0.0 bluestone store, William near cnr William & Flinders Lane)76040 Levick & Piper Melbourne VIC Warehouses Cameron, Thomas - Melbourne 1856 02 6 102, MCC registration no 102 [Burchett Index]. Fee 2.0.0 store Flinders Lane - near King - at rear`Leonard TERRYTenders wanted - erection of a bluestone store in King Street for Lericks (sic) and Piper. Argus 22.4.1857 p 6'.VICTORIA HERITAGE REGISTERFORMER LEVICKS AND PIPER WHOLESALE IRONMONGERS WAREHOUSE - HistoryContextual History:History of Place:This warehouse has had a number of occupiers over the years. It was constructed for Levicks and Piper, Wholesale Ironmongers, who used it until 1865. It was then used as a free and bonded store by Graham and Bergin and WJ Greig and Co. until 1869. Hardy Wilson and Co., produce merchants, occupied it from 1869 to 1874, when Russell and Gillespie took it over briefly. From 1875-1881, JH Pow and Isaacs were the occupants, followed by Eliza Tinsley, iron and steel merchants, from 1883 to 1924. After 1924 it was used as a grain store by Austral Grain and Ambler and in 1975 converted to a restaurant. It has since been a nightclub and entertainment venue.Associated People: Tenant LEVICKS & PIPER, ELIZA TINSLEY;.ONMYDOORSTEP WEB SITE 2016`3rd land sale, 13 Sept 1838, Block 2, Allotment 19, purchased by Thomas Brown. 1859 -two-storey bluestone warehouse with cellar, constructed for Levicks & Piper, Ironmongers. 1866 - building on site. 1877 - two-storey building JH Pow & Co. 1888 -two- storey building, E Tinsley, Iron & Steel Merchants. 1905 - same, Ambler & Farrell & Co, Produce Auction..PERROTT, LYON, TIMLOCK AND KESA 1976, C.B.D. STUDY, CITY OF MELBOURNE CONSERVATION STUDY AREA TWO: 26-DESCRIPTION:Stone (bluestone) warehouse and offices.2 floors and' cellarSITE: 60' x 72'BUILT: 1859 (1)LAND OWNER: Allison and Knight (59-60)Levicks and Piper (1861-68) (2)Allison and Knight (1869-.OCCUPIERS:(1859-65) Levicks and Piper (Wholesale Ironmongers)(1866-Graham and Bergin (Free and Bonded Stores)W.J. Greig & Co. (Stores)(1869- ) Hardy Wilson & Co. (Produce Merchant)(1874-) Russell & Gillespie(1875-81) J.H. Pow and Issacs (Steam Bark Mills)(1883- ) Tinsley Eliza (Iron and steel merchants)(… 1924 .. ) Austral Grain and AmblerARCHITECT: Leonard Terry.NOTES:(1) Argus, 21st. April, 1857. Tenders called by Terry. (49 Collins Street, West).(2) Memorial 93-14, December 1858, Thomas Brown conveyed the land to Joshua and James Levick also to Frederick Piper..NOTES ON EXISTING CONDITIONS:King Street Facade:Generally original, excepting ground floorwindows and doorway (glazing and joinery).Rear Facade:Generally original excepting window and door openings (glazing and joinery).Internally:Totally renovatedUpper floor original roof having trusses of Oregon & red gum: columns (12" x 12" hardwood) and capitals remain basically unaltered.The basement level has been expanded and lined with plastic imitation scoria boulders.ARCHITECTURAL IMPORTANCE;This facade has been discussed under 573-7 Lonsdale Street in the vein of style progression related to the common architect involved· (L. Terry).Fundamentally, however, it along with the above building, are in our view the best designed bluestone facades in the C.B.D.The alterations involved in the change of use to a restaurant have not been too damaging and thus the facade remains substantially intact. The cleaning of the facade, resultant from the renovations, has strengthened the feeling of precise execution of simple but crucial details..HERITAGE BRANCH, MINISTRY FOR PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT 1987 CITY OF MELBOURNE CENTRAL CITY NOTABLE BUILDINGS CITATIONSDesigned by Leonard Terry and built in 1859, this two-storey bluestone warehouse was constructed for Levicks and Piper, wholesale ironmongers. One of the important early warehouses of King Street, it is also a significant example of the Conservative Classical style of the architect, Terry.
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| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 105396 | 1 PDF : 636 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |