King, Harcourt & Williams warehouse, later Seabrook House, 15 Bendigo Street, North Melbourne
Butler, Graeme14/01/1985
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King, Harcourt & Williams warehouse, later Seabrook House, 15 Bendigo Street, North Melbourne
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Date of work:
14/01/1985
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BIF-NORTH 502839
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DERIVED FROM GRAEME BUTLER 1983, CONSERVATION STUDY FOR THE CITY OF MELBOURNE OF NORTH AND WEST MELBOURNEGrading as at 1985 : BPeriod : Mid Victorian (1881)Grantee : E R Bostock 1852History- This warehouse in Bendigo Street was built in 1881 for the firm King, Harcourt & Williams, whose retail premises were nearby, currently 114 Errol Street, and was later listed as S G King's Clothing Factory. From 1900, it was owned by the Rosella Preserving Co. at least until 1905. Samuel King was, for years, the largest draper in North Melbourne and an ardent Methodist. [Mattingley "The Early history of North Melbourne" p 81 VHM] He died at Leongatha in July 1906. [Argus 18 July 1906, p 7] Architects, Crouch and Wilson called tenders for a warehouse at the corner of Little Bendigo Street and Town Hall Lane in 1881. This was 15 Bendigo Street.Description- A two-level unpainted, stuccoed brick building with smooth rustication to the lower level, unruled stucco above and a hipped roof to promote the Italian Renaissance palazzo form. Flat pediments over each façade window, bracketed sills and quoining at the major, arched doorway are the other decorative aspects, whilst the walls are placed on a basalt masonry footing. Internally a riveted iron frame was used.Integrity - Ground-level openings have been altered and the main entry widened obliterating most of the quoining.Streetscape - The austere Classical form is repeated in 11-13 Bendigo Street which appears to be from the 1870s and near original.Significance- Architecturally, it is perceivable as a free standing palazzo form and is the work of important if prolific architects, Crouch and Wilson. It lends regional importance as one of a few surviving industrial buildings in this style and with these architectural pretensions in the Metropolitan area which has escaped extensive alterations.Historically, the building has local importance as the only near original building built for the important local retailers, King, Harcourt and Williams; also the only near original industrial building surviving outside of the Laurens Street Mills complex and within a mixed use area, and near the shop site it served.Recommendations - Restore window/door openings; restore main carriage entrance or restore quoining to entrance; steam clean stucco as required and maintain as unpainted;restore basalt plinth where missing..References:(RB= Rate book; D= Melbourne or Victoria Directory)1. RB 1881-82, 1572;2. D. 18853. RB 1900-1901, 1478;4. D. 19055. Mattingley p.816. Argus 18/7/1906, p.7.Notes:Notable features include unpainted cement render, old sign to side wall.___________________________RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2024:.GRAEME BUTLER 1983, CONSERVATION STUDY FOR THE CITY OF MELBOURNE OF NORTH AND WEST MELBOURNEBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM 1985___________________________LEWIS, M- AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURE INDEX45641 Crouch & Wilson; North Melbourne VIC Warehouses 1881 2 12- Crouch & Wilson, design of King, Harcourt & Williams warehouse, Errol St, Hotham at cnr Little Bendigo St & Town Hall LaneIllustrated Australian News 12.2.1881 p 42___________________________NEWSPAPERS (TROVE):1882https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/269132586/30366313HOTHAM COUNCIL... MAYORAL DINNER...At the invitation of the Mayor of, Hotham (Cr. T. Fogarty) –about eighty gentlemen attended at the Town Hall last Monday evening to partake of inhospitality...Cr.H. Lennon, in responding, said, he would compare Hotham with any suburb iu the colony, taking the consumption of coals and iron as a basis. He made a lengthy speech, showing what the manufacturers of Hotham had achieved in the exhibitions in all parts of the world. –Mr.G. King, in "The Commercial lnterests" noticed how the latter depended on the manufacturers. Having dealt in full with the subject, he said it was the intention of the firm of King, Harcourt and Williams to present-800 volumes of standard works to the Hotham library— when opened. (Applause.) Mr. D. Fiizpatrick considered the best thanks of the residents of Hotham were due to Mr. King and his partners.....1883https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/38281651Dr. Beaney has set his mind on being in the Upper House. He is a candidate for the North Yarra province, for which seat he is being opposed by Mr. S. G. King, of the well-known firm of King, Harcourt, and Williams, warehousemen. Mr. King is a valuable member of the Wesleyan body, and he has many relatives and friends in Tasmania who would be glad to hear that lie had secured a seat in the Legislative Council..1884https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/66160015?North Melbourne Errol Street - King, Harcourt & Williams The wholesale & retail drapers...retail store nm, Prahran illust. Advert.1885https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/66154693PRESENTATION TO MR. EDWIN HARCOURT.On the occasion of the dissolution of i partnership between Messrs King, Harcourt, and Williams, the employes of Errol street warehouse took the opportunity of presenting the retiring partner, Mr. E. Harcourt, with a handsome tea and coffee service and a silver salver ...Mr. Harcourt is in himself the synonyms of energy and business ability, and if mens in his employ imitate his character throughout they too will become men of note..1890https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/269875461KING, KING & Co.'S ESTABLISHMENT.The firm Messrs King King and Co., the largest and most important in the Town of North Melbourne was founded in the year 1854, by Mr S. King, just after the great gold discoveries had taken place, and is now therefore gone thirty six years old. The business was one of the first started north of the city proper, and has grown and prospered with North Melbourne, until it has attained its present size. No one taking a view of the building from the outside, would imagine for one moment that there was anything like the hive of industry within. The trade carried on principally of three main branches, the drapery the clothing, and last but not least, the furniture... (lengthy description).1912https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/106323049A DISASTROUS FIRE.SEVERAL FIRMS AFFECTED.About 5 p.m. on the 16th inst., a fire broke out in the premises rented by Mr. F. Smith, furniture manufacturer, etc.,situated in Lancashire lane, being part of 80 and 82 Errol-street (better known as King, King & Co's old establishment), North Melbourne. The flames quickly spread to other parts of the building occupied by Messrs. A.Oates & Co., broom manufacturers; Spencer & Krigsman, wood workers; Long & Spencer Propy. Ltd., hardware merchants;...It may be here stated that the buildings were erected some 30 odd years ago by King, Harcourt, & Williams, who carried on business as drapers. Subsequently the two latter partners dropped out, and the late Cr. S. G. King, J.P., bought the premises, and carried on the business with his two sons under the name of King, King & Co. Mr. King senr. met with reverses, like many others, upon the bursting of the land boom, having invested heavily in real estate in the locality of Ivanhoe. The building was then occupied by the Rosella Preserving Company, and afterwards: by Mr. A. Oates, who used the greater portion of it as a broom factory, and sub--let the rest to the various tenants..1912https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/106324192PICTURE THEATRE FOR NORTH MELBOURNE.It is intimated that a picture theatre to be called , The Lyric" is to be erected on the site now .occupied by the former premises of King, King & Co., in Errol st., and that it will seat 3000 people (later Imperial Theatre Building 110-114 Errol Street NORTH MELBOURNE )..1934https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205879654FRED CORRY recalls old North Melbournehttps://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205891199M. CROPLEY of West Brunswick recalls old North Melbourne ...`No one has mentioned Leemlng's boot shop at the comer of Errol and Victoria streets, with his quaint pictorial designs forming the letters of his name; nor the big drapers, King, Harcourt and Williams, at the corner of Bendigo and Errol streets. The firm later was altered to King, King and Co.; a picture theatre stands there now....
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| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 502839 | 1 PDF : 1330 KB ; A4 | Single Item (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |