Victorian Cricket Association Building (VCA), 76-80 Flinders Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Total copies: 1
Title:
Victorian Cricket Association Building (VCA), 76-80 Flinders Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 103591
Level of description:
Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
Type of materials:
Graphic materialsTextual material
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Series: Central City (BIF-CITY)
Access restrictions:
UnrestrictedOpen access.
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UnrestrictedPlease contact City of Melbourne Libraries about obtaining permission to reproduce images.
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Period: Inter-war.ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2021:.GRAEME BUTLER & ASSOCIATES 2011, CENTRAL CITY (HODDLE GRID) HERITAGE REVIEWStatement of SignificanceWhat is significant?The Victorian Cricket Association (VCA) commissioned architect, H. Croxton Davey, to design this reinforced concrete building, seven-storey building in 1924, as erected by Walter E Cooper in 1925. In the post First War era of new found interest in outdoor activities and team sports, the cricket association had thrived to the extent that they possessed sufficient funds to speculate on the City commercial building market as well as provide offices for their association and affiliates. For several years the Association had been enlarging the scope of its activities and devoting itself to fostering all classes of cricket. Never in the history of the game in Victoria had so many clubs been in existence.' Victorian Cricket Association was formed 29 September 1875.They had purchase a City allotment for ₤11,000 and intended to build, despite misgivings from some members.` On this it was intended to erect suitable clubrooms and offices. By the judicious conservation of its funds, the association was now in a sound financial position. Its status in the sporting community, and the importance of Its constituent clubs, warranted the erection of a substantial and self-owned building. The main object, however, was that the property should ensure the association sufficient income to carry on the game In Victoria, apart from temporary fluctuations.' `The Argus' observed: `Second in height in Flinders street only to the Commercial Travellers' Association's building, this Imposing seven story reinforced concrete building Is nearly completed at the corner of Collins place and Flinders street for the Victorian Cricket Association'.The VCA occupied the top floor, sharing its 'splendid view' across the King's Domain to Government House with the Victorian Football League, renting out the remaining office and retail spaces. `The first and second floors also housed the Commonwealth Dept of Markets and Migration [1925-1928] and the Australian Meat Council [1925- 1935]. The then privately owned radio station 3LO had called the Head of the River boat races on the Yarra in 1925 from the building's roof. The building also overlooked the, then, many outdoor sporting facilities at Yarra Park, including provision for football, cricket, bowls, tennis, and bike-riding.The Tariff Board, the Coal Tribunal, the Dried Fruits Board and other important bodies had held conferences in the boardroom on the sixth floor where the view was markedly better than from their offices on the lower floors. During the Second World War, Defence Department offices occupied one of the floors. The building was also declared a safe shelter by the Air Raid Precautions Authority. The former VCA building, like the former Herald Sun building across Exhibition street, has recently been converted to apartments. ' The VCA eventually became Cricket Victoria as the current governing body for the sport of cricket in Victoria.The perspective published in `The Argus' showed a rendered corner office building in the commercial Palazzo format of podium base, middle façade and deeply bracketed cornice, with entablature beneath. Balconies, seemingly held by deep bracket pairs, protruded from both street facades at two floor levels and an arcaded attic storey sat under the cornice within the entablature. Arcade spandrels are ornamented in pressed cement in a reference to the Romanesque revival style of the Edwardian-era.The main entry was central in Collins Place under a suspended street awning which has been replaced and duplicated with the conversion of the building to apartments in 1993. A plaque commemorates the opening of the building as apartments by Cr Desmond Clark `further enhancing the life of the city…'. The architects for this conversion were David Earle & Associates. Upper level windows have been changed from multi-pane glazing to single pane and the transom lights sheeted over, but ground level copper framed shopfronts survive in Collins Place although not on Flinders Street.How is it significant?The Victorian Cricket Association building is significant historically and aesthetically to the Melbourne Capital City Zone.Why is it significant?The Victorian Cricket Association building is significant historically for its link with the then paramount sporting association in Victoria, an association with sufficient capital to develop a major commercial city building, and an uncommon form of developer in the Capital City Zone. The building has been the administrative vehicle for sporting groups in the State over a long period, with ancillary events such as the 3LO call from the roof top of the 1925 Head of the River. Aesthetically it is well-preserved and well designed office tower in a an early form of the commercial Palazzo style..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM.CITY OF MELBOURNE BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONSBuilding Permit Application 1924, 6028 engineer HR Crawford..LEWIS, M- AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURE INDEXH. C. Davey elected Assoc. of RVIARoyal Victorian Institute of Architects Journal March 1920, p 181.NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)`The Argus':18 Sep 1923VICTORIAN CRICKET.REVIEW OF PROGRESSIVE YEAR.Proposed New Premises.'Before commencing with the formal business at the annual meeting of the Victorian Cricket Association last evening, several shields and trophies were presented to representatives of the bodies which competed successfully In the various com-petitions held under the auspice of the association. These clubs were: State School Premiership.- Moonee Ponds West. Returned Soldier« and Sailor Competition.-Fairfield District. .Sub district Premiership.-Brighton. Second Eleven Premiership (Sub-district).-Brunswick. Country Premiership. 11 ii nit District Association. District Second Eleven Premiership.-Melbourne Cricket Club. Victorian Tramways Association's Competition.-Toorak and Prahran. Victory Cup Competition.-Prahran.Accepting a trophy on behalf of the Brunswick club, Mr. G. Chisholm said that the Brunswick Council had already granted £6,000 towards a new stand. The club was now taking steps to raise. ₤10,000 by means of a carnival.Presenting the Prahran Cricket Club with it« trophy. Canon Hughes (president of the Haw- thorn-East Melbourne Club), said that about 50 years ago East Melbourne had won the premiership for three years in succession. Now Prahran .had equalled that fine performance. Such a thing, apparently, could only happen once In 50 years. Municipal councillors ought not to think that their duties began and ended with looking after the roads and drains. They should interest themselves also in the athletic welfare of the com-munity.Record Number of Clubs.The annual report slated that the 1922-3 season had been very successful. For several years the Association had been enlarging the scope of its activities and devoting itself to fostering all classes of cricket. Never in the history of the game in Victoria had so many clubs been in existence. There were more promising young players of class coming forward than in previous years, so that generally the outlook had never been brighter. .An event likely to mark an epoch in the history of the association, continues the report, was the purchase of a block of land, situated at the comer of Flinders street and Collins place. On this it was intended to erect suitable clubrooms and offices. By the judicious conservation of its funds, the association was now in a sound financial position. Its status in the sporting community, and the importance of Its constituent clubs, warranted the erection of a substantial und self-owned building. The main object, however, was that the property should ensure the association sufficient income to carry on the game In Victoria, apart from temporary fluctuations. The balance-sheet disclosed the fact that £625 had been received on money invested.The Chairman (Mr. H R .Rush), in moving the adoption of the report mid balance-sheet, said that the association had entered the year about £2,000 worse off than before. The property in Flinders street had cost ₤11,000 . He urgedcaution…..Friday 22 February 1924perspective and article.BUILDING FOR FLINDERS STREET.This reinforced concrete building, with seven floors, will be created at the Intersection of Collins place and Flinders street for the Victorian Cricket Association. Mi. H. Croxton Davey is the architect,.Wednesday 10 December 1924image in constructionCRICKET ASSOCIATION'S NEW PREMISES.Second in height in Flinders street only to the Commercial Travellers' Association's building, this Imposing seven story reinforced concrete building Is nearly completed at the corner of Collins place and Flinders street for the Victorian Cricket Association. Mr. H. Croxton Davey is the architect, and Mr. W. E. Cooper the contractor. The buildingwill be finished about the end of next month.Thursday 5 March 1925All mail to new address.PROV`The first and second floors of the seven storey, reinforced concrete building on the North West corner of Flinders and Exhibition streets once housed the Commonwealth Dept of Markets and Migration [1925-1928] and the Australian Meat Council [1925- 1935].The Victorian Cricket Association Building was designed in 1924 by H. Croxton Davey and completed early the following year. The VCA occupied the top floor, sharing its 'splendid view' across the King's Domain to Government House with the Victorian Football League, and rented out the remaining office and retail spaces.In its annual report of 1925-1926 the VCA was able to say proudly that 3LO had called the Head of the River boat races on the Yarra from the building's roof and that 'the Tariff Board, the Coal Tribunal, the Dried Fruits Board and other important bodies' had held conferences in the boardroom on the sixth floor where the view was markedly better than from their offices on the lower floors. During the Second World War, Defence Department offices occupied one of the floors. The building was also declared a safe shelter by the Air Raid Precautions Authority.The former VCA building, like the former Herald Sun building across Exhibition street, has recently been converted to apartments. '.WIKIPEDIA, THE FREE ENCYCLOPEDIA, 2021From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:Cricket Victoria (CV) is the governing body for the sport of cricket in Victoria. It was formed on 29 September 1875 as the Victorian Cricket Association.[1] It is integrated with the Victorian Women's Cricket Association to include funding, programs, office accommodation and staff assistance.In 2007, CV administered the 1,182 cricket clubs and 112,000 registered cricketers in Victoria, and 62,774 children involved in school-based competition. It employed more than 320 people, including 43 full-time staff and 25 contracted first-class players.'.see http://www.naa.gov.au/naaresources/publications/research_guides/guides/immig/chapt03/content1.htm`In 1925 the Commonwealth Immigration Office moved once again to the Victorian Cricket Association’s building on the corner of Flinders Street and Collins Place, Melbourne.'
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1207479
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 103591 | 1 JPEG : 826 KB ; A4 | Single Item (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |