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Knight's warehouse, 68-70 King Street, Melbourne

Butler, Graeme1985

Record details

Title:

Creator:

Butler, Graeme (Name details)

Date of work:

1985

Reference number:

BIF-CITY 105393

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:

RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2021:__________________________________________________Period: VictorianDATE: 1897;ASSOCIATIONS: Knight, A H Melbourne;DESIGNER: Tayler, Lloyd & Fitts;BUILDER: Waring & Rowden.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites 79 PERROTT, LYON, TIMLOCK AND KESA 1976, C.B.D. STUDY, CITY OF MELBOURNE CONSERVATION STUDY AREA TWO, page 40.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceHistoryOn the site of a three storey warehouse, this building appears to have been built late in the 1890s, as an extension of John Robb's building at the Collins Street corner. The former York Butter Factory to the south also received the same parapet balustrading corresponding with the era when Hansen & Farrell took it over for butter making. A perspective of the proposed Robb's Building, drawn in 1885 shows the former warehouse with quoined openings (arched at ground and rectangular on the upper levels) and a steeply gabled roof: nothing of this remains today. This site and land on both sides were owned by the Allison & Knight estate into the 1930s. An extensive fire swept through stores at the rear of Robb's Building in 1892 (Huddard, Parker & Co.) and this was probably the fate of the earlier warehouse. E C Robertson, grain merchants, occupied the new offices and stores early this century, with the 'Pump' separator agency (conducted by Ballantyne) housed in the basement. Little had changed by 1920, with one Henry Cave & Co. now in the basement. Grain Distributing Pty Ltd took their turn in the basement around 1930. Ten years later Robertsons gave way to the unusual combination of Legionnaire Sound Productions Pty Ltd and Gippsland Bacon Curing Company Ltd (in the basement). Sound Production had departed, leaving the bacon curers still in residence, by the 1960s.DescriptionA two storey conservative Renaissance revival former office and warehouse building, with stuccoed facade and dressed basalt plinths. Originally designed as an extension to the Robb's Building (now gone), the overall smooth rustication of the upper level is unusual, but provides distinctive patterns over openings, where coursing becomes voussoirs. Most openings are segment-arched and most joinery original, including the main doorway. The parapet is balustraded and piered, extending southward to unite the former York Butter Factory with this elevation.Statement of SignificanceA conservative 'infill' Renaissance revival design, which effectively plugged the gap between the former York Butter Factory and Robb's Building, when intact. Although like much of the area, it was owned by the old Allison & Knight estate, its associations lie with Robertson's, the grain merchants, and the surge in primary production they represented. It is a part of a notable warehouse streetscape..PERROTT, LYON, TIMLOCK AND KESA 1976, C.B.D. STUDY, CITY OF MELBOURNE CONSERVATION STUDY AREA TWO1.05 62-64 KING STREET`...Early photographs indicate that the render on the walls of the upper floors is not original: However it was applied when the balustrading above the cornice was added, presumably when Nos. 68-70 King Street was constructed (during 1898 the three storey stone store, formerly on that site being still indicated on Mahlestedt Detail Plans of Melbourne, 1888. Robbs Building was built in 1885 and the two-storey addition, Nos. 68-70 King Street was added later, on a separate title, with matching architectural detail.)...'.Victorian Heritage InventoryThird land sale 1838, Block 2, Allotment 18, J H Wedge. Land owned by Allison & Knight 1840s-1935. 1866 - building on site. 1877 - three storey building, W Duthie. 1888 - three storey building, Wilson & Co, Wine & Spirit Merchants. 1905 - three storey building, A Sutherland & Co..LEWIS, M- AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURE INDEX71723 Tayler, Lloyd & Fitts; Knight, A H Melbourne VIC Warehouses Waring & Rowden - Latrobe St 1897 03 2 6889, MCC registration no 6889 [Burchett Index]. Fee 3.3.0 store, King - 70/2 -

Names:

City of Melbourne

Topics:

Central Activities District Conservation Study 1985Conservation studiesMid-late Victorian period (1875-1900)1890-1899OfficesWarehouses

Places:

Melbourne (Vic.)

Form/Genre:

Building Identification Forms (BIFs)

Record types:

Research and reports

Record number:

1248235