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German Club of the Deutscher von Verein later Naval and Military Club, also Mietta's, 7 Alfred Place, Melbourne

Butler, Graeme01/01/1985

Record details

Title:

Creator:

Butler, Graeme (Name details)

Date of work:

01/01/1985

Reference number:

BIF-CITY 100398

Level of description:

Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)

Type of materials:

Graphic materials

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:

ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER:Period: Late VictorianConstruction Date: 1887 (1) 1918 (2)HODDLE GRID HERITAGE REVIEW 2018:`SITE HISTORYThe site comprising 7-19 Alfred Place was originally sold to David Wallace during the fourth land sale in 1838, as part of Allotment 4, Block 10 (Fels, Lavelle & Mider 1993, Inventory no 757). The land was subdivided, and Alfred Place created soon after, connecting Collins Street to Little Collins Street between Russell and Stephen streets (the latter now known as Exhibition Street). By 1860 the lane featured mostly residential buildings. While the nearby Eastern Market brought throngs of workers to the Little Collins Street end, its opposite end was occupied by the more refined middle class (Bate 1994:40). Evidence claims Alfred Place was named for the birth of Prince Alfred (6 August 1844), who visited Australia as Duke of Edinburgh in 1867-1868 (RHSV 2018).The German Club 1885 - 1915In 1856 the Deutscher Verein von Victoria was established, with notable members including Ferdinand von Mueller (1825-96), Victoria's first Government Botanist; Georg von Neumayer (1826- 1909), founder of the Melbourne Observatory; and Wilhelm von Blandowski (1822-78), Victoria's first Government Zoologist, among others (Struve 2008). After meeting in various locations around Melbourne, the growing membership and means of the Deutscher Verein von Victoria led to the purchase of land at 7-19 Alfred Place for the construction of their own club rooms (Australasian 7 February 1885:27). In 1885 the German Club building was constructed on the subject site for the Deutscher Verein von Victoria (German Association of Victoria) (Figure 73). German émigré architect J A B Koch designed the two-storey clubhouse in a Renaissance Revival Palazzo style, awarding the tender for construction to firm Nation, Gamlin and Nation (Argus 19 October 1885:5; Heritage Victoria 2017). An article published following the Club’s opening celebrations described the premises as a:`commodious building, containing on the ground floor an entrance hall, ante-room, bar, large billiard room and lunch room, with kitchens and servants’ offices to the rear; and on the first floor reading and card rooms and a large concert of lecture room (Illustrated Australian News 7 November 1885:2). ‘The outbreak of World War One saw the formerly respected German community subjected to discrimination and violence. Riots directed at German clubs across Australia led to the Commonwealth-ordered closure of the three German clubs operating in Melbourne in 1915 (Figure 75), two of which merged to form the Club Tivoli-Deutscher Verein, Melbourne. The Deutscher Verein von Victoria at 7-19 Alfred Place did not reopen (Heritage Victoria 2017).Naval and Military Club 1918 -1967The Naval and Military Club, established in 1881 as the Pipeclay Club, purchased the building at 7-19 Alfred Place in 1918 (Figures 74 and 76). The conclusion of World War One saw a significant increase in the Club’s membership, prompting the permanent establishment of a place for officers to meet (Perry 1981). Among distinguished members of the club were highly decorated Australian ...'

Names:

City of MelbourneDeutscher Verein von Victoria (Melbourne, Vic.)

Topics:

Central Activities District Conservation Study 1985Conservation studiesItalianate style1880-18891910-1919Clubs and associations

Places:

Melbourne (Vic.)

Form/Genre:

Building Identification Forms (BIFs)

Record types:

Research and reports

Record number:

1179291