Benjamin's warehouses, later Leicester House, 302-306 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
Archives
Total copies: 1
Title:
Benjamin's warehouses, later Leicester House, 302-306 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 110765
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:
RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2024:__________________________________________________DATE: 1886, 1909;ASSOCIATIONS: Benjamin, L; Connibere Grieve and Connibere;DESIGNER: Crouch, T J; Barnet, N c1909?;BUILDER: Page McCulloch___________________GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceHistoryWarehouses, 302-306, 308 Flinders LaneBuilt: 1886, 1909Thomas J Crouch designed three three-storey warehouses on this site (302- 306) in 1886 for L Benjamin of Beehive Chambers (qv). His builder was Page McCulloch of Carlton. One Clarke owned another three-storey warehouse to the west of the group (1885). Connibere Grieve and Connibere (E W R Connibere, J Grieve and C W Connibere) occupied 304 from the mid 1890s, after a variety of tenants, acquiring it and the others (306- 308) by 1908.Nahum Barnet designed a steel-framed warehouse for Connibere at 301-311 Flinders Lane (1914) so it is likely that he was the architect for the added floor to 302- 306 and the reconstruction of 308 to five levels, in 1909.With Connibere's departure, the remaining occupiers were united under the name Ferrando's Building, named after G Ferrando and Co., a soft goos merchant. Although Ferrando and Co. were still in occupation, now as olive oil importers, the building's name had become Leicester House by World War Two. The few major tenants included Harrington's photographic suppliers but the balance were smaller firms than had been before.DescriptionAppearing to be from the late Victorian period and designed in a Medieval revival mode, the extension of the buildings has been matched to the 1886 levels of 302-306. Given the previous separate ownership and earlier date of 308, it is probable that it was a total reconstruction (rather than an addition) to match both facade and floor levels of 302-306 and, truly unite the buildings for one occupation.Gothic detail is applied at the fourth level and Romanesque inspired foliated colonette and column capitals prevail elsewhere. Beyond these details the facades are ordered in the classical manner and the cornice and string moulds, bracketting and balustrading follow the Renaissance revival. The cemented details are as impressive as they are contradictory, complementing the intricate fenestration pattern of both facades. A previous study noted marble and panelling at the entry at 308 (1976).IntegrityGenerally externally original (302-306) the ground level is altered and the upper storey appears gutted (308).StreetscapeThe two buildings relate closely and contribute to the warehouse streetscape precinct adjoining.SignificanceAn ornate, proficient and almost complete design with details derived from Italian medieval sources to provide an unusual elevation, distinct from the Italian Gothic of the Rialto and Olderfleet.______________________GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites source 80,p239; CITY OF MELBOURNE BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS 1980_______________________________________LEWIS, M- AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURE INDEX:Record 76442 Crouch, - Elizabeth; Benjamin, L Melbourne VIC Warehouses Page & McCulloch - 57 Neill St Carlton 1886 02 3 1980- MCC registration no 1980 [Burchett Index]. Fee 9.4.0three 3-storey warehouses Flinders Lane west;75267 Barnet, Nahum; Connibere Bros Melbourne VIC Buildings Shillabeer, F E - Footscray 1913 10 7 4404-MCC registration no 4404 [Burchett Index]. Fee 6.0.0steel frame, brick & concrete building Little Flinders - 301/311 -_______________________________________VICTORIA HERITAGE DATABASENATIONAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA (VIC)Statement of SignificanceNumbers 302-306 were built in 1886 as a four-storey warehouse with cellar. In 1909 No. 308, a five-storey warehouse was added with matching floor levels, windows and general detailing which is mostly intact, both externally and internally. The combined facades, which are very elaborately detailed for a warehouse, form an attractive elevation and contribute an important element to the streetscape. The architect was T J Crouch.Classified: 30/03/1978_______________________________________HERITAGE BRANCH, MINISTRY FOR PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT 1987 CITY OF MELBOURNE CENTRAL CITY NOTABLE BUILDINGS CITATIONSConstructed in two stages (1886 and 1909) this five-storey lavishly detailed warehouse is a critical element of the Flinders Lane commercial precinct._______________________________________CITYSCAPE MAP 37, 20 1980sLeicester House, 5 storeys of offices and workrooms mainly used by the clothing industry, purchased for $739,105 in June, 1973. Frontage 96ft (29.2m); area 7,830 sq ft (727m2)._______________________________________CONTEXT (WITH GJM HERITAGE) 2020, HODDLE GRID HERITAGE REVIEWLeicester House, 302-308 Flinders Lane, 1886 (HO646, Significant in HO502 Flinders Lane Precinct)A six-storey brick and bluestone warehouse building. Designed by Thomas J Crouch and Nahum Barnet in a mix of styles, namely Renaissance with Gothic and Romanesque features. It was built by Page McCulloch in two stages in 1886 and 1909. It was subdivided into residential units and shops in 2000, 2004 and 2006.
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Record types:
Research and reports
Record number:
1266758
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 110765 | 1 PDF : 725 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |