Victoria Buildings, 175-179 Victoria Street, West Melbourne
Butler, Graeme21 Jan 1985
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Victoria Buildings, 175-179 Victoria Street, West Melbourne
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Date of work:
21 Jan 1985
Reference number:
BIF-NORTH 109682
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Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
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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 : CPeriod : Early Victorian (1865-1865)Grantee : R Walton 1859History -Robert Walton, the original grantee and builder and plasterer of Lygon Street Carlton, probably built these shops as an investment, during 1864-5. He owned them for over thirty years and leased them to such traders as William Marsden, a tobacconist, who was in 175 Victoria Street for over 10 years; Isaac Long a shoemaker , Sam Jacobs' 2 a dealer; James Nesbitt a fruiterer; and James Hogan a bootmaker.3Of note is that the rated valuation increased from 30 pounds to 54 pounds each c1890, when the description changed to 'brick shop, four rooms' from that with ••• 'three rooms'. 4 This may mean the addition of a storey..5Description -A two-storey stuccoed brick shop and residence row of three with an iron Corporation verandah and parapeted roof line. The central wall bay of the three parts, is elevated and given a gabled entablature with vermiculation, flanking piers and pilasters, pineapples and an acroterion as decoration. Architraves and stepped string and cornice moulds provide further ornament. Timber shop fronts exist on 175.Integrity -Ingo-shop fronts have been replaced and the streetverandah removed on 179-81Streetscape -A major corner element in the Victoria Street commercial .precinct, paralleling with 187-9 on the contiguous corner of the block at Capel Street.Significance -Architecturally, a shop and residence row of mixed derivation and integrity, but generally exemplifying the late nineteenth century with its upper facade splayed, return street verandah and shop front remnants constituting a major streetscape element: of regional importance.Historically, a shop row with an early beginning, built by one of the many developer-builders in the area and occupying a prominent location in the retail area: of local importance.References:(RB= Rate book; D= Melbourne or Victoria Directory)RB 1866, 1164-7; RB 1896-97 449,451; RB1875, 1253; RB 1885-8 ,437, 439; RB 1881 -82, 1304; RB 1890- 1, 175-179___________________________GRAEME BUTLER & ASSOCIATES, 2015. WEST MELBOURNE HERITAGE REVIEWWhat is significant?Robert Walton, the original Crown Grantee and a builder and plasterer of Lygon Street, Carlton, had these shops built as an investment, during 1864-5. He owned them for around forty years and leased them to such traders as William Marsden, a tobacconist, who leased 175 Victoria Street for over ten years; also Isaac Long a shoemaker, Sam Jacobs, a dealer; James Nesbitt a fruiterer; and James Hogan a bootmaker.The City of Melbourne rate valuation increased from ₤30 to ₤54 each in 1890, when the description changed to 'brick shop, four rooms' from that with 'three rooms' and the shops were all listed as `vacant' in the City of Melbourne Rate Books. This probably meant reconstruction or the addition of a storey and a new façade, given the DeGruchy and Leigh isometric of 1866 shows one level. Walton owned these buildings at his death in 1912, leaving an extensive property holding and highly valued estate, equivalent to approximately $966,380.Contributory elements include:a two-storey stuccoed brick shop and residence row of three;parapeted roof line with cemented chimneys and pitched corrugated iron clad roof behind;tripartite Victoria Street façade with central wall bay given a raised gabled entablature with the building name, vermiculation in the tympanum, flanking piers and pilasters, pineapples and an acroterion as cemented decoration;secondary pedimented entablature with scrolls over the corner splay;pilaster divisions on the upper level for three smaller shops at the west end of the Victoria Street façade, none on the Peel Street elevation;ornamental metal wall vents;cemented architraves to the three-light upper level double-hung sash windows;blind upper level window on the corner splay at Capel Street;stepped string and cornice moulds as further ornament;part of an early timber shop front on 175;an iron City of Melbourne Corporation pattern verandah with convex verandah; andcontribution as a major corner element in the Victoria Street commercial precinct, paralleling with 187-9 on the contiguous corner of the block at Capel Street.Early shop fronts with recessed entries, have been recreated, and the street verandah, that was missing from 179-181, has been reinstated, enhancing the integrity of this row.How is it significant?Victoria Buildings or Walton's shop and residence row is significant historically and aesthetically to West Melbourne and the City of Melbourne.Why is it significant?Victoria Buildings or Walton's shop and residence row is significant.Aesthetically, as a well-preserved shop and residence row that exemplifies both the mid and late nineteenth century development booms in West Melbourne, with its upper façade detailing, splayed corner, return street verandah and shop front remnants also constituting a major streetscape element in a highly significant townscape; andHistorically, a shop row with an early beginning, built by one of the many developer-builders in the area, in this case one who became very wealthy, and occupying a prominent location in the retail area; representative of both the beginning and end of a major growth period in West Melbourne.
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| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 109682 | 1 PDF : 715 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |