Stawell Chambers, 493-495 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Title:
Stawell Chambers, 493-495 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne
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Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 105856 1
Level of description:
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:__________________________________________________Period: VictorianNotable features: Strong facade modellingDATE: 1889;ASSOCIATIONS: Virgo, Son & Chapman;DESIGNER: Twentyman & Askew;BUILDER: McLean, J G.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDY.(NOTE: see later research, history differs).Statement of SignificanceStawell Chambers493-495 Little Bourke Street1888-89HistoryAlfred Ramsden of Elsternwick was both builder and owner of this four level office block when it was commenced in 1888. Situated opposite the Law courts, it was not surprisingly tenanted almost wholly by barristers with one early exception being L L Murray, an electrician (possibly occupying the ground Level).One A Ramsden's biography appears in Victoria and its Metropolis describing him as a Manchester bricklayer who had toured the colonies prior to taking up a general contracting business which he commenced in 18S5. He appears to have been the entrepreneur of Stawell Chambers. However another Alfred Ramsden was licensee of North Melbourne's Oriental Coffee Palace c1890 and a contractor. A Ramsden, gave his address as Macedon in c1891. The architect is not known, however the boldness of the ornament suggests Twentyman & Askew or Nahum Barnet (particularly the entrance hood).The legal fraternity tenants were varied and often had a short tenure some early barristers include James Cantor (possibly related to Maurice later Judge Cantor), Alex Lewis, Alex McIntyre, Thomas Brodribb (father of chemical engineer, Noel Brodribb), John Fisher and George Osborn; Herbert Barrett was among the long-tenure tenants.DescriptionThree storey boldly modelled Renaissance revival elevation which strives to overcome the normal restrictions imposed by building to the site boundaries. Apart from the high relief string and cornice mouldings, the centre bay of the facade composition protrudes out over the street, resting on brackets which form part of the pedimented entrance hood. A segment-arched pediment caps this element at its upper end while at the intermediate level the adjoining string mouldings are taken across the elevation as a neutral centre to both the main facade and the protruding bay. At ground level the facade is surprisingly complete, with intact windows and six-panel lobby door pair.The strong expression of the facade elements is reminiscent of the work of Nahum Barnet.External IntegrityGenerally intact.StreetscapeIsolated.SignificanceAn intact, successful and boldly designed office building which has housed many members of the legal fraternity and hence is symbolic of the 19th. century development of this part of Melbourne CAD as the metropolitan legal quarter. It is particularly noteworthy for its intact ground level..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites source 80, page 153.LEWIS, M- AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURE INDEX:Record 75425 Twentyman & Askew; Virgo, Son & Chapman Melbourne VIC Warehouses McLean, J G - Fitzgibbon St Parkville 1888 12 14 3718, MCC registration no 3718 [Burchett Index]. Fee 3.10.0four-storey warehouse William & Little Bourke St.MAHLSTEDT FIRE INSURANCE PLAN SERIES STATE LIBRARY OF VICTORIAseries 1, map 161888 earlier nearby buildings include Four Courts Hotel, site vacant1910 as 493 Stawell Chambers masonry 4 storeys sideage to Little William.VICTORIAN HERITAGE INVENTORYhttps://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/93491866 - building on site.1888 - site appears to be vacant. 1905 - four-storey building "Stawell Chambers".REID, KEITH & JOHN R, 1976, MELBOURNE CBD STUDY AREA 7 (source 80)BUILT: 1890DESCRIPTION: 4 storey office building.ALTERATIONS: Internally all the original detail has been removed and 'modernised' including a· new main stair.CONSTRUCTION & :MATERIALS: Brick walls rendered externally. Timber floors .CITYSCAPE RELATIONSHIP: The building is a sympathetic neighbour of the Law Courts.RECOMMENDATION: Retention of the building is desirableHISTORICAL ANALYSISWhen first built, the majority of tenants were members of the legal profession, a use which has continued to the present day.ARCHITECTURAL ANALYSISThe building has an extremely dignified, ordered appearance externally. Its openness of setting, created by the setback of the building on west and the lane and, at present, open space on the east give the building the feeling of a town house rather than an office building that is is assisted by the dorrestic detailing of the eaves and the protruding central bay which breaks down the overall scale of the façade in terms of both height and width.,RECOMMENDATIONThe relevance of Stawell Chambers relies to a great extent on the future development of the northern. section of the Capital Towers site 0 If this section remains open space, Stawell Chambers will form a most important pivot link between this space and the Law Courts. Further, its scale relative to the Law Courts assists in the appreciation of the true grandeur of the latter..HERITAGE BRANCH, MINISTRY FOR PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT 1987 CITY OF MELBOURNE CENTRAL CITY NOTABLE BUILDINGS CITATIONSNOTABLE BUILDING (Planning Scheme Amendment 425):AN ELEGANT FOUR STOREY OFFICE BUILDING, STAWELL CHAMBERS WAS ERECTED IN 1890. DESIGNED IN A RESTRAINED RENAISSANCE REVIVAL STYLE, IT HOUSED MANY OF THE LEGAL PROFESSIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE NEARBY SUPREME COURT..NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954)Saturday 21 December 1889 - Page 21https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/220416807Messrs, Virgoe, Son, and Chapman’s New PremisesThe firm of Messrs. Virgoe, Son, and Chapman have long and favourably been known as shipping agents and importers of oilmen's stores, general merchandise, etc., and their old blue-stone premises in Elizabeth street were for years amongst the best known in the City. To keep pace with the growth of the City the firm, however, recently found it necessary to change their habitation, and are now ensconced in commodious new premises at the corner of Little Bourke and William streets, opposite the Law Courts. The new premises, both for design, appearance, and accommodation, will compare favourably with any of the commercial houses of the City.The architects of the new building were Messrs. Twentyman and Askew, and under their direction Mr. J. G. M'Lean, the contractor, has erected four-storied premises, with a frontage of 30ft. by a depth of 121ft., the height of the building being 70ft. The style is Italian, freely treated, the basement being composed of Malmsbury bluestone, and the superstructure of brick.Although the outside of the building cannot fail to charm the spectator, it is the interior that displays its chief merit. The main offices on the ground floor are approached through a vestibule by five white Sicilian marble steps and cedar -doors. On entering the doors the main office discloses itself, a chamber about 30ft. in length by 25ft. The fittings of cedar and glass would do credit to any bank building. The remainder of this floor is divided into a manager's room, the shipping department, with a room for ship captains, sales and indent departments, lavatories, etc. Every convenience, in fact, is provided. The floor is tessellated marble, and the passage runs the length of the building on the right hand ride. The decorations, cornices, etc., give the building an exceedingly airy and graceful appearance, and the coolness of the chamber is ensured by a splendid system of ventilation. Under this there is a basement, which makes the total five floors, to all of which easy access is gained by a lift. On each of the floors goods are stored, except on the first, which is fitted like the ground floor with lavatories, the intention being to let it to other tenants. The arrangement of the building is designed so as to facilitate the despatch of the business of the company in all its branches.A commanding view is had of the Bay from the rear of the premises, which affords the advantage of rendering the movements of the vessels consigned to the firm clearly discernible. The cost of the building is something like £10,000, but the outlay is well made, as giving a building which is in every way adapted to the importance of the City in which it is located.
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| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 105856 1 | 1 JPEG : 404 KB ; A4 | Single Item (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |