Pynsent's store and warehouse, later Harley Heaven, 301 (or 303-305) Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Pynsent's store and warehouse, later Harley Heaven, 301 (or 303-305) Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
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Date of work:
1985
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BIF-CITY 103205
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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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ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER:.GRAEME BUTLER & ASSOCIATES 2011, CENTRAL CITY (HODDLE GRID) HERITAGE REVIEWStatement of SignificanceWhat is significant?The Hugh Glass subdivision of this land created two lots, one at the rear of 303-5 Elizabeth Street and one in Heape Court. Glass sold both lots to Joseph Burton Pynsent (c1807-1874). Builder Lawrence & Company then lodged a building permit application to build a `store' for Pynsent in 28/5/1853, located in Elizabeth Street nearly opposite the Catholic Chapel (St Francis).The brothers, James & Charles Webb called tenders in 1853 for the erection of this bluestone warehouse in Elizabeth Street for Burton Pynsent. James Webb had retired from the building trade and with his brother, Charles Webb (who had just arrived from England in 1849), commenced business as Architects & Surveyors in August 1849. The stone Wesleyan Church, Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, (1850) was to their design, with extensions in 1852 and re-opened in 1854. The Webbs were pioneering architects in Melbourne and designed many of its early buildings.The store was located in Elizabeth Street or the Sydney Road, then the main commercial strip of Melbourne, prior to the advent of a comprehensive railway system for carrying overland goods. Pynsent was well located for a wine and spirit merchant, starting a long trend of licensed grocers in this building that ended in the 1930s, overtaken by another land-use evolution that saw engineering and transport oriented businesses locate in the north and north-west of Melbourne town from the early Victorian-era onwards.The Melbourne Roll Plan 12 (Bibb's) of 1856 shows one large building on the site: the rate book of 1854 describes it as a `stone store of 2 floors' owned by Burton Rynsent' (sic), with a similar description of stone store on land 32'x65' into the 1890s. The warehouse is shown in the 1866 Melbourne Isometric and in a c1881 view from the law courts tower as a simple gabled two-storey structure of quarry-faced stone running through to Elizabeth Street. The Heape court warehouse is shown nearby facing a gap between the two stores.Later occupiers of the store included Robert Garrett & Co, grain merchants, in the 1890s; Crothers & Co, William H. Adcock, and Peter Robertson, all grocers in the Edwardian-era; followed by Blight Bros, grocers & wine & spirit merchants, and Melbourne Stores, a licensed grocer. From this point the effects of motor industry growth in this part of Melbourne were felt, with a new type of occupier including Mayfair Motors Pty Ltd, motorcycle importers and Bucton Motor Co., motorcycle importers, in the 1930s-40s. This use remains in the area and in this building.The Pynsent store Elizabeth Street façade has an Edwardian-era character introduced by the broad central archway and face brickwork (painted over) with quoining. An aerial views shows a new hipped roof at this point, as part of the new street façade. The ground floor has been replaced and an awning added. The segmentally arched raised entablature with its scrolling is probably a late Victorian-era or Edwardian-era addition to what was a gabled parapet like the rear elevation with perhaps some dressed stone quoining and mouldings. The rugged rear elevation is that of a well-preserved and early quarry-faced basalt coursed rubble warehouse which remains highly representative in scale, form and materials of Melbourne's warehouses of this period, despite the new opening at ground level. One archway has been blocked but the voussoirs and keystone remain as does the cathead seen in the 1881 image.Pynsent's Elizabeth Street and Heape Court stores give this area (particularly along the stone paved Heape Court) a distinctive early Victorian-era character with the brick and stone warehouses and narrow lanes demonstrating the scale, and form of warehouse districts of mid nineteenth century Melbourne. The Pynsent stores were the first in this area while the warehouse at the rear of 359 Little Lonsdale Street was built in 1887 as a typical medium scale brick warehouse building of Melbourne's Boom years.How is it significant?Pynsent's store is significant historically and aesthetically to the Melbourne Capital City Zone.Why is it significant?Pynsent's store is significant historically as one of the earliest group of stores in the Capital City Zone and for its location in the City's first commercial strip along the Sydney Road. It is distinguished by its basalt construction and well-preserved rear elevation to provide a strong expression of the area in combination with the stone lane and nearby warehouses.The store is architecturally significant for the early and bold use of stone construction facing Heape Court, as a design by pioneering architects, the Webb brothers, in combination with the contribution of the Elizabeth street upper level to this distinctive character..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM citesYuncken Freeman Architects P/L 1976.. Historic Buildings Preservation Council Melbourne CBD Study Area 5:67 first owner Burton Rynsent (sic), Splatt by 1870; occupier, then owner-occupier Robert Garrett 1890s; cites rate books 1854, as 205 `stone store of 2 floors- Burton Rynsent' (sic), 1860, 1870, 1884, 1895 stone store 32'x65'; 1880 image from law courts tower; Recommended add to Historic Buildings Register along with Heape Court building.Graeme Butler 1989 research for Heape Court:cites RGO search notes 43230 (A L Wooley, 1919) Hugh Glass subdivision covers two lots- rear 303-5 and Heape Court warehouse- Glass sells to Joseph B Pynsent 1854 for ₤450; also 8019 (Martha Steel, 1876):Melbourne Roll Plan 12 (Bibb's) 1856: shown; see RB1864,701, 702; RB1863,683.`Melb. Herald' 15.8.1849 p 3 Webbs commence practice.CITY OF MELBOURNE BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS28/5/1853, 862 Builder Lawrence & Company then lodges a building permit application to build a `store' for Pynsent in 28/5/1853, located in Elizabeth Street nearly opposite the Catholic Chapel (St Francis), fee ₤2/10/-- see also 1854, 1516 for Pynsent's Heape Court warehouse `brick and stone store' built by Holmes Bros.VPRO:1917 renovations1932 14017 alterations; verandah addition - shows existing plan with existing post and beam removal, new RSJs, deep shopfront, sliding door at rear - to Melbourne Stores for LJ Murphy esq. A= Joy & McIntyre1959 33224 shopfront 3031968 connect buildings...MAHLSTEDT FIRE INSURANCE PLAN SERIES STATE LIBRARY OF VICTORIAMahlstedt 1910-1923: map 4A: `P Robertson, grocer'.AUSTRALIAN ELECTORAL ROLLSBurton Pynsent gender 1856 Victoria Melbourne.NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)`The Argus':1 August 1851TRANSFER OF RUNS.The following runs have been transferred, with the sanction of Government, in accordance with the regulations viz.:-…Wimmera District. - Lockhart run, from Baird and Hodgkinson to Matthew Hamilton Baird ; Narong, from Donald J. McLeod to James Hamilton ; Wonwondah, from W. F. Splatt to Splatt and Pynsent.9 July 1855SPIRIT MERCHANTS.-The supplementary return of spirit merchants who have recently registered their names and premises, in conformity with the act of Council, 13 Victoria, No. 20, section 10, has just been published:-City of Melbourne.-Burton Pynsent, 205 Elizabeth« street ; H. W. Farrer and Co., 98 Bourke-street … (shipping intelligence from earlier years has Pynsent receiving many goods)30 Oct 1856MELDRUM V. PYNSENT.Mr. Michle and Mr. Wood for the plaintiff Mr. Wright for the defendant.I) An action to recover the value of five ton: of flour, which the defendant, as " carriers agent," had contracted to carry from Dight's mills to the plaintiff's store at Wangaratta The contract to carry was made between Mr. Dight and the defendant, the former acting as agent of the plaintiff in the transaction The defendant agreed with one Murphy for the conveyance of the flour, and Murphy proceeded to Dight's mills, where upon his showing defendant's written order to deliver Dight's men placed the flour upon the two drays which Murphy brought with him, and! the journey to Wangaratta was commenced. Whether it was ever concluded did not appear, as neither Murphy nor the flour was ever heard of again. A dispute arose about the loss between Mr. Dight and the plaintiff which was settled by arbitration, and the next stage of the proceedings was the present action, brought by the plaintiff against Pynsent. The defendant adopted a line of defence which put the plaintiff to the strictest proof of every minute portion of his case, and it was contended on defendant' behalf that it had not been shown that there was any contract proved to have existed between the plaintiff and defendant.Verdict for the defendant.4 Feb 1860LAW REPORT.INSOLVENT COURT.…Adjourned Third Meetings.…Edward Humphrey, Charles Williams, Robert Christenson, Andrew mason, and Burton Pynsent.In several of these estates debts were proved, reports read, and other business transacted.30 July 1862 Burton William Pynsent:`At the St. Kilda Police Court yesterday, Burton (William) Pynsent, outfitter, Collins-street, Melbourne, was summoned to show cause why he should not contribute to the maintenance of four illegitimate children, of which he was alleged to be the father, and of which a woman named Bridget Fogarty is the mother. The complainant came to this colony about seven years ago, and was engaged by the defendant as a servant. In about a month afterwards, an improper intimacy commenced between them, and has continued ever since. The result of that intimacy has been the birth of six children, two of whom have since died. Latterly, Fogarty has resided in a cottage at St. Kilda, and for some time the defendant allowed her £2 a-week for the maintenance of the children. About six weeks ago, he stopped payment of the money, and consequently the complainant obtained a summons against him. The defendant did not deny the paternity of the children, but pleaded no liability to continue to support them. He was examined as to his means of livelihood, and he stated that he was some time ago insolvent, and that the present profits from his business were only about £1 a-week. He, however, occasionally received remittances from England. The magistrates made an order to the effect that the defendant should take charge of tho eldest child (which he was willing to do), and pay 303. a-week for the next six months towards the maintenance of the other three children, At the expiration of the six months, the mother will be at liberty to make another application to the magistrates.'Saturday 28 December 1918PYNSENT.—In sad and loving remembrance of Alfred Thomas Pynsent (late of South African war), who departed this life at Sydney, December 27, 1911, youngest son of the late Burton Pynsent, of Melbourne, brother of M. Taylor, E. Bohm, and J. Pynsent, of Sydney..Encyclopedia of Melbourne (eMelbourne) 2010:`Heape CourtHeape Court is located between Queen and Elizabeth streets, extending south from Little Lonsdale Street, doglegging to the west, and extending further south to a dead-end. The lane was named in 1858 for pastoralist and merchant Benjamin Heape, owner of the Heape and Grice business which operated from Little Lonsdale Street. The Heape Court warehouse located at the rear of 361-65 Little Lonsdale Street was built in 1854, and today is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register as a rare and intact example of a gold rush era brick warehouse. The building is a simple two-storey brick structure with a gable room, built by the Holmes Bros firm for Joseph Burton Pynsent (sic), a merchant and general outfitter. It was later used as a blacksmith store for John Cooper and Sons, a wholesale ironmonger and importing firm. In 1860, Heape Court was the location of the Gideon Heard and Co., a tobacco and snuff manufacturing business.'by Alexandra GernerReferencesSands & McDougall’s commercial and general Melbourne directory, Sands & McDougall, Melbourne, 1892. DetailsSands & McDougall’s commercial and general Melbourne directory, Sands & McDougall, Melbourne, 1930. Details'Heape Court Warehouse, 361 - 365 Little Lonsdale Street, Number H0826. File Number 602735', in Victorian Heritage Register On-Line, 2000, http://www.doi.vic.gov.au/doi/hvolr.nsf. Details'Central Melbourne - Lanes F-H', in Amendment C105 - CBD Laneways Review, City of Melbourne, 2007,http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/info.cfm?top=195&part group=3065&bricks painted =1902&coll=8. Details.Bate, Weston, Essential but unplanned: The story of Melbourne's lanes, State Library of Victoria and the City of Melbourne, Melbourne, 1994..Victorian Heritage RegisterHEAPE COURT WAREHOUSEREAR OF 361-365 LITTLE LONSDALE STREET MELBOURNE, MELBOURNEVictorian Heritage Register (Victorian Heritage Register) H0826`Statement of SignificanceWhat is significant?The Heape Court warehouse at the rear of 361-365 Little Lonsdale Street was built in 1854. This simple two storey brick and bluestone structure with gable roof was built for Joseph Burton Pynsent, a merchant and general outfitter. The building firm was Holmes Bros. of North Melbourne. The gable ends are parapeted and the south gable has a simple coping detail. It was later used as a blacksmith's shop for John Cooper and Sons, wholesale ironmongers and importers, who owned a complex of buildings in the vicinity including shops, stores and large yards. Heape Court has been an important commercial precinct since the early 1850s, housing a variety of businesses. Heape Court, as one of the remaining intact 19th century laneways in the central city, evokes memories of Melbourne's commercial life during the last century.How is it significant?The Heape Court warehouse at the rear of 361-365 Little Lonsdale Street is of historical and architectural significance.Why is it significant?The Heape Court warehouse at the rear of 361-365 Little Lonsdale Street is historically significant as part of Heape Court, which has been an important commercial precinct since the early 1850s.The Heape Court warehouse at the rear of 361-365 Little Lonsdale Street is architecturally significant as a rare surviving and relatively intact example of a gold rush period brick warehouse that exhibits the traditional building techniques of the early 1850s. The scale of the building is representative of the type of mid-nineteenth century development that used to characterise the whole Elizabeth Street area.'See Central City Heritage Study Review 1993: Appendix 4 for historically related Heape Court warehouse at rear also Graeme Butler 1989 report: RB1854, 866; Wm Splatt rated owner in 1860s; see MMBW PSF 1899; MCC Building Permit Application (BA): 862 28 May 1853.National Trust of Australia (Vic):Heape Court Warehouses - Group Classification303 - 305 Elizabeth Street, MELBOURNE, Melbourne CityFile Number B6125Level of Significance: State`Statement of Significance361-365 Little Lonsdale Street (Rear) Pynsent's Second StoreHeape Court, dating from the early 1850s, is an important surviving example of a nineteenth century commercial laneway precinct. It contains two rare examples of gold-rush period warehouses, the 1854 brick Pynsent's Second Store and Cooper's Blacksmith Shop at the rear of 361-5 Little Lonsdale Street, and the 1853 bluestone Pynsent's First Store at 303-305 Elizabeth Street constructed by the notable firm of James Lawrence & son.The laneway also contains the three-storey brick Cooper's Warehouse at the rear of 359 Little Lonsdale Street, designed in 1887 by the significant Melbourne architects Twentyman and Askew for the ironmongers and importers J Cooper & Son. All three buildings and the laneway remain substantially original and have been in continuous use for commercial purposes for over 130 years. The precinct retains an intimate scale coupled with a consistent 19th century architectural character.Classified: 11/8/1990'.Central City Heritage Study Review 1993:appendix 4 for Heape Court warehouse:`Statement of SignificanceThe warehouse at the rear of 361-365 Little Lonsdale Street is of state significance as a building demonstrating the character. scale and form of mid-nineteenth century warehouses in Melbourne It is an unusually early brick and basalt structure (1854) that exhibits the traditional back building techniques of the initial gold rush period. Its significance is enhanced through its contribution to the complex of warehouse buildings which give Heape Court its distinctive character, including 303-305 Elizabeth Street and the rear of 359 Little Lonsdale Street. These buildings and their narrow lanes demonstrate a character, scale, and form peculiar to warehouse districts of nineteenth century urban Melbourne Together, they create an unusual and notable precinct. Their continued use as buildings of light-industrial activity and storage reinforce the continuing character of this important precinct. The warehouse at the rear of 361-365 Little Lonsdale Street remains substantially intact, although its southern face has been rendered and many of its openings altered in detail or closed up.'History & Description:The building at the rear of 361-365 Little Lonsdale Street is a simple gable roofed structure in brick and basalt of 1854 that exhibits the traditional building techniques of the 1850s, and is a rare survivor in the MCC i-Heritage: Central Activities District from this early period of Victoria's development. Built as a (second) store for Joseph Burton Pynsent, a city merchant and general outfitter, after August 1854,1 the building is shown on Bibb's' 1855 map of Melbourne.Pynsent's store was sold to John Quartermain in 1876,2 but was used as a warehouse and/or small shop by a great number of different merchants and tradespeople from the surrounding area throughout the ensuing years. Since the late 1930s the building has been used as a motorcycle repair shop.' It remains essentially intact, although its southern face has been rendered and some openings to adjacent buildings closed up. The original floor, presumably timber has been replaced with concrete to suit its modem use, a number of the windows have been altered or replaced, and the roof has been replaced with corrugated iron. The internal space is punctuated by a mezzanine floor which appears to be either early or original.The complex of warehouse buildings which give Heape Court its distinctive character and constitute its history, the rear of 361-365 Little Lonsdale Street, 303-305 Elizabeth Street, and the rear of 359 Little Lansdale Street, are of significance as a series of buildings that with the narrow lanes within which they are set demonstrate a character, scale, and form of warehouse districts of nineteenth century urban Melbourne. 303-305 Elizabeth Street, designed by Charles and James Webb and built in 1853 as Pynsent's first store in this area,' is a similarly early basalt warehouse which, despite extensive alterations on its Elizabeth Street face, remains representative in scale, form and materials of Melbourne's warehouses in this period. The rear of 359 Little Lonsdale Street, built in 1887,5 is a typical medium scale brick warehouse building of Melbourne's Boom years.Together, these buildings create in Melbourne an unusual and notable precinct. Their continued use as buildings of light-industrial activity and storage reinforce the continuing character of this important precinct.'Footnotes:`1 Pynsent purchased the land in May 1854. C Kellaway. unpublished research report on Heape Court. May 1990 A building permit was granted in August: MCC Building Permit no 1516. 23 August 18642 MCC Rate books. 1876-773 Sands & McDougall [Melbourne) Directories, various, 1876-19404 Melbourne Herald 22 April 1853. p 15 MCC Building Permit no 3077. 4 October 1887'.City of Melbourne, 2007. Central Melbourne - Lanes F-H,Amendment C105 - CBD Laneways Review: cites Heape Court,.LEWIS, M- AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURE INDEXJas and Chas WebbTenders wanted - erection of a shop and dwelling in Elizabeth Street.Melb. Herald 1.2.1851 p 3J & C WebbTenders wanted - erecting 2 shops and dwellings in Elizabeth Street,Melb. Herald 15.7.1853 p 1J & C WebbTenders wanted - erection of a bluestone warehouse in Elizabeth Street for Burton Pynsent.Melb. Herald 22.4.1853 p 1etc.Foundation stone of Wesleyan Church, Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, by James Webb. Opened early 1850. Extensions begun 1852; difficulties during gold rush, but re-opened 1854. (n.b. Seems not to be by Webb but by George Wharton Q.V. MBL 1979) Freeland, Melbourne Churches, p 89.DIRECTORIES OF VICTORIA, MELBOURNE-SANDS AND KENNY, SANDS & MCDOUGALL1880: (203 Hogan, James, bootmaker205 Garrett, R, and Co, produce merchants(207 Kemp, F. W, watchmaker and jeweller(209 Johnstone, Edward, and Co, wholesale grocers1893: 305 Garrett, Robert, & Co, grain merchants1900 Crothers & Co, grocers1905 William H. Adcock, grocer1910 Peter Robertson, licensed grocer1915 -1920 Blight Bros, grocers & wine & spirit merchants1924-1935 Melbourne Stores, licensed grocer1939 Mayfair Motors Pty Ltd, motorcycle importers1944 -45 Bucton Motor Co., motorcycle importers
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| Original | 103205 | 1 JPEG : 234 KB ; A4 | Single Item (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |