Kornblum and Co. building, 167-173 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Total copies: 1
Title:
Kornblum and Co. building, 167-173 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 103934
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:Period: EdwardianConstruction date: 1900-1901Notable features: Large glass area. Unusual and crisp cement details/ iron details.DESIGNER: King, R M & Stainsley;BUILDER: McDonald, R.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceHistoryStained glass manufacturers, Charles Rogers and Co., leased a two-storey warehouse on this site over a long period, ending in 1900 when the owners, the Trustees of Edward Cohen, sold to Kornblum and Co., a new firm of importers and warehousemen and Victoria. Kornblum immediately commissioned architects, Ray King and Stainsley, to design a new four-storey warehouse and basement to be built by R McDonald, a Moonee Ponds contractor. Kornblum and Co. were still there in 1940, when the building was called Summit House, sharing it with wholesale drapers and manufacturers' agents.Kornblum Furnishings Ltd. with a declared nominal capital of four million dollars, in 1974 is a probable derivative of this firm.The architects were responsible for a number of houses in St Kilda Road and South Yarra and appear not to have done only one more commercial design in the city.DescriptionThis striking design is made so by its bold Queen Anne scrolled pediments, large glass area and the novel use of timber for ornament. Perhaps to reduce their weight, the spandrel scrolling has been carved in timber. By contrast the pediment crowning the entrance bay is of cement. Almost bone- like, the radiused timber glazing sections alternate as bayed or flat glazing frames, comparing with the contemporary 257-265 Flinders Lane (1899) both in the glazing style and the use of the scrolling which accompanies it. However this building possesses greater glazed areas. A French character is expressed by the stylised Ionic pilasters, with their trailing vines, and rustication of the pilasters at ground level recalls the English Baroque but perhaps mostly in the scrolled iron balustrading which guards the basement light well (cf. D'Ebro's Adelaide Steamship Building, demolished also English Queen Anne). Where the design differs most from its contemporaries is the asymmetrical composition which lends emphasis to the entrance.Viewed from Hosiers Lane, the facade seems a paper thin veneer to the more conservative brick carcass behind, and in contrast to the deep modelling seen from the frontal view.IntegrityGenerally externally original except for added illuminated signs and the wall paint colour.StreetscapeAdjoins a warehouse streetscape with similar period detail, scale and finishes.SignificanceAn unusually bold, if unsophisticated, use of the English Queen Anne style retaining uncommon carved timber detailing, an asymmetrical composition and an atypically large glazed area for the period..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites Building Permit Application 8042; Municipal rate books [RB] 1900,286.LEWIS, M- AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURE INDEXRecord 76475 King, Ray M & Stainsley; Kornblum & Co Melbourne VIC Warehouses McDonald, R - Holmes Rd Moonee Ponds 1900 09 8 8042-MCC registration no 8042 [Burchett Index]. Fee 6.0.0 warehouse.VICTORIAN HERITAGE INVENTORY H7822-1911Third land sale 1838, Block 6, Allotment 7, William Rutledge. 1866 - building on site. 1877 - houses, smithy, workshop and yard. 1888 -two storey building, P Johns & Co., Engineers. 1905 -four storey building, Kornblum & Co., warehouse. MCC registration no 8042 [Burchett Index]. Fee 6.0.0 warehouse Flinders Lane & Hosier Lane.NATIONAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA (VIC)This four-storey Edwardian warehouse was built in 1901 for the importers, Kornblum and Co. It was designed by the architects Ray King and Stainsley and is executed in a variant of the Queen Anne revival style. It is a significant reminder of the role of the rag trade in Flinders Lane in the first half of the 20th century.Classified: 06/06/1994.HERITAGE BRANCH, MINISTRY FOR PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT 1987 CITY OF MELBOURNE CENTRAL CITY NOTABLE BUILDINGS CITATIONSThis four-storey Edwardian warehouse was built in 1901 for the importers, Kornblum and Co. It was designed by the architects Ray King and Stainsley and is executed in a variant of the Queen Anne revival style. It is a significant reminder of the role of the rag trade in Flinders Lane i n the first half of the 20th century..NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)1900https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/190058915Sale of site to KornblumA good sale of city property has been carried through by Messrs. Gemmeli, Tuckett and Co., who report having quitted that portion of Flinders-lane having a frontage of 60 feet and running back 120 feet to Hosier's-lane, for the sum of £7000, to Messrs. Kornblum and Co. The latter intend erecting a warehouse at considerable cost on this site for the conduct of their business.1905 THE TARIFF COMMISSION, numerous articles- seehttps://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2091068611925https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/244047725FLOODED WAREHOUSE Someone Left Tap Running…1928https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204124093THE SOFTGOODS TRADE.EFFECT OF DEPRESSED CONDITIONS.Annual Report of Kornblums Limited...1929https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4044492GIRL FALLS DOWN LIFT WELL.Opening the door of a lift well of the factory of Kornblum's Ltd., Flinders lane yesterday, Constance Pagram, aged 15 years, of Lingwell road. Auburn, an employee of the company, stepped forward, believing that the lift had stopped at the floor. The lift, however, was at the floor above, and Miss Pagram fell about 12 ft. down the well to the ground floor. She was admitted to the Melbourne Hospital with a fractured pelvis.
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1208462
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 103934 | 1 PDF : 1,611 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |