Horticultural Hall, 31-33 Victoria Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Total copies: 1
Title:
Horticultural Hall, 31-33 Victoria Street, Melbourne
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Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 109680
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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DATE: 1874, 1883?, 1888;ASSOCIATIONS: Royal Horticultural Society;DESIGNER: Ellerker, William H & CompanyBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM Notable features: 1. Site long associated with Society (1859-). 2. Early date for stucco/ brick combination in this style___________________________VICTORIA HERITAGE REGISTER H0520Statement of SignificanceLast Updated: 01/02/2000What is significant?The Horticultural Hall was established on the current site when the Victorian Horticultural Improvement Society erected an iron shed in 1859. The original shed was replaced in 1873 by the present two storey brick hall with a gabled roof designed by architect William Ellerker, and erected at a cost of £2000. The land was temporarily reserved from sale by the government in 1866 and then permanently reserved in 1889. In 1878 a symmetrical two storey brick building with a bluestone plinth was added between the existing hall and Victoria Street. The facade follows a typical Victorian composition of classical elements, whereby the main entrance is expressed by pediments and is flanked by identical window bays.In 1888 this building was extended by one bay, at a cost of £1800, to create an asymmetrical facade. The cement mouldings include Doric piers, an entablature and acanthus leaf pilaster capitals. The interior is plain but mostly intact. The restrained decoration of the main hall includes Doric pilasters around the walls and the roof is lined with diagonal boards.How is it significant?The Horticultural Hall is of architectural and historical significance to the State of Victoria.Why is it significant?The Horticultural Hall is historically significant as one of a once large number of assembly halls which played an important social role in Melbourne as the venue for various clubs and societies. The Horticultural Hall is unusual as one of the most intact of a handful of such halls that survive today. The site has been continuously occupied by the Society since 1859.The Horticultural Hall is architecturally significant as an expression of the evolution of the classical style in Victoria. The decorative treatment of the facade represents a mid-point between the hierarchical treatment of the Renaissance Revival style and the later, more embellished and less restrained designs of the so-called boom period.___________________________GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites source 77, page 39;___________________________DARYL JACKSON EVAN WALKER ARCHITECTS PTY. LTD 1976 FOR HISTORIC BUILDINGS PRESERVATION COUNCIL; MELBOURNE: THE AREA BOUNDED BY VICTORIA, SPRING, LONSDALE AND SWANSTON STS (source 77)1.8 Block F. The Horticultural Hall was built in 1873 and extended in 1878. The Oddfellows built their hall next door on the corner of Russell and Victoria Streets in 1876, and in 1963 developed the rest of their site with a five storey office building still awaiting the 15 storey addition originally planned.Building Name Horticultural Hall 31-33 Victoria StreetDate Built 1874Architect William EllerckerOriginal Use Hall and officesPresent Use Hall and officesIntactness Facade completely original.Interior largely intact.Recommendation That the building be included on the Historic Buildings Register.1 HistoricalThe Royal Horticultural Society first occupied the site in 1859 (1) although the first Sands and McDougall reference is in 1874 (2). The Royal Horticultural Society still occupies the building. Other bodies have shared the' hall, including the Christadelphians who "proclaim the Gospel here every Sunday and the Melbourne City Council, who proclaim 'a poll there at least once a year.2 Architectural,2.1 A tin shed was built on the site in 1859 (l). In 1872 William Ellercker (Architect) called tenders for the construction of a hall (2') which included caretaker's quarters at the south end. The Hall had skylights with hanging baskets ‘below; but these' were closed in in 1905. A view of Melbourne c 1880 shows a smaller building, to the west of the hall, but no reference is made to it. The front block was completed in 1878· at a cost of £1800. No tenders have been found for this section, but Ellecker took credit for the building.2.2 The carcass is in brick and all the superimposed decoration in cement.. Unusual in that- it has on the ground floor a Doric entablature of triglyphs and metopes surmounted by a dentillated, cornice and above the ,entrance door a dentilated pediment On this ground' floor there are piers represented as separate blocks, alternate ones being vermiculated and arched window openings with the arches stilted and with vermiculated key stones. On the upper floor "there are similar vermiculation and the upper floor is in Corinthian order. The upper floor pediment above the entrance door is segmental and once more dentilated.. . A strange rectangular pediment block surmounting this sticking ·up well above the parapet balustrade which has circular holes through it, seems to have been originally surmounted by balls or urns which are now missing. Internally, the entrance hall is largely intact although a pair of doors for an air lock has been inserted, probably towards 1920. The doors and skirtings are all in timber graining·. The stair which: breaks off to the left -from the· entrance hall is still in' good nick in timber, and the stair window with flashed ruby and blue glass still intact in the side lights. The main hall is fairly plain internally with Doric pilasters around the sides., and the roof lined with diagonal boarding. The skirtings and doors are again in timber graining although the window architraves have been painted out. All of the painting internally is in cream. Only a small stage Modern alterations are confined to two bays of windows on the northeast side of the door. A notice near the door says that "Flower paintings of natural size and colour were presented to the Victorian Horticultural Society by the artist, Charles F. Cole." These paintings are no longer around. All surfaces are marked out as ruled out as ashlar with a stippled surface on each block and they are not original. At each gabled end there are large roundels which may have been open vents or windows. .And. there were originally two skylights down each side of the .d roof which were painted or blocked out. There is quite a heavily projecting cornice right around the inside, 2.3 The building is one of William Ellercker's earlier works and marks a transition from his earliest Italian and Renaissance revival works such as the Independent Church, South Melbourne (1874) to the eclectic boom style of "Illawarra", Toorak. Ellercker was one of a few architects who worked in both styles. The facade of the building is entirely original" and much of the interior is intact.3 RecbmInendationThat the building be included on the Historic Buildings Register on the basis of architectural significance. The external shell only of the building need be specifiedFootnotes(1) Royal Horticultural Society.(2) M.U. Urban Conservation Project Index.(3) Royal Horticultural Society.___________________________NATIONAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA (VIC)Statement of SignificanceLast Updated: 15/08/2005The Horticultural Society erected a tin shed on this site in 1859. In 1872 the present hall was constructed and in 1878 the front block was completed. The architect for both sections was William H Ellerker who designed the Independent Church, South Melbourne (1874). The building is constructed in brick and comprises a double storey wing of offices to Victoria Street with a hall behind. The facade is in the transition style between conservative and boom classicism and follows a typical classical composition with the main entrance expressed by pediments and flanked by identical window bays. The trabeated system of stylized piers and pilasters are indicative of the transition style. The high quality of the architectural mouldings, including the ventricated piers, doric entablature and acanthus-leaf pilaster capitals is a notable feature of the facade. The interior is plain but most intact, the main hall is austerely decorated with doric pilasters around the walls and the roof lined with diagonal boards.The Victorian Horticultural Society building is one of a large number of assembly halls which once played an important social role in Melbourne as the venue for various clubs and societies. This particular example is the most intact of a handful of such halls that survive today. The site has been continuously occupied by the Society since 1859.The building is notable among William Ellerker's works. The facade is entirely original and is a significant, but not scholarly, example of the transitional style between conservative and boom classicism. The building is an essential element in the McKenzie Street precinct, the Victoria Streetscape and this general area of the Central Business District.Classified: 18/10/1979Revised: 03/08/1998___________________________Victorian Heritage Inventory H7822-2162First occupied by the Horticultural Society 1859 - still occupied by it.1880 Panorama shows hall building.1905 - 1-2 storey buildings, University High School & Hall___________________________1882 AC Cooke Panorama MelbourneSTATE LIBRARY OF VICTORIA b28535shows what appears to be the rear gabled wing___________________________LEWIS, M- AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURE INDEX14713 Ellerker, W H & Contributory; VIC Halls 1883 5 10-W.H. Ellerker & Co.Tender wanted for new Horticultural Hall, Melbourne.Argus 10.5.1883, p 3___________________________MAHLSTEDT FIRE INSURANCE PLAN SERIES STATE LIBRARY OF VICTORIA19101923 shown as Melbourne High School, similar to 1910 plan___________________________VICTORIA HERITAGE REGISTERHORTICULTURAL HALL - HistoryContextual History:The Victorian Horticultural Improvement Society was founded in November 1848 by John Pascoe Fawkner. The first exhibition of the Society was held in the Botanic Gardens in March 1850. Members during the 1850s included Judges Barry and A'Beckett and Henry Ginn, the Colonial Architect for the Colony of Victoria. Working gardeners who were members of the Society's committee during the 1860s included William Taylor (gardener to John Brown at Como) and William Sangster (gardener at Government House). Others included George Brunning, author of 'Australian Gardener' and Thomas Purves, manager of Adamson's Nursery at South Yarra in the 1860s. The society later changed its name and was granted a Royal prefix, becoming the Royal Horticuultural Society.History of Place:The site of the Horticultural Hall was gazetted for the society's use in April 1866. The Horticultural Hall was used for Society meetings and exhibitions, and was let for other purposes as well, including dancing. The hall was paid for by the 1880s and further additions were approved in 1888. An overdraft with the Commercial bank could not be repaid following the economic depression of 1893. In the late 1890s the hall was leased to University Girls High School for ten years, with one room retained for the Society's purposes. The Education Department did not quit the hall until 1927. In the 1930s tenants included W S Watt, (the Commonwealth Meteorologist) and the Clerks' Union. (Trades hall is located on the opposite side of Victoria Street). Other unions took up tenancies in the 1940s. Emily McPherson College, on the other side of Russell Street, also made use of the hall for ballroom dancing instruction.(C Kellaway, National Trust report, September 1979)Associated People: William Taylor (gardener at Como House)William Sangster (gardener at Government House)___________________________NEWSPAPERS (TROVE):1872The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954)Monday 16 December 1872 - Page 3https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/199376304THE HORTICULTURAL HALL.-The Victorian Horticultural Improvement Society have accepted a contract for the erection of a new hall, upon the land granted to them by the Government for that purpose at the corner of Victoria and McKenzie streets. The building will be used for meetings of the society and for horticultural exhibitions. It is also intended to form a bowling green and plant and beautify the grounds, transforming the pre sent unsightly reserve into a pleasant and attractive spot. The principal entrance will be from Victoria street, the front being ornamented by coupled pilasters in Roman doric, with entablature and dentilled cornice, surmounted by a hand- some balustrade with ornamental vases. The centre portion over the doorway will have a panel with "Horticultural Hall" thereon, over which it is intended to fix the royal arms. On each side of the entrance door are rooms 20 feet by 14 feet 6 inches, to be used as a secretary's room and library respectively. The hall will be 70 feet by 40 feet in the clear, divided into bays by moulded pilasters , with entablature and cornice all around. The roof will be open, boarded, stained and varnished, so as to give a neat light appearance, supported by iron principals from each pilaster. It will be lighted by side windows and skylights, all of which will open by quadrants.Comfort able quarters — consisting of parlor, kitchen, and bedroom — are provided for the hall- keeper. Light and air being most essential in a building of this description, both these important matters have been carefully studied; and it is confidently anticipated that the new hall will be admirably adapted for all requirements.The architects are Messrs. W. H. Ellerker and Co., of Collins Street, who have also prepared the designs for the large buildings to be erected on the adjoining piece of ground for the Ancient and Independent Order of Oddfellows, tenders for which we hear are to be called for shortly; and when both these buildings are finished, they will be great improvement and attraction in the neighborhood..1873https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/245304937The opening of tho Horticultural Society's hall was celebrated by a sumptuous banquet IttBt evening, Sir Redmond Barry in the chair, and the Hon. J. T. Smith in the vice-chair. The attendance was excellent, fully120 sitting down to table…The hall is a fine building, being seventy feet by forty feet, and thirty-five feet from floor to coiling, well lighted and ventilated, and does credit to the architect, Mr. Ellerker.
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| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 109680 | 1 PDF : 1,862 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |