Commercial Travellers Association, 318-324 Flinders Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
Archives
Total copies: 1
Title:
Commercial Travellers Association, 318-324 Flinders Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 104006
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:
RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2021:Style: Neo-BaroquePeriod: EdwardianDATE: 1913;ASSOCIATIONS: Commercial Travellers Association;DESIGNER: Tompkins, H.W. & F.B.;BUILDER: F. E. Shillabeer.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceHistoryctoria's was the second Commercial Travellers Association in Australia when it formed in 1881, after Adelaide in 1866. Improved working conditions, better hotels and smoother roads for the weary traveller were their aims. The United Commercial Travellers' Association of Australasia was the federal body created in 1895, including New Zealand. Three years after that date the Victorian branch commissioned architects, H W and F B Tompkins to design a building for their use at 190 - 192 Flinders Street, adding two floors in 1901. Retailers Ball and Welch, had acquired it by 1904 and commenced to add a floor of their own, incorporating it into the adjoining store. Meanwhile Tompkins was again designing for the club. In 1908 he and the Club's usual builder, Clements Langford, built a warehouse in Flinders Lane. The new club building, however, was built by F C Shillabeer, with the Tompkins Brothers applying for a permit in August 1912. Another building "four shops and a warehouse", was commenced next to the Club, in the following year, with builder, John Carter. The association's ownership of both buildings continued until recently.DescriptionFree Baroque designs had been produced by such notable British architects as Charles MacKintosh Royal Insurance Building Competition, Glasgow) and Henry Hare's competition design for Colchester Town Hall in the late 19th century. They were characterised by exaggerated classical details, balconnettes, statuary and use of the ox - bow arch. The Tompkins designs included all of these and more. Deep consoles supported a generous central balcony motif and the deep cornice above. The sort of three - sided window bays used in the late 19th century (Royston House) here extended up the middle third of the elevation, creating yet another pair of balconies at their termination. The two lowest levels were clad in smooth rusticated cement, relieved only by four deep consoles and the sturdy masks gripping the entrance canopy. Above, cream brickwork in large expanses, was a first for Melbourne. Another claimed innovation was the Johns & Waygood steel frame, second only to Tomkins' Centreway Arcade (1911 - 12).William Jenney's Leiter Building (1889) was steel - framed as was the Reliance Building (1890-1894) in Chicago: culminating in the massive Woolworth Tower by 1911. In Melbourne, the Leviathan Store (qv), of 1912 - 13, also claimed a steel frame and the Victorian Bond (Lonsdale Street) claimed Australia's first all wrought - iron construction in 1887.IntegrityGenerally original externally.StreetscapeAdjoins Commerce House also built for the association and the contemporary Robert Reid & Co Building (9109). The Federation Insurance Building, although of 1955, possesses similar fenestration scale and siting to the earlier buildings.SignificanceA distinctive and early example of the Edwardian neo-baroque style which is reputed to be one of Victoria's early steel framed buildings also symbolic of the once more populated profession of the commercial traveller..VICTORIA HERITAGE REGISTER H0934What is significant?The Commercial Travellers Association Building was designed by Harry Tompkins in 1912 and completed in 1913. It comprises a basement and nine storeys. The ground floor is faced with granite to a height of approximately 2.5 metres. The facade above is partially rendered and partially faced with cream glazed bricks. The rendered areas are treated in an ornate fashion, with exaggerated classical detailing including foliated swags, medallions and cartouches. Of particular note are the rustication of the ground and first floors and the colonnade of the second or piano nobile, which is supported on massive, oversized consoles. Consoles also support the cornice surmounting the facade. Oriel windows rise through the second and third floors and are topped with balconettes. There are also balconettes on the eighth floor. Leadlight is featured in some of the windows, mainly at the lower levels. The building is an early example of steel-framed construction, with reinforced concrete floors and a combination of terra cotta lumber and cement slab for non-structural internal walls. The building ceased functioning as the Commercial Travellers Association club in 1976 and fell into disrepair before being restored as a hotel in the late 1990s.How is it significant?The Commercial Travellers Association Building is of architectural and historical significance to the State of Victoria.Why is it significant?The Commercial Travellers Association Building is of architectural significance as one of the finest and most distinct expressions of the Edwardian Baroque style in Melbourne. This grand classical non-domestic style, featuring a combination of Beaux Arts Classicism with a revival of English Baroque sources, was adopted as the style of choice for department stores and large commercial establishments in Melbourne in the first two decades of the 20th century. It was thus an eminently suitable style for the headquarters of the roving disciples of commerce, the Commercial Travellers Association. The building was the winning entry in a competition organised by the Association and judged by the well-respected Percy Oakden, an indication of the high regard in which the building was held by Tompkins' architect peers.The Commercial Travellers Association Building is of architectural significance for a number of innovations, such as the use of welded wire reinforcing mesh, perhaps the first use of such material in Victoria, and 'Mack' slab cement partitions, the only known use of this technology in Victoria. It was also one of Australia's earliest steel framed buildings. Perhaps most notable was the use of cream glazed bricks, an unusual feature used to combat discolouration caused by pollution from the street and nearby railway yards. The building also boasted equipment such as a built-in vacuum cleaning plant, electrically heated service lifts, potato peeling machines, telephones in each room, a dish washing machine and large electric toaster. The building was also the tallest in Melbourne until the construction of the Manchester Unity, completed in 1932, and the first to be constrained to the new city height limit of 132 feet.The Commercial Travellers Association Building is of architectural significance as one of the most impressive works of Harry Tompkins. Tompkins was one of Melbourne's best commercial architects during the first three decades of the 20th century. He had a long relationship with the Commercial Travellers Association and also with Sydney Myer, for whom he designed the first Myer building. Tompkins served two terms as President of the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects between 1914 and 1916, a reflection of his esteemed position in the architectural profession. Other well-known buildings for which he was responsible include Dimmeys Model Stores in Richmond and the Centreway Arcade in Collins Street.The Commercial Travellers Association Building is of historical significance as evidence of the once important role played by commercial travellers in the commercial and social development of the State. In the late 19th century and early 20th century commercial travellers were a common site on the State's railways and roads, as they traversed the countryside displaying their wares. The Commercial Travellers Association of Victoria was formed in 1880 to seek improved working conditions, better hotels and higher quality roads for travelling salesmen. The substantial character of this building demonstrates the prominent role of commercial travellers at a time of relatively rudimentary communication, transport and distribution networks. It is also a reminder of Flinders Street's now-lost status as one of the city's major commercial thoroughfares. The building's proximity to Flinders Street Station reflected the reliance of the travellers on the rail network..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites source 80; 20th C. Register; Victoria Illustrated: 142.VICTORIAN HERITAGE INVENTORY H7822-18861877 - three-storey building, Grice Sumner & Co, Bond Store Nos 1 & 2. Also present on 1888 and 1905 maps..NATIONAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA (VIC)The Commerce House building and the adjoining Commercial Travellers Association (CTA) were built for the Association in 1913; the latter as their offices and club and the former as an investment building. Both steel-framed buildings, they were designed by the architects, H W & F B Tompkins, and are distinctive examples of the Edwardian neo-baroque styles. The buildings are expressive of the role of Flinders Street in commerce and of the Commercial Travellers Association's desire to promote better accommodation for its members.Classified: 06/06/1994alsoThe Commercial Travellers' Association Building was constructed in 1913 to designs by the architects H W & F B Tompkins, winners of a competition which included some of Victoria's most adept designers and was judged by Percy Oakden, one of Victoria's most distinguished architects.The building is a distinctive, early and near original example of the Edwardian Baroque style. It is one of Australia's first group of steel-framed buildings and notable for its introduction of glazed white bricks to the facade. It was the first building to be constrained to the later all-pervading "limit height" incorporated in the Melbourne by-laws. In addition it was notable as the second Victorian (possibly Australian) headquarters built for the once powerful Commercial Travellers' Association and is now the oldest surviving, in a location intimately associated with their work. The Commercial Travellers' Association Building possesses an interior which is both notable (domed entrance hall) and innovatory (metal ducted heating and ventilation, laundry chutes) and is still expressive of the once numerous body of commercial travellers and a disappearing way of life.Classified: 10/11/1988Revised: 03/08/1998See also Ball & Welch Building B4536.HERITAGE BRANCH, MINISTRY FOR PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT 1987 CITY OF MELBOURNE CENTRAL CITY NOTABLE BUILDINGS CITATIONSThe CTA building and the adjoining Commerce House were built for the Association in 1913; the former as their offices and club and the latter as an investment building. Both steel-framed buildings, they were designed by the architects, H.W. & F.B. Tompkins, and are distinctive examples of the Edwardian neo-baroque styles. The buildings are expressive of the role of Flinders Street in commerce and of the Commercial Travellers Association's desire to promote better accommodation for its members..NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954)Thursday 6 February 1913 - Page 3 illust, lesser heighthttps://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/241797400 illustFRONT ELEVATION OF COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS' CLUB AND COMMERCE HOUSE, IN COURSE OF ERECTION FOR THE C.T.A, OF VICTORIA.https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/241797413Palace of comfort.COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS,New club buildingIt has become axiomatic that commercial travellers know how things should be done In respect to hotel or club accommodation. . In Melbourne they have already built one clubhouse which reflects their taste and stands as a model to clubland, but this has been sold with a view to providing something superlatively good on a site deemed more desirable in Flinders Street, between Elizabeth and, Queen street. The foundation stone wilt be laid on Saturday by Sir John Fuller, the Governor, in the presence of member!: of the club, and representative citizens.This building enterprise involves an outlay of upwards of £70.000, and it indicates the strong confidence which the commercial travellers of Victoria have in the stability of the State. The travellers have unique opportunities of observing the financial horizon In town and country, and their great undertaking bespeaks confidence which should strike a keynote for Investors generally. The site covers a frontage of 132 ft. to Flinders street, and the buildings will extend 157 ft. towards Flinders lane, to which access will be had by means of wide passage, on which abuts the present large sample room building, which Is the association's property.The club itself occupies 6ft. of the frontage, whilst the other half will be devoted to the purposes of sample rooms, as described below. The height of the new building from basement to parapet will be 148 ft. The system of construction in steel framing and concrete, chosen because It Is the most modern scientific method of building for huge city structures, saving the space which runs to waste In brick walls, and giving a practically Indestructible, fire-resisting monolith. Such edifices defied the shock of the memorable San Francisco earthquake and fire.Working on the latest American models, the architects, Messrs. H. W. and F. B. Tompkins, have planned so that, the width of the building decreases on the upper floors -while the width of the light areas correspondingly increases, so as to obtain the maximum amount of air and light without sacrificing valuable space on the lower floors,HEIGHT OF BUILDING.Steel girders and columns form the skeleton framework to carry the floors and walls. The walls are not used to add to the strength or stability of the building: they are only used to exclude the weather. Each column has an Independent steel and- concrete foundation which Is arranged so that the weight of the building Is equally distributed over the soil under the foundations at the rate of 3 ton to each superficial foot.…COMMERCE HOUSE.The Association's architects are now preparing working drawings and specifications for the building, that will occupy the other 66ft. of the frontage immediately .adjoining the club.The new premises will consist of a basement and five stories with others to be added later to bring It up to the same height as the clubhouse.…The architects for the work are Messrs. H.W. and F. B. Tompkins, the builder Mr F. E. Shillabeer, and the , financial and general arrangements for j the enterprise have been made by the building committee, comprising Mr W E. A. Brown, the president, as chairman, and Messrs. M. J. Calllntn and Mr McA. Stuart, H. S. Steele, C. R. Church, vice-presidents; Henry Walker, treasurer;. J. Cornish, C. O. Day, -Mr C. Halles, A. A. Mendoza and A. T. Searll, and Mr James Davies, the secretary of the Association.
Related material link:
Names:
Topics:
Places:
Form/Genre:
Record types:
Research and reports
Record number:
1209831
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 104006 | 1 PDF : 1,065 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |