Lombard Building, 13-15 Queen Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Lombard Building, 13-15 Queen Street, Melbourne
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Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 108059
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Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
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Graphic materialsTextual material
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Series: Central City (BIF-CITY)
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UnrestrictedOpen access.
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RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2022:__________________________________________________Period: VictorianDATE: 1890;ASSOCIATIONS: Christian, Thomas; Balfour, Elliott & Co.DESIGNER: Reed, Henderson & Smart;BUILDER: Lockington, H of Drummond St, Carlton.VICTORIA HERITAGE REGISTER H0460https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/789Statement of SignificanceWhat is significant?The Lombard Building is a seven storey office building, including basement, constructed in 1889 for Balfour, Elliott & Co. The architect was Reed, Henderson & Smart and the builder was H Lockington of Carlton. The Lombard Building is constructed of load bearing brick with a stuccoed facade. It is arranged about a light well located on the south facade. Internally there is structural use of iron. Stylistically the building gains in complexity as it rises and makes free use of the classical language, notably with arched openings, pediments, pilasters, a Hellenistic frieze and a large Diocletian window. The picturesque roofline with pedimented parapet and bold flanking chimney stacks is an early indication of the emerging Queen Anne Revival style. Wrought iron balustrading at the ground floor level masks the basement level. The interior and the main entrance doors have been considerably altered. In 1926 an electric lift was installed adjacent to the original hydraulic lift.How is it significant?The Lombard Building is of historical and architectural significance to the State of Victoria.Why is it significant?The Lombard Building is historically significant as one of the last city buildings to be constructed before the effects of the 1890s economic depression largely halted building for a number of years.The Lombard Building is architecturally significant as a late expression of so-called boom style design, freely incorporating disparate classical elements into a building unashamedly expressing the aspirations and success of its owners. The Lombard Building is an example of the Victorian skyscraper and, in terms of height, simultaneously demonstrates the liberating effect of the lift and the limiting effect of load bearing brick construction..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites source 80, page 43Statement of Significance for Felton Building7-11 Queen StreetBlainey's One Hundred Years of Johns & lVaygood, Ltd" 1856-1956 (19) tells of Friederich Wilhelm Prell's introduction to the Yankee elevator when W.F.Hall of the American Otis firm happened to chance upon him during the construction of the adjoining 15 Queen Street, (1890), then only four storeys and without elevators. '(Hall) pointed out that the gentleman who had to climb four flights of stairs would probably reach the top floor with aching legs, fluttering heart and a firm resolution to do business elsewhere. Hall convinced Prell that the upper floors of a building served by a good elevator would yield as much rent as the ground floor.'So Prell added two storeys and installed Victoria's first passenger elevators.__________________________________________________REID, KEITH & JOHN R, 1976, MELBOURNE CBD STUDY AREA 7 (source 80)13-17 Queen Street1889-90 (2)Six storey office building plus basement.. Probable early addition of .sixth floor plus attic, two lifts plus concrete stair and recent renovations of main entry doors and partitions and dropped acoustic ceilings to main passages.Brick with rendered front facade.A Victorian 'skyscraper' of interesting design in itself and one which culminates a valuable streets which continues around the block into Flinders Street. Retention of facade considered most important and retention of whole building desirable.13-17 Queen StreetCHRONOLOGY:1888 Five separate occupiers listed on property.1889 Thomas Christian, owner of "Land" 15.54 x 37. 80 metres.* 1890 Thomas Christian owner of Brick Offices of 70 rooms, various tenants.1895 As above with Balfour & Co. as tenants.1897-1900 Listed as 6 floors of offices, owned by Christian's trustees and occupied by Charles Forrester & Co.Note that the adjacent land to the north· was vacant between 1889 and 1900, owned by John Robb and sold to the National Bank c. 1896.ARCHITECTURAL ANALYSISThe building is a curious combination of domestic and civic character Internal spaces and ornament and the rear elevation with its balconied 'eyrie' have a decidedly domestic flavour of the 1880-90's.· The front facade on the other hand, has a restrained dignity for that period, with a high proportion of windows to structure and the temperate use of classical ornament which suggest the Flinders Lane warehousing of the early 1900's.The facade builds up in complexity towards the top. There is an elegant sculptured entablature between fourth and fifth floors and a large, overhanging cornice between fifth and sixth. The sixth floor is capped with a typically Victorian 'attic.' pediment.Exit from upper floors would be considered inadequate in view of current regulations.RECOMMENDATIONThe style of facade and its contribution to the streetscape make that section most important for retention. The remainder of the building, although partly renovated, basically retains its original form, and subject to finding information of value on owner and/or architect, should be considered as desirable for retention.__________________________________________________VICTORIAN HERITAGE INVENTORY H7822-18732nd land sale 1837, part Allotments 8 & 9, Block 3, R S Webb. 1839-40, building on site.1877 - 3 x 2 storey buildings; McKenzie & Co., J P Jellard, H Carter.1888 - vacant allotment1905 - Lombard Building, offices Aacher & Munich Fire Insurance Co.Heritage Inventory Significance:REGISTER OF THE NATIONAL ESTATE - CITATION: THE LOMBARD BUILDING, A SEVEN LEVEL INVESTMENT OFFICE BUILDING, WAS ERECTED IN 1889-90 FOR THOMAS CHRISTIAN, MINING ENTREPRENEUR AND PROPERTY SPECULATOR. THE ARCHITECT IS NOT KNOWN. THE FACADE OF STUCCO-ON-BRICK IS IN A BOOM STYLE CLASSICISM MODE WITH REGULAR FENESTRATION AND CENTRAL ARCHED WINDOWS WHICH HERALD THE PICTURESQUE DOMESTIC REVIVAL AND EDWARDIAN ARCHITECTURAL TRADITIONS. THE PARAPET STRUCTURE IS UNUSUALLY COMPOSED AND DERIVED FROM HELLENISTIC MODELS. THE LOMBARD BUILDING IS ILLUSTRATIVE OF LATE BOOM STYLE CLASSICISM ARCHITECTURE IN MELBOURNE WITH DECORATIVE ELEMENTS THAT ANTICIPATE TRENDS APPARENT IN THE EDWARDIAN ERA. THE STRUCTURE WAS CONSTRUCTED DURING A PERIOD OF FRENETIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE DESIGN IS IN STRONG CONTRAST WITH MUCH OF THE REVIVALIST ARCHITECTURE IN MELBOURNE AT THIS TIME. THE NAME 'LOMBARD' IS DERIVED FROM ENGLISH TRADITIONS AND REFLECTS THE ERA WHEN QUEEN STREET WAS THE FINANCIAL HEART OF MELBOURNE. THE FACADE OF THE LOMBARD BUILDING AND EXTERNAL FABRIC IS INTACT. THE INTERIOR HAS BEEN COMPLETELY REMODELLED AS OFFICE SPACE. OF STATE SIGNIFICANCE.__________________________________________________LEWIS, M- AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURE INDEX:Record 71572 Reed, Henderson & Smart; Balfour, Elliott & Co Melbourne VIC Buildings Lockington, H - 120 Drummond Sr 1888 10 9 3636-MCC registration no 3636 [Burchett Index]. Fee 13.0.0eight-storey office building__________________________________________________HERITAGE BRANCH, MINISTRY FOR PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT 1987 CITY OF MELBOURNE CENTRAL CITY NOTABLE BUILDINGS CITATIONSSTATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCEThis late Boom style classical office building was constructed in 1889-90 for the mining entrepreneur and speculator, Thomas Christian. The name "Lombard" is derived from Lombard Street, London's financial centre, and is reflective of the importance of Queen Street in the 19th century (known as Melbourne's Lombard Street) as the heart of Melbourne's banking and investment community.__________________________________________________NATIONAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA (VIC)Statement of SignificanceBuilt in 1889-90, this seven-storey rendered brick office building has an attractive facade which is more elaborately detailed on the upper floors. The interior has been considerably altered along with the main entrance doors. The facade is similar in design, texture and scale to the adjacent Felton Building and together they form part of an attractive streetscape. The entrances to the basement area and the railings are noteworthy. The classification applies only to the main facade and the basement area railing.Classified: 06/09/1979__________________________________________________VICTORIA HERITAGE REGISTER H0460Published Extent of Registration18/09/2014 Joyce MacLennanHistoric Building No. 460, Lombard Building - Lombard Building, 15-17 Queen Street, Melbourne (to the extent of the total exterior fabric of the building including the wrought iron balustrading, the walls and stairs between the facade and the Queen Street frontage).[Victoria Government Gazette No. 35 21 May 1980 p.1560]__________________________________________________NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)1890Some splendid specimens of silver and lead ores from the Zeehan and Dundas fields on the west coast of Tasmania are on view at Mr Thomas Stewart's buildings in Lombard Buildings, 17 Queen street….NEW BROKEN HILL EXTENDED SILVER MINING COMPANY.The sixth half yearly mooting of the New Broken Hill Extended Silver Mining Company was hold at the office, Lombard-buildings, 17 Queen-street, on Tuesday, Sir. J. Copeland in the chair...1942https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11982039LOMBARD BUILDING CHANGES HANDSLombard Building 13-17 Queen st on the west side, between Flinders Is! land Flinders lane has been sold The building is of brick and of 6 floors and basement Land measurements are 27ft 3in by 12ft 3in The sale price of the name of the purchaser has not been disclosed Vendors were The Trustees, Executors, and Agency Co Ltd, in the estate of the late Mr Thomas Christian, and the agent Mr Morris Sallmann, Temple Court The property was submitted at auction in May, 1937 and was withdrawn after £28,500 had been offered.
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| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 108059 | 1 PDF : 1,233 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |