Young Women's Christian Association, 489-499 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Title:
Young Women's Christian Association, 489-499 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
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Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 103234
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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Period: Post Second-WarConstruction date: 1973-1975Notable features: Application of brutalist forms to medium to large building in CAD - unusual for period & successful integration to streetscape..ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2021:.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceHistoryThat of the Royal George Hotel was a less than sober site for the YWCA, an organization which had begun in Australia at Geelong in 1872. Traditionally, the association had provided accommodation for young girls living away from home, nurturing their spiritual and physical well-being in ancillary chapels and gymnasia. This was their second of two major buildings in Melbourne, the first being to the design of the prolific architect, Nahum Barnet (1913-14), in Russell Street (demolished). Perrott Lyon Timlock and Kesa were the architects for the second: the project designer, Brian Mathieson, being a future partner.Permits were obtained in July 1973 to commence a contract worth an estimated 1.4 million dollars. Perrott's had experience in residential hotel work (Chevron, Australia, Southern Cross). They had also been involved in the Dr Ramsay Mailer Youth Hostel.DescriptionLike Hosie's Hotel (qv), this design adopted a low to high-rise transition from multi-function accommodation to purely residential. Unlike the nearby former E S & A Bank (qv), the low- rise ground level relates to its adjoining streetscape. The bold massing of both Hosie's and the bank were uncommon for city architecture. Although the graduated form was as much determined by the upper-level residential use as by aesthetics, the result is also uncommon in the CAD, in simple massing terms. The E S & A Bank reflected the Lloyd Wright influence and Hosie's aspects of European modern architecture but the YWCA introduced a variation on their massing intentions. As yet inactive within the CAD was the Brutalist design, honesty of purpose philosophies which favoured off-form concrete as both the cladding and the structure and bold, simply expressed forms as the clear expression of the building's and its parts' function. Graeme Gunn's Plumbers and Gasfitters Building (Victoria Street) was the first of the style (1970-71) to overlook the CAD but the economics which demanded efficiently achieved and maximised capacity, had hitherto excluded highly sculptural building forms (see former E S & A Bank, Elizabeth Street, qv). A later, similarly Brutalist example was the Hoyt's Midcity Cinemas (1975- 7) and Perrott's MMBW Headquarters.The skillion profile or 45 degree `cut-off', in two dimensions or three, was inherent to the style's expression in Victoria (see also Smithson's London Economists Building). Interstate another Corbusier-inspired approach to Brutalism used the same strong concrete cum structural expression but with varying sized rectangular forms set within an overall structural and `necessary' framework i.e. Clifton and Brand with Brand Ferguson & Solarski's Hale School War Memorial Hall, Perth (1962). The same theme can be traced through the monumental works of Edwards Madigan Torzillo and Briggs in Canberra, as recent as the Australian National Gallery (1982). Enrico Taglietti provided further variation, in a less geometric mode, bridging the gap to Frank Lloyd Wright's particular brand of earthy honest architecture. More aligned with the YWCA however were buildings such as Macquarie University Union Building by Ancher Mortlock Murray & Woolley (c1968).External IntegrityGenerally original externally.StreetscapeAchieves some height and finish relationship with adjoining Victorian period streetscape.SignificanceThe earliest of the few Brutalist designs in Melbourne City..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites CITY OF MELBOURNE BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS 43916 (1973);.adonline web site(Adam Dimech) 2021https://www.adonline.id.au/buildings/ywca/`Summary:Built in 1976.Designed by Perrott Lyon Mathieson (1976), Millar Robertson Architects (1996 refurbishment) and Jackson Clements Burrows (2006 refurbishment).Not listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.Top Building Description:The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) building in Melbourne's Elizabeth Street is an excellent example of mid-70's Brutalist architecture. The 10 storey hotel (called Hotel Y) and refuge was designed by Perrott Lyon Mathieson and constructed in 1976. The building contains office spaces, meeting rooms as well as the hotel and other social facilities.Typical of Brutalist architecture, the building is characterised by the dominant use of off-form, strongly textured concrete inside and out that give the building a chunky, powerful and raw appearance.In 1996, the YWCA commissioned Millar Robertson Architects to refurbish the building. Utilising a budget of $3.2 million, the architects added a modern cantilevered awning and refurbished much of the interiors which included a total renovation to what had been a drab and cramped entranceway that was previously accessed via a low-ceiling arcade.The refurbishments weren't to last as the YWCA commissioned Jackson Clements Burrows architects to refurbish the building again in 2006. The 2006 refurbishment cost $4.6 million but made almost no changes to the building's Brutalist exterior.'.YWCA National Housing web site 2021https://www.ywcahousing.org.au/our-history/`YWCA National Housing is a proudly feminist organisation, pushing and advocating for bold, systemic change to bring equality to women – just as we always have. For almost 140 years through our parent organisation YWCA Australia, we’ve been marching on the front line, mobilising communities and actively pushing for women leading positive change.Over the years, we’ve made significant progress – from our courageous founders to the important steps we continue to take today to improve the lives of women. We have a long and proud history of providing accommodation for women, and we are proud to continue this work as one of Australia’s largest affordable housing providers.'1973 – YWCA opened Richmond House, housing 81 long-term residents in newly-designed cluster units1975 – Construction of the new YWCA headquarters and hotel on Elizabeth Street.eMelbourne web sitehttps://www.emelbourne.net.au/biogs/EM01674b.htmYoung Women's Christian AssociationThe Melbourne branch of this world-wide movement, founded in 1882 under the leadership of Sarah Booth, aimed to improve young women's spiritual, social and physical conditions. Initially meeting at the Assembly Hall in Collins Street, the organisation later had premises in Spring Street (1891) and Russell Street (1912), the latter building funded by the Connibere family in memory of their father, George.The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) conducted girls' clubs, meetings and classes, coffee socials, Bible classes, rescued prostitutes, educated factory workers and offered board and lodging for visitors and working women. It was involved in anti-sweating campaigns and in 1912 introduced a Thrift Scheme, encouraging young women to save. By the 1930s the membership numbered over 1200. Social programs expanded with the establishment of an employment agency as well as the staging of international peace forums. During the war the 'Garden Army of Girl Diggers' had 700 members growing vegetables. The first residential club for servicewomen, opened in Toorak in 1942, was one of 19 venues serving munitions workers and servicewomen.Postwar initiatives included services for single immigrant women, after-school programs (from 1968), and clubs for married women to learn leadership skills. In 1975 489 Elizabeth Street became the new home of the Melbourne YWCA.MARIAN ZAUNBRECHERREFERENCESDunn, Margaret, The dauntless bunch: The story of the YWCA in Australia, YWCA, Melbourne, 1991. Details
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| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 103234 | 1 PDF : 1,048 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |