Sands and MacDougall factory, 355-369 Spencer Street, West Melbourne
Butler, Graeme10 Jan 1985
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Sands and MacDougall factory, 355-369 Spencer Street, West Melbourne
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Date of work:
10 Jan 1985
Reference number:
BIF-NORTH 598605
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Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
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Graphic materialsTextual material
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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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GRAEME BUTLER 1983, CONSERVATION STUDY FOR THE CITY OF MELBOURNE OF NORTH AND WEST MELBOURNEGrading as at 1985 : APeriod : Mid Victorian (1888)Grantee : M Benjamin 1851History - Sands and Kenny ( .. 1857-61) and Sands and McDougall, (1862-c1974)were the publishers of the directory to commercial and general Melbourne, later, the Melbourne and suburban directory and the 'Directory of Victoria ' providing the longest issue of any other directory publisher in Victoria . They also published a directory of Canberra. 1From their first retailing outlet, the Victoria Stationery Warehouse in Collins Street West (No.46) and stores in Little Flinders Street, their expansion provided for the erection of this factory building to the design of Thomas Watts and Sons, by builder F. Lavers of Hawthorn. Product s made there included cardboard and paper containers, those associated with book binding and general stationery and letterpress printing was combined with general publishing. 4Watts is also known for, commercial buildings, such as 'Robb's Building (1866) formerly in Collins Street; t he early buildings of the Gordon Institute of Technology in Bowen Street, Melbourne; stores for the City Property Co. in Flinders Lane (1889); stores for Alston and Payne in McKillop Street (1888) and the similarly gigantic and brick Victoria Sugar Company Works, Beach Street, Port Melbourne.5Description - A large six-storey, red brick and stucco factory building with basalt sills and parapeted roof line. Three facade bays are expressed by parapet pediments and some storeys divided by string-moulds, below the parapet cornice.Reputedly riveted wrought-iron columns and beams are the internal structure with timber floors fire-proofed by the Traegerwellbech arched corrugated plate linings, with in combustible infill (refer Victoria Bond 565-71 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne - a five-storey store claimed as the first to use the all-wrought-iron frame combined with the Traegerwellbech system, 1887). As befits its manufactory function, ornament derived from t he Italian Renaissance is applied sparingly (refer later Laurens - Munster Terrace complex).Integrity - Generally original, some openings altered.Streetscape - A corner site, original condition and gigantic proportions set amongst low-rise neighbours, determine t hat this is a period landmark.Significance - Architecturally , like many other store/factory buildings of the period and earlier, this dominates it contemporaries in scale and like the Victoria Bond and Lonsdale Free Store, 541-51 Lonsdale Street (1890), adopts Classical ornament in the commercial oeuvre current since the 1850s . However, both of these examples are comparatively altered. Other examples include the former wool stores in Brougham Street Geelong and t he former Robur Tea Building in Clarendon Street, South Melbourne . A later example is the former Victorian Sugar Company Works which is architecturally later and a larger more varied complex. This building is a large and original, prominently sited and competently ornamented 19th century factory building which possesses early use of all iron fire-proofed framing and was designed by the distinguished architectural firm, Thomas Watts and Sons. It is of State importance as an indicative and surprisingly original example of the fast disappearing large industrial buildings of the late 19th century.Historically, the earliest known surviving and most substantial building linked with this most well known of stationary firms: of State importance.Recommendations- Prepare a conservation/restoration strategy for the building; restore and conserve.References:(RB= Rate book; D= Melbourne or Victoria Directory; PA= CITY OF MELBOURNE BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION)1. D. 1857; Directory Guide typescript (SLV); D. 1962 - ,2. BD 1868; D.1962 (advertisement)3. PA 3416/18884. D. 1962 (advertisement)5. R.V.I.A. Journal and Proceedings 1906 p.99 (obit.); PA 3279, 3715/1888; PA 4180/1889___________________________GRAEME BUTLER & ASSOCIATES, 2015. WEST MELBOURNE HERITAGE REVIEWSands and McDougall precinctWhat is significant?Sands and Kenny (1857-61) and Sands and McDougall, (1862-c1974) were the publishers of the directory to commercial and general Melbourne, later, the Melbourne and suburban directory and the 'Directory of Victoria' providing the longest issue of any other directory publisher in Victoria. They also published a directory of Canberra.From their first retailing outlet, the Victoria Stationery Warehouse in Collins Street West (No.46) and stores in Little Flinders Street, their expansion provided for the erection of this factory building to the design of Thomas Watts and Sons, by builder F. Lavers of Hawthorn. Products made there included cardboard and paper containers, maps, those associated with book binding and general stationery and letterpress printing was combined with general publishing.Thomas Watts and Sons accepted tenders for erection of the adjoining 3 level warehouse in Spencer Street, Melbourne in 1900 for Sands and McDougall Ltd. In 1914 Reynolds Bros of 118 Rose Street Fitzroy erected a factory for Sands and McDougall, West Melbourne in Jeffcott Street designed by Arthur and Hugh Peck.The design firm, Thomas Watts and Sons, is also known for commercial buildings, such as Robb's Building (1866) formerly in Collins Street; stores for the City Property Co. in Flinders Lane (1889); stores for Alston and Payne in McKillop Street (1888) and the similarly gigantic and brick Victoria Sugar Company Works, Beach Street, Port Melbourne (since renovated as apartments).Reputedly riveted wrought-iron columns and beams are the internal structure with timber floors fire-proofed by the Traegerwellbech arched corrugated plate linings, with in combustible infill. The former Victoria Bond 565-71 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne - a five-storey store claimed as the first to use the all-wrought-iron frame combined with the Traegerwellbech system, 1887, since demolished. As befits its manufactory function, ornament derived from the Italian Renaissance is applied sparingly (refer later Laurens - Munster Terrace complex).Contributory elements include: buildings at 83-113, 115, 135 Batman Street, 23 Franklin Place, 102 Jeffcott Street, 355 and 371 Spencer StreetSands and McDougall Pty. Ltd. Main wing, 355 Spencer Street, 1888-9-a grand six-storey, red brick and stucco parapeted factory building set on the Jeffcott Street corner;-symmetrically arranged three main façade bays, each with a hipped roof form over, as expressed by massive parapet pediments;-cemented parapet cornice and string moulds dividing the storeys;-basalt sills and voussoirs to formerly double-hung sash window openings;-bracketed cement hood over the entry;-painted wall signs with the firm's name on north and south sides; and-contribution as a period landmark being a major corner site, in original condition and with gigantic proportions set amongst low-rise neighbours and the centre-piece of an associated complex of red brick industrial buildings in the locality and the former Melbourne Remand Centre that was clearly inspired by this building..Sands and McDougall Pty. Ltd. Warehouse, 371 Spencer Street, 1900-a three-storey, red brick and stucco parapeted warehouse adjoining the factory;-symmetrically arranged three main façade bays, each with a hipped roof form over, as expressed by cemented parapet pediments, with flanking scrolls;-cemented parapet cornice and string moulds dividing the storeys;-basalt sills and voussoirs to formerly double-hung sash window openings;-painted wall signs with the firm's name on north and south sides; and-contribution as a period landmark being a major corner site, in original condition and with gigantic proportions set amongst low-rise neighbours and the centre-piece of an associated complex of red brick industrial buildings in the locality..Openings altered with single pane glazing in place of double-hung sash windows, entry altered..Sands and McDougall Pty. Ltd. 102 Jeffcott Street factory 1914-face brick (bricks painted over) one level plus basement building set on a stone paved lane between it and the main building; and-double gabled parapeted roofline, corrugated iron clad roof behind..Openings altered, entry altered..Sands and McDougall Pty. Ltd. box factory, 83-113 Batman Street, 1927-8, 1937-1940Contributory elements include:-four and five-level face red brick factory building in a bold and austere proto-Modern style;-eight bays of brick piers dividing the street elevation, with brick spandrels separating windows;-visual reinforcement of each end with lesser pier spacing;-multi-gabled side elevations to lanes;-pitched roofs behind parapets;-some remaining steel framed multi-pane glazing to end bays;-concrete lintels expressed across openings; and-some vertical boarded external doors;-strong visual and historical link to the adjoining Sands and McDougall complex and the former Goetz building on the west (redeveloped)..WG Goetz and Son Pty. Ltd, 115 Batman Street, 1925, 1935-two level red brick parapeted and gabled facades (with major upper level tower addition);-deeply moulded cement string mould and cemented lintels;-punched openings (altered); and-panelled brickwork bays..Sands and McDougall wood working building, 135 Batman Street, Interwar.-one-level red brick parapeted factory, with pitched corrugated iron clad roof;-piered and panelled parapet;-bracketed cornice moulding;-punched openings; and-double-hung sash windows, timber-framed..W O'Donnell engineers workshop, at 23 Franklin Place-red brick, two-level parapeted and gabled workshop building..How is it significant?Sands and McDougall precinct is significant historically and aesthetically to West Melbourne, the City of Melbourne and Victoria..Why is it significant?Sands and McDougall complex precinct is significant.Aesthetically, like many other warehouse or factory buildings of the period and earlier, this complex dominates its residential contemporaries in scale and adopts the Italian Renaissance Revival ornament of commercial designs current since the 1870s but in this case executed in red brick with stucco trim. The main building of 1888-9 is a large and original, prominently sited and competently ornamented 19th century factory building which possesses early use of all iron fire-proofed framing and was designed by the distinguished architectural firm, Thomas Watts and Sons. It is of State importance as an indicative and surprisingly original example of the fast disappearing large industrial buildings of the late 19th century. The adjacent contributory buildings from the Interwar period use the same architectural language and materials but with a modern interpretation; andHistorically, the complex includes the most of the known surviving and most substantial buildings linked with this most well known of stationery firms that had a national presence and is one of the most significant industrial complexes in Victoria, with the Goetz factory also representing a specialised area of manufacture that differs from the more typical heavy industry.
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| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 598605 | 1 PDF : 777 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |