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Shop & Residence, later Bourke St. East Post Office, 35-37 Bourke Street, Melbourne

Butler, Graeme01/01/1985
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Title:
Shop & Residence, later Bourke St. East Post Office, 35-37 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Butler, Graeme (Name details)
Date of work:
01/01/1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 101108
Level of description:
Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
Type of materials:
Graphic materials
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:
ASSOCIATED RESEARCH BY GRAEME BUTLER:Style: Renaissance RevivalPeriod: Early VictorianConstruction Date: 1872Notable features: One of the few shopfronts left in the Melbourne Central Activities District - typical Victorian shop/residenceGraeme Butler 1985 Melbourne Central Activities District Conservation StudyStatement of SignificanceGraeme Butler 1985 Melbourne Central Activities District Conservation StudyStatement of SignificanceHistoryBuilder, Neil Hutton, applied to the City Council to build this shop and residence in February 1872. James M. Langley, a china and glass dealer, was the first owner/occupier until 1890, when the shop was acquired by the Colonial Government for use as a Post Office. By 1923, the State Savings Bank Commissioners had purchased it, possibly as an adjunct to their bank adjoining on the east, but the ground level remained as a post office until1961. It has been leased for retail purposes since, but the 19th century cast-iron post box remains outside its door.DescriptionA simple conservative Italian Renaissance revival cemented facade, which is perhaps most distinguished by the survival of its shopfront, given its location in the CAD. The parapet has a raised, segment-arched pediment, above an entablature bearing its construction date. The pediment tympanum is foliated and the entablature flanked by cement scrolls. The usual cornice, cement masks, bracketed blocks and vermiculated quoins decorated the building, but the aedicule treatment of the windows is not as common.External IntegrityThe street verandah (probably Corporation pattern) has been removed and stonework painted.StreetscapeThe earliest of the row, but it relates to the adjoining eastern buildings in scale, finish, form and period detail.SignificanceDistinguished by its high integrity and detailing, it has also performed a public building role and supports a low-scale 19th and early 20th Century streetscape.FURTHER REFERENCESLewis, M. Australian Architecture Index:Record: 73749 Owner: Langley, Jas Melbourne VIC Houses; Shops; Builder: Hutton, Neil 1872 02 28: MCC registration no 4724 [Burchett Index]. Fee 3.0.0shop & dwelling
Related material link:
Shop & Residence, later Bourke St. East Post Office, 31-37 Bourke Street, Melbourne (Butler13205\\)Shop & Residence, later Bourke St. East Post Office, 35-37 Bourke Street, Melbourne (Butler13208\\)
Names:
City of Melbourne
Topics:
Central Activities District Conservation Study 1985Conservation studiesItalianate styleShopsEarly-mid Victorian period (1851-1875)1870-1879
Places:
Melbourne (Vic.)
Form/Genre:
Building Identification Forms (BIFs)
Record types:
Research and reports
Record number:
1179847
Bookmark link:
https://librarysearch.melbourne.vic.gov.au/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/OPAC/ARCENQ?SETLVL=&RNI=1179847
TypeReference No.ExtentStatus/Desc
Original1011081 PDF : 450 KB ; A4Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced)
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