Edward Miller's shops & residences, 185-197 Russell Street & 165-175 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne
Graeme Butler and Associates01/07/1989
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Title:
Edward Miller's shops & residences, 185-197 Russell Street & 165-175 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne
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Date of work:
01/07/1989
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 108543 108545 108546
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Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
Type of materials:
Graphic materialsTextual material
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Series: Central City (BIF-CITY)
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UnrestrictedOpen access.
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UnrestrictedPlease contact City of Melbourne Libraries about obtaining permission to reproduce images.
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RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2022:__________________________________________________DATE: 1890;ASSOCIATIONS: Miller, Edward financier;DESIGNER: Henderson, (Edgar J?);BUILDER: Smith & Upton.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceShop, Residence, 185-187 Russell Street MelbourneHistoryEdward Miller owned this building and its southern neighbours throughout a development period which saw the change from one and two storey brick shops with a corner iron workshop, to a three storey cemented brick shop and residence row. It is assumed that Miller was the Honourable Edward Miller M.L.C. of Collins Street, who resided in far away Heyington Place, Toorak. His tenants were mainly Chinese, both before and after the reconstruction, but not wholly so. Edward C Fatt & Co. were tailors at 195 - 7 around 1900, Joseph Spry & Co. made cigars somewhere in 191 - 193 and Harris Simons made clothing at 191, with David Walker, a hairdresser, presumably in the front shop. Perhaps more famous than these European tenants was the Pekin Cafe (191 - 193), which became, it is said, the Bohemian haunt of Melbourne during the 1920s - 1930s. The Chinese Times newspaper combined in 189, around the time of the Boxer Rebellion, with European clothing manufacturers somewhere else on the premises. The Musicians' Union of Australia and the Stage Employees Association were aptly sited in the corner building (1957), given the surrounding theatre district. This was also shared with a clothing manufacturer (L Leber & Son).By 1920 the Pekin and Oriental Cafes were side by side (191 - 3, 189), with Leber at 195 and Albert Cohen's pawn shop at 197. Leather goods were made on the upper floors. Another ten years saw the departure of the Pekin and the advent of William Carroll's newsagency at 191 - 2. Brand & Lipson now manufactured mantles in 197. Cohen's business had broadened by 1940 and he had attracted the Blue Danube Cafe, sited between his pawn shop and the well established Oriental Cafe.DescriptionA much altered three storey shop, workshop and residence row, designed in a mannered Italian High Renaissance revival style and in a composition which consists of one group (187 - 193) and the corner (195 - 7), but each possesses near continuity of parapet, cornice, string mould and repeated elements such as the parapet and pediments, pilasters and inverted consoles. Window treatments repeat (187 - 193) on the uppermost floors, as groups of three, but the first level differs with the position in the group windows to 195 - 7 are unrelated except in their surrounding detail. All openings, where intact, are unusual forms and Edwardian by virtue of the glazed size and casement mullion pattern.External Integrity189-91, only, remains from the group 187-193; the others possessing vague fenestration patterns, scale and form similarities only. Shop fronts have gone on all buildings. 195-7 by comparison has much of its upper level detail complete, but brickwork is painted over and a cantilever verandah added. Intrusive signs have been added to all buildings and it is assumed that parapet urns have been generally removed.StreetscapeRelates to the altered but visually homogenous 19th and early 20th Century commercial streetscape, adjoining.Statement of SignificanceArchitecturally unusual, if incomplete, the row is externally expressive, in line with its integrity, of long term occupations as Chinese cafes (189 - 91), some influential in European social spheres. The corner building has mixed associations, mainly with Cohen's pawn shop and various clothing makers..GRAEME BUTLER 1989, LITTLE BOURKE STREET PRECINCT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceShops and Residences185-197 Russell StreetHistoryBuilt: 1890Financier, Edward Miller, (later Sir Edward and son of Henry 'Money' Miller), resided in Studley Park Road. Kew, and occupied offices on the second floor of Ludstone Chambers, 352 Collins Street, in the company of William H. Septimus, and Arthur Miller.1Miller owned this site and sites to the south over period which saw the change from one and two-storey brick shops with a corner iron workshop, to a three-storey cemented brick shop and residence row. 2 His architect was (Edgar ?) Henderson and the builders, Smith & Upton. 3His tenants were mainly Chinese, both before and after the reconstruction, but not wholly so. Edward C. Fan & Co. were tailors at 195·7, Joseph Spry & Co. made cigars somewhere in 191-193 and Harris Simons made clothing at 191, with David Walker, a hairdresser, presumably in the front shop. Chinese occupied the shops at the rear facing Little Bourke Street (Yung Chong, Quong Shing).4 More famous than these European tenants was the Pekin Cafe (191·193), which became, it is said, the Bohemian haunt of Melbourne during the 1920-305. The Chinese Times newspaper was in 189, around the time of the Boxer Rebellion, with European clothing manufacturers somewhere else on the premises. The Musicians' Union of Australia and the Stage Employees Association were aptly sited in the corner building (195-7), given the surrounding theatre district. This was also shared with a clothing manufacturer (L. Leber & Son).By 1920 the Pekin and Oriental Cafes were side by side (191-3, 189), with Leber at 195 and Albert Cohen's pawn shop at 197.5 Leather goods were made on the upper floors. Another ten years saw the departure of the Pekin and the advent of William Carroll's newsagency at 191-3. Brand & Lipson now manufactured mantles in 197. Cohen's business had broadened by 1940 and he had attracted the Blue Danube Cafe, sited between his pawn shop and the .....well-established Oriental Cafe.6DescriptionAn altered unusual three-storey shop, workshop and residence row, designed in .a commercial Queen Anne revival style (see pedimenta, elongated. brackets, bellied balconettes and red brickwork) and in a composition which consists of one group, (187-193) and the corner. 195.7. Each possesses near continuity of parapet, cornice, string mould and repeated elements such as the parapet pediments. pilasters and inverted consoles. Window treatments repeat (187-193) on the uppermost floors, as groups of three (see 189), but the first le\'el differs with the position in the group. Windows to 195-7 are unrelated except in their surrounding detail. All openings, where intact have unusual joinery and anticipate Edwardian commercial windows, by virtue of their glazed size and casement mullion pattern. Toothed brickwork on the south of 185, indicates Miller's plans for 129-181 Russell Street, possibly changed from three to two-storeys in the uncertain economic climate.Verandah fixings are visible on 187.External integrityNumber 189-91 remains from the group 187-193; the others possessing vague fenestration patterns, scale and form similarities only. Shop fronts and street verandahs h:lVc gone on all buildings. Number 195-7 by comparison has much of its upper level detail complete, with recent restored brickwork and paint colours, but a cantilever verandah has been added. Intrusive signs have been added to all buildings and it is assumed that parapet urns have been generally removed.StreetscapeRelates to the altered but visually homogenous 19th and early 20th century commercial streetscape adjoining, with 195-7 echoing the form and materials of the Exford Hotel.SignificanceArchitecturally unusual, if incomplete, the row is externally expressive, in line with its integrity, of long-term occupations as Chinese cafes (189-91), some influential in European social spheres. The corner building has mixed associations, mainly with Cohen's pawn shop (197) and various clothing makers, thus also continuing the Jewish occupancy of Miller's southern block.Contributes to precinct.DIRECTORIES OF VICTORIA, MELBOURNE-SANDS AND KENNY, SANDS & MCDOUGALLSands & McDougall Directory of Victoria1893181 City Strand Cafe181 Koutsoukis. Nicholas185-187 Bondi Cafe185-187 Kokalaskus. Jno.189 Oriental Cafe191-193 Georgein Cafe195-197 Cohen, Albert, pawnbroker & jewellerLit Bourke st
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| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 108543 108545 108546 | 1 PDF : 1,148 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |