Carlow House, 34-36 Elizabeth Street & 281-289 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Total copies: 1
Title:
Carlow House, 34-36 Elizabeth Street & 281-289 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 103326
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:
Style: Moderne.ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2021:.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceHistoryPerhaps the most successful commercial architect of the 1930-40's in Melbourne, Harry A. Norris, designed this speculative office building for the Payne estate in mid 1938. Crofts Stores, Pty. Ltd., a grocery firm, were the sole listed occupiers into the 1940s. Three shops, with recessed entrances and showcases, were shown at ground level, (facing Flinders Lane and Elizabeth Street), whilst three passenger lifts and one goods lift were placed in a service core at the rear of the site.DescriptionNine upper floors achieved near to the by-law 132 feet height limit, within the confines of the narrow Elizabeth Street frontage, but took full advantage of the long north facing sun-lit aspect onto the Lane. Strip windows (horizontal)extend down this elevation, whilst terra-cotta-clad (vertical) strip glazing rises up over Elizabeth Street. In the Moderne manner, Norris has achieved, more subtly than usual, a long horizontal element terminated against a vertical one, but the transition is not abrupt, due to the interlaced spandrels and piers of the corner and Elizabeth Street elevations. In contrast to the curved corner idiom of the Norris' Mitchell House design, this elevation is strictly cubist, with traditional aspects such as symmetrical stepped parapet, ground level podium and geometric balconettes clinging on in the newer style. Curves are used, however, for the canopy as it swings around, with a change of width, into the Lane.External IntegrityGround level shop fronts replaced in a neutral form, signs added, upper levels near original.StreetscapeContemporary with, but stylistically more advanced than, the A.N.A. Building adjoining, it still shares its narrowfrontage and vertical emphasis in Flinders Lane, contextual interrelationship is non-existent.SignificanceA successful and near original design in the Moderne style, which shows a skillful integration of verticals and horizontals within the idiom, also forms a mutually complementary pair with the A.N.A. Building..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM.VICTORIAN HERITAGE INVENTORYH7822-1897 281-291 FLINDERS LANEFirst land sale 1837, Block 5, Allotment 20, Alexander Sutherland. 1839 - building.1855 - Bird in Hand Inn, fronting Rothsay Lane.1877 - 3 x 3 storey buildings; Harris & Co., Boots; Parry & MacKay, Clothing; Issacs, Cap Manufacture.1888 - 3 x 3 storey buildings; F MacKay, Clothing Manufacturers & Tailors.1905 - same buildings; Mercers, Wallpapers & Spirit Merchants. Date of first documented occupation, 1839.CITY OF MELBOURNE BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONShttps://www.ancestry.com.au/imageviewer/collections/60672/images/44777_349572-011651929-1938 July 19604 ₤70,000 Erection of buildingAug verandah1939 April shopfrontMay electric signs.MELBOURNE BUILDINGS WEB SITE 2021http://melbournebuildings.com/carlow-house-34-36-elizabeth-street-melbourne/Carlow House is one of Harry Norris’ more interesting designs from the late 1930s and it was originally constructed as an steel framed 10 storey office building for the Paynes by E A Watts and completed in 1939.1The almost cubist design (could be described as moderne or art deco) is clad in square faience tiles2 fronts both Elizabeth Street and Flinders Lane with the wider, horizontally focused facade along the latter and the narrower frontage culminating in a tower like structure. The structure is divided into base level and mezzanine podium with small projecting balconies.The curved exterior awning and some moderne foyer interior details remain intact. The building remains used as offices along with its ground floor retail.It is heritage graded B by the City of Melbourne[3 City of Melbourne i-Heritage database] and is situated within the council’s heritage overlay HO506.[City of Melbourne Planning Scheme].NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Fri 27 May 1938 Page 11`BUILDING - Next to Craig'sTenders will be called next month for the erection of a building to the maximum permissible height on the south-cast corner of Elizabeth street and Flinders lane, adjoining the section of Craig's building which was purchased on Wednesday by the Australian Natives' Association. The new building, the estimated cost of which is £75,000, will have a frontage of about 32ft. to Elizabeth street, and a depth of about 122ft. along Flinders lane. At the rear it will extend across the back of the A.N.A. Building, with a frontage of about 70ft. along a 10ft. roadway. The ground floor and basement sections will be used for shops, and the upper floors will be planned for offices and show- rooms. High ceilings will be a feature of all floors. Three passenger lifts and a goods lift will be installed. The Elizabeth street facade and 35ft. of the Flinders lane front will be faced with terra cotta. The building is being erected for the owners of the sites, Captain A. E. T. Payne and Mr. N. Payne, as executors of the estate of the late Mr. T. H. Payne. The site has been owned by the Payne family for more than 70 years. The architects for the work are the Office of Harry A. Norris, of Swanston street. '
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Research and reports
Record number:
1207451
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 103326 | 1 PDF : 745 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |