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Colonial Mutual Fire Building, later Aldersgate House, 405-407 Collins Street, Melbourne

Butler, Graeme1985

Record details

Title:

Creator:

Butler, Graeme (Name details)

Date of work:

1985

Reference number:

BIF-CITY 102096

Level of description:

Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)

Type of materials:

Graphic materialsTextual material

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:

Style: Neo-GothicPeriod: Inter-WarConstruction date: 1921-3Notable features: Stone facing.ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER:.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceHistoryThe earliest Victoria-based fire insurance company collapsed after four years operation. Lloyds of London were next to brave Port Phillip conditions, opening an office in 1840. Another local company started in 1848. The total increased to 13 in nine years: most companies also running their own fire fighting teams as a financial precaution.The United Australian Mutual Marine and Fire Insurance Company Ltd. existed in Melbourne at the mid 1880s with an agency in Geelong. A. Webster became the manager, moving the firm from 269 Collins Street to a two-storey building at this address around 1900, and later leasing it as United Australian Chambers.At the end of 1921 architects, Sydney Smith and Ogg applied to build `office buildings' here to the value of 67000 pounds. The company's tenants included accountants, brokers and agents during a tenure extending into the 1960s.Little was done to the building until extensive internal alterations were made in 1981-2.DescriptionNeo-Gothic in style its visual impact however is due mainly to the powerful expression and contrasting mass of pilasters, buttresses, oriel and balcony forms, rather than details borrowed from the style. Detail, where used is either exaggerated (gable crockett) or stylised (tracery, blind and open, set within upper windows).By contrast its neighbours have moved a decade closer to Modern, with their ordered window patterns, sparse detail and shallow massing. Nevertheless the building's style is unusual for its date when the classical neo-Grec, neo-Baroque and Neo-Renaissance were more common commercial clothing. Sydney Smith and Ogg, being among the arch practitioners of the classical revival styles at that time, appear to have been strongly influenced here by an unknown source. The design resembles buildings on narrow sites, designed by Nahum Barnet and done six years earlier.External IntegrityGenerally externally original.StreetscapeCommon freestone upper facing and granite lower parts, combined with the Gothic inspiration to form an important commercial streetscape.SignificanceOut of sequence with design trends, the facade still possesses strong compositional elements and a fine stone finish. It is near original and a valuable part of an important Gothic inspired streetscape..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites 80 Keith & John R Reid, 1976, CBD STUDY AREA 7, page 73.HERITAGE BRANCH, MINISTRY FOR PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT 1987 CITY OF MELBOURNE CENTRAL CITY NOTABLE BUILDINGS CITATIONSA six-storey office biilding constructed in 1923-24. It has a most unusual neo-Tudor external design with gothic elements typical of the buildings around it. It is a significant member of the group of early 20th century financial houses constructed between Market and Queen Streets..NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)see https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/182489611The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954) Thu 24 Nov 1921 Page 7COLONIAL MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE CO.A contract,' has been let for the erection of a six-story' building, on tho freehold of the Colonial Mutual Fire Insurance Company Ltd. at 407 Collins-street,, for the requirements of the company's staff and for letting purposesThe Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Thu 30 Nov 1922 Page 7 COLONIAL MUTUAL FIRE CO.https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1858622`COLONIAL MUTUAL PIRE CO. The twelfth annual meeting of share holders …Mr V J Saddler, chanman of directors, …our head office building, now in course of erection in Collins Street, Melbourne, ready for occupation within the next six months. Ample accommodation bus been reserved for the housing of our large staff of employees, and prevision made for letting suites of offices. The central situation of the building, together with the well lighted and airy rooms should appeal to prospective tenants, and the building will be a. splendid addition to the assets of the company…The Week (Brisbane, Qld. : 1876 - 1934)Friday 17 August 1923 - Page 15The head office of the company has recently been moved to its new premises in Collins street, Melbourne. In addition the company owns its own freehold office premises at Sydney, Brisbane, and Adelaide.

Names:

City of Melbourne

Topics:

Central Activities District Conservation Study 1985Conservation studiesInterwar periodGothic (revival) architectureStone buildingsOffices1920-1929

Places:

Melbourne (Vic.)

Form/Genre:

Building Identification Forms (BIFs)

Record types:

Research and reports

Record number:

1194778