Knight's shops and dwellings, later Hood and Co and Edinburgh Chambers, 215-217 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
Archives
Total copies: 1
Title:
Knight's shops and dwellings, later Hood and Co and Edinburgh Chambers, 215-217 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 103185 103186
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:
Period: Early VictorianConstruction date: 1869Notable features: 1. Stone dressings, rear elevation. 2. Early commercial coloured brickwork..ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER:.RAYWORTH, B 2002. REVIEW OF HERITAGE OVERLAY LISTINGS IN THE CBDfor the City of MelbourneHistory and DescriptionEdinburgh Chambers was constructed before 1865 as three storey retail premises on a prominent corner site. The architect and builders are unknown.As constructed, the building featured elaborate polychrome brickwork around window openings and at the cornice. The building is contemporary with, and stylistically related to, Joseph Reed's, polychrome works throughout Melbourne in the 1860s. Reed had visited Europe in 1863 and was instrumental in the introduction of the polychrome brick architecture of Lombardy to Melbourne (although some earlier examples of polychromy, based on English models, are known to have existed).Edinburgh Chambers is of approximately the same age as Reed's earliest work in the mode and is among the earliest polychrome buildings in the CBD.In addition to its use of polychrome, the building is further distinguished by its uncommon decorative details. The ground floor has been considerably altered and is now painted and tiled but the upper storeys retain elaborate window openings with corbelled heads and hold decorative columns drawn from eastern Gothic sources.The brick facades have been painted over in the relatively recent past. Nonetheless, the building remains in good condition for its age.Statement of SignificanceEdinburgh Chambers is of aesthetic significance at a local level for its skilfully and elaborately ornamented polychrome brickwork facades. It is believed to be among the earliest examples of polychrome brickwork in the CBD..GRAEME BUTLER & ASSOCIATES 2011, CENTRAL CITY (HODDLE GRID) HERITAGE REVIEWStatement of SignificanceWhat is significant?Knight's shops and dwellings were constructed by Richmond builder, George Freeman, for Andrew Knight in 1869 as three storey retail premises on a prominent corner site.John Allison and Andrew H Knight, as Allison and Knight, had many interests in the colony, including the first commercial flour mill in Melbourne erected at Flinders Lane west 1840-41. Other flour millers such as Dight, Manton, Coulstock Hurlstone and Sergeantson followed in the same decade to provide flour from local crops at the new Port Phillip colony. Allison & Knight were no longer milling flour in Melbourne by 1849, having become general merchants and investors there, and opened a new flour mill near Port Fairy (Rosebrook) in 1847. Their mill engine had gone to Shannon's Mill on the Barwon river.The architect is unknown but the architecture suggests the notable designers, Reed & Barnes. The building features elaborate polychrome brickwork around window openings and at the cornice. The building is contemporary with, and stylistically related to, Joseph Reed's polychrome works throughout Melbourne in the 1860s (see St Judes Anglican Church 1866-67, and Collins Street Independent Church, later St Michael's Uniting Church, Melbourne 1867-). Reed had visited Europe in 1863 and was instrumental in the introduction of the polychrome brick architecture of Lombardy to Melbourne (although some earlier examples of polychromy, based on English models, are known to have existed). Knight's buildings are of a similar age to Reed's earliest work in the polychrome mode and hence is among the earliest polychrome commercial buildings in the Capital City Zone.In addition to its use of coloured brickwork, the building is further distinguished by its uncommon decorative details. The ground floor has been altered but the upper storeys retain elaborate window groupings (pairs, triples) with dog-toothed arched heads, associated voussoirs, stop-chamfered reveals, splayed cills, and either bold decorative columns drawn from eastern or Lombardic Gothic sources (north) or uncommon corbelled dividing piers (east). The eaves have bracketing and a moulded terracotta cornice with a scalloped frieze under, as echoed more simply by the string mould. Each chimney has a bracketed and corbelled cap and a squinted base. Openings in the rear elevation to the lane appear well-preserved in part with the shape of some suggesting use as upper level loading doors but the rear façade has been refinished.The brick facades have been painted over in the relatively recent past (reversible). Nonetheless, the building remains in good condition for its age.How is it significant?Knight's shops and dwellings are significant historically and aesthetically to the Melbourne Capital City Zone.Why is it significant?Knight's shops and dwellings are of aesthetic and historic significance for their skilfully and elaborately ornamented polychrome brickwork facades and their status as the earliest known commercial examples of the Lombardic style and associated coloured brickwork in the Capital City Zone. Historically they are linked with the locally prominent investor, Andrew knight, of the Colonial pioneering flour factors, Allison & Knight..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites Keith and John Reid, CBD Study Area 7 Historic Buildings Preservation Council, 1976: p309 cites MCC rate books; See SLV photo H2519, John Noone 1869 (VI: 113-114)`CHRONOLOGY:Pre 1866 No. 217 building was occupied by Joseph Gray, grocer, and No. 215 by E. Nathan, a Masonic. Jeweller, the latter preceded by a Bookmaker in the 50's.1867 The buildings (one incorrectly numbered) were apparently jointly owned by Wilson and occupiedby Browning, and listed as two brick shops of six rooms each.1868 No. 217 was a wooden shop of three rooms owned by Knight and occupied by Phillip Picot, grocer. No. 215 was a stone store of two floors owned by Rose and occupied by Fitzwilliam Eyre. This conflicts with the previous year and may have been the recorder's assumption, although owners differ.1869 Rate book listings as above, except No. 215 owned by Rose's agent. However, the buildings show clearly in Noone's photographic panoramas (32) taken in 1869 (date not precise?).1870-92 Knight remains owner of both properties with various occupiers. The present owner, Coutie, apparently had a forebear J. W. Coutie who commenced occupation in No. 217, c. 1880.'1871 AC Cooke Melbourne panorama :obscured`ANALYSISIn 1869 the buildings were significant in Elizabeth Street because of size and style. This suited the occupiers, as grocers were providers to the community in somewhat the same way that the supermarket is today.Unfortunately the exact date of building cannot be determined. Discrepancies, listed in the Chronology, indicate building as being possible between 1866 and 1870, however the buildings clearly show in the 1869 panorama and 1868 would appear the most likely date at this stage.The particular importance of the buildings is the polychromatic brickwork. It is cane of the earliest surviving examples of this in the CBD and is apparently only preceded by St. Jude's, Carlton, built in 1867.RECOMMENDATIONDue to its unique use of materials and historical occupation, retention of the whole of the buildings is recommended as important. Recommended retention';.MAHLSTEDT AND GEE 1888.STANDARD PLANS OF THE CITY OF MELBOURNEplan book compiled by Mahlstedt and Gee, surveyors and draughtsmen, Melbourne and Sydney, January 1888.Mahlstedt & Gee 1888, Block plan 13: shows 3 level shop pair cnr Lt Bourke St - 149 J Coutie, boot warehouse, 147 Hood & Co, chemistMahlstedt 1910, Block plan 13: shows 3 level shop pair cnr Lt Bourke St - 217 J Coutie, boot merchant 215 Hood & Co, chemist.CITY OF MELBOURNE BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONSBuilding Permit Application 24/3/1869 3116: builder/owner `two shops'.VICTORIAN TITLES OFFICE (VTO)Title Vol 71, Fol 186:part CA9/20 Town of MelbourneAndrew Halley Knight, 1864Lease: 1864-5 to Joseph Alfred Gray, 1865-, 1869- to Philip Henry Picott; 1869- John Hood and John W HoodTransfer: 1874 to Elizabeth H Knight..VICTORIA HERITAGE DATABASEOn Allison & KnightFORMER YORK BUTTER FACTORY62-66 KING STREET MELBOURNE, Melbourne CityVictorian Heritage Register (Victorian Heritage Register) Number H0396Heritage Overlay Number HO675Level of Significance Registered`The York Butter Factory was originally two separate three storey bluestone warehouses, each with a basement. One section was built in 1852 by the owners of the land, Allison & Knight….'.NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)`The Argus':Thursday 9 August 1849John Hood chemist advertises in Collins StWednesday 27 November 1867THE ILLUMINATIONS IN THE CITY AND SUBURBS…ELIZABETH-STREET.In this street there were comparatively so few large public buildings that the display made ranked after that of Collins-street and Bourke-street. The Liverpool, London and Globe Insurance Company had a very excellent device for their illumination but the wind at first prevented it showing to advantage though after a time this difficulty was overcome. The splendid illuminations of the Colonial Bank were also greatly admired and the devices at J. M'Ewan & Co.s and the transparencies at George Robertsons and William Clarke and Sons, came in for a good share of praise. From the roof of the Colonial Bank, from the London Tavern, and from Hood and Co.'s lime lights were kept burning for a length of time, which had a very pretty effect; whilst from other places a quantity of rockets were let on, which added not a little to the beauty of the scene. At the English, Scottish and Australian Chartered Bank, it was intended in addition to the lines of gas jets to have had a transparency by Chevalier but that artist to his great regret, was unable to finish it in time….2 December 1871:(THE NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY show exhibits) … should insure a good demand for these fertilisers. In the same tent Messrs. Hood and Co., the manufacturing chemists, have a series of exhibits of cattle medicines, annatto, and other farm requisites ;.STATE LIBRARY OF VICTORIADeGruchy & Leigh 1866, State Library of Victoria collection: : shows single storey shops at corner.Records, 1870-1981. [manuscript].* Author/Creator: Hood & Co. Pharmaceutical Chemists ;* Date(s): 1870-1981* Access conditions: Available for reference* Description: Bd. vols., (6.4 cm.)* Identifier(s): Accession no(s) MS 12276* Subjects: Hood, John ; Hood & Co. Pharmaceutical Chemists -- Archives ; S. J. Hood Manufacturing Co., Manufacturers and Veterinary Supplies ; Pharmacy -- Victoria ; Veterinary medicine ; Registers (lists) ; Ledgers (account books) ; Formulas ; Cashbooks ; Records ;* Contents/Summary: Records of Hood & Co., Pharmaceutical Chemists, 215 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, 1870-1981, including prescription books, veterinary prescription books, book of formulae, sales of poison register book, day books, journals, cash books, ledgers, stocktaking registers, price list and order book..Looking North-west showing Swanston and Bourke Streets, with Post Office: shownDate(s) of creation: [1875]Reproduction rights owned by the State Library of VictoriaAccession No: H8010Image No: b47468.Stockland, 2007. POINT LONSDALE - RESIDENTIAL & WATERWAYS PROPOSAL ENVIRONMENT EFFECTS STATEMENT:notes on Allison & Knight.Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, Technology in Australia 1788-1988,Online edn, Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, Melbourne, 3 May 2000, (http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/tia/scripts/tia-dynindex.php3?EID=A000306): Allison & Knight.Jones, `The Flour Mills of Victoria..'170-171 Allison & Knight and the Rosebrook Steam Flour Mills- firm's career: 27-30 etc..Australian Architecture Index (AAI):Arthur E. Johnson 126 La Trobe St.WTenders wanted - erection of a bluestone warehouse in Flinders Lane for Alison and Knight.Argus 13.5.1853 p 6
Names:
Topics:
Places:
Form/Genre:
Record types:
Research and reports
Record number:
1204462
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 103185 103186 | 1 JPEG : 282 KB ; A4 | Single Item (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |