Messiter's shops and residences, 189-195 Exhibition Street & 83-89 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne
Graeme Butler and Associates01/07/1989
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Total copies: 1
Title:
Messiter's shops and residences, 189-195 Exhibition Street & 83-89 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
01/07/1989
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 103601
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.
Use restrictions:
UnrestrictedPlease contact City of Melbourne Libraries about obtaining permission to reproduce images.
General notes:
ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2021:Period: Late VictorianConstruction date: 1881-2ASSOCIATIONS:Thomas Messiter,Koch, JABWilliam Adam of Richmond..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceHistoryThomas Messetter owned smaller premises here prior to rebuilding, in 1881-2, to produce four brick shops and residences each of six rooms with two extra on the corner (195 Exhibition Street). By the mid 1880s it was Messetter's executors, presiding over what appears to have been mostly Jewish tenants (Sampson Marks, J. Cohen and R. Moses). The tenants became more international in the 1890s with Yves Battard, Ah Hung and Levy in possession. The Messeter family (Thomas & J. M.) resided in Richmond over a long period, one Josiah Messiter(a builder) also living in that suburb but presumably unconnected.DescriptionAn austere Renaissance revival, two-storey shop and residence row which has ruled stucco to the upper level, bracketed flat pediments over windows, a bracketed main cornice and a piered and balustraded parapet. The balustrade in this case is after a guilloche pattern, upper level window sills are linked with a string mould which rounds the corner and connects with a single opening on the north face. The ground level has been reconstructed in a sympathetic shopfront form.External Integrity.New sympathetic shopfronts at ground level and new rear wing facing Little Bourke Street. Colours are sympathetic.StreetscapeRelates to the generally 19th Century Renaissance revival character of the street, particularly the facade of HerMajesty's and the adjoining row to the south.SignificanceAn architecturally undistinguished shop and residence row which nevertheless supports the prevailing 19th. century streetscape and has some associations with the Chinese and Jewish communities, the former connecting with its proximity to Chinatown..GRAEME BUTLER 1989, LITTLE BOURKE STREET PRECINCT CONSERVATION STUDYShops and Residences189-195 Exhibition StreetHistoryBuilt: 1881-2Thomas Messiter (of Lennox Street, Richmond), owned smaller premises here prior to rebuilding. in 1881·2, to produce four brick shops and residences each of six rooms with two extra on the corner (195 Exhibition Street), J. A. B. Koch was his architect and the builder was William Adam of Richmond.2By the mid 1880s it was Messiter’s executors, presiding over what appears to have been mostly Jewish tenants (Sampson Marks, J. Cohen and R. Moses). The tenants became more international in the 1890s with Yves Battard, Ah Hung and Levy in possession. 3 By c1905, SJ. & J.S. Morell were the owners. 4 The Messiter family (Thomas & J. M.) resided in Richmond over a long period, one Josiah Messiter (a builder) also living in that suburb but presumably is unconnected The Little Bourke Street elevation was used as Manoussaki's wine cafe in the 1920s 6 but appears to have been the residential entrance earlier.DescriptionAn austere Renaissance revival (for Koch), two-storey shop and residence row which has ruled stucco on the upper Ievel, bracketed flat pediments over segment-arched windows. a bracketed main cornice and a piered and balustraded parapet. The balustrade in this case is after a guilloche pattern. Upper level window sills are linked with a string mould which rounds the corner and connects with a single opening on the north face. The ground level has been reconstructed in a sympathetic Victorian-era shopfront form.External Integrity.New sympathetic shopfronts at ground level and a reconstructed rear wing facing Little Bourke Street. Colours are sympathetic, but the many and diverse signs in Little Bourke Street are obtrusive.StreetscapeRelates to the generally 19th Century Renaissance revival character of the street, particularly the facade of Her Majesty's and the adjoining row to the south.SignificanceAn architecturally undistinguished shop and residence row, with interesting upper window detailing, which nevertheless supports the prevailing 19th. century streetscape and has some associations with the Chinese and Jewish communities, the former connecting with its proximity to Chinatown. Contributes to precinct.Notes:KEY:CITY OF MELBOURNE RATE BOOKS (RB), CITY OF MELBOURNE BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS (BA), DIRECTORIES OF VICTORIA, MELBOURNE-SANDS AND KENNY, SANDS & MCDOUGALL (D)1 RB1881, 1883f; RB1882, 18S2f; RB1884, 1854f; RB1886. 1819f2 BA8763,20.4.813 RB1895; RB1890.1770f4 RB190S,1510f5 D1880-18906 D19207 D1890.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYcites Victoria Illustrated: 165-6.NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)Kilmore Free Press (Kilmore, Vic. : 1870 - 1954) Thu 19 Oct 1871 Page 4 A HARSH LANDLORDhttps://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/70056837Mr Thomas Messiter, of Richmond, appeared in the County Court on Tuesday, in the role of an exacting landlord; Mrs Hannah Solomon has been a tenant of his for no a less than thirteen years, occupying the premises known as 101 and 103 Stephen (later Exhibition) street, Melbourne, as a clothier's establishment e and paying a rental of £2 10s per week. Mrs Solomon always paid the rent in advance, and on the 21st August last she paid her landlord £2 10s, to carry the rent up to the 28th August. On the following day she left the premises, in consequence of some d annoyances, and went to the landlord to consult with him as to the fixtures. Messiter at first said he would purchase them, and e afterwards refused, but he kept the woman dangling about until the week was over, when he demanded a week's rent notwithstanding the fact that the key of the premises had been handed over to a third person, who took possession. The demand being refused, he brought an action to recover thee week's rent; but his Honour Judge Cope, seeing the injustice of the transaction, gave a verdict for the defendant, with £4 4s costs..The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957)Saturday 21 June 1873 - Page 4https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5877437GREEN APPELLANT, MESSITER RESPONDENT.Appeal from County Court, Melbourne. Mr. Quinlan for appellant ;Mr. G. P. Smith for respondent.Thomas Messiter sued G. E. Green for falsely and fraudulently representing that a certain horse was a good family horse, and quiet in harness, and thereby induced the plaintiff to buy the horse from the defendant for the sum of £27 ; and the plaintiff, relying on his representation bought the horse ; whereas the horse was not a good family horse and quiet in harness The evidence showed that the defendant who resides at Geelong bought the horse m January last for £7 that on the 5th March the defendant sent the horse to Melbourne by his groom to be sold With the horse he sent this letter- 11 Malop street Geelong - Messrs M Culloch Campbell and Co-Gentlemen - The horse sent by bearer is an excellent harness horse and good hack and having no further use for him wish to sellAny information required about him the man will give Yours etc G E GREEN….The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Wed 14 Oct 1885 Page 1 Family NoticesMESSITER.—On the 13th inst., at his residence, Lennox-street, Richmond, Thomas Messiter, aged 76,an old colonist of over 40 years, and much respected by his numerous friends..Advocate (Melbourne, Vic. : 1868 - 1954) Sat 14 Nov 1885 Page 20 City and Suburbsprobate: .£14,938.The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954)Friday 6 November 1885 - Page 2`...we erroneously stated...the deceased left all his personal and real estate in trust to to be divided among his grandchildren, the children of his daughter Jane Adam wife of Mr John Adam wine and spirit merchant of Richmond. The facts are that the deceased left all his personal estate consisting of horse buggies, furniture. plate etcetera absolutely to his widow for her sole use and in addition to her all of the rents, etc. derivable from his real estate during her lifetime on her decease the real estate is to be divided among his grandchildren..'
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| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 103601 | 1 PDF : 1,432 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |