Altson's Corner, 80-82 Elizabeth & 298-304 Collins Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Total copies: 1
Title:
Altson's Corner, 80-82 Elizabeth & 298-304 Collins Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 102138
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: EdwardianConstruction date: 1903-1904Notable features: Originally boldly modelled corner building, restored since 1985.ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER:.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceHistoryThe first owner of this strategic commercial location was a carpenter, one James Ross, who payed 32 pounds for it in 1837. Two years later it was purchased by Alex Brunton who immediately began to erect a shop but unfortunately died in the process, but with the forethought to stipulate in his will that his shop was to be completed. It was and remained there until its demolition in 1903 for this building and was then thought to be the oldest shop in Melbourne. The new building's owner, Henry Altson, was the last's occupier, commissioning Nahum Barnet to design and Clements Langford to construct a corner tobacconist's shop and five office levels over. This was mid 1903.Altson reminisced in 1939 on his time on the Block, his business having started there some 50 years before. He knew all of its moods and its personalities, naming many of his customers, frequently `on parade' particularly of a Saturday morning... Dr. L. L. Smith, J. S. Butters(q.v.) and his friend and fellow Yorkshire man, the illustrator, Phil May. His corner and what was once Nicholson's (then the Manchester Unity) were the two most popular meeting places in that oh so fashionable circuit. Only the ladies hesitated before they entered his shop, smoking having been taken up by that sex after the First War.The Collins Street frontage of the building was called Aldham House in the year of Altson's reminiscences, his business being of course the major tenant in the building. He also figured in the Elizabeth Street frontage (as Altson's Building) along with a dentist, photographic studio, an optician and Robert McKenzie & Co. hotel brokers. Soon after it was built, major tenants in Collins Street included the London Dental Institute, My Post Card Shop, and Taft's General Post Card Depot. In Elizabeth Street, the building was Brunton's Chambers with J. A. Wilmoth & Sons solicitors, Solomon Green, the basement Kia-Ora tea rooms and Alice Mills, a photographer, being among the six floors of tenants.DescriptionAdapted from the Romanesque styles, this corner building was once a magnificent structure, now truncated at the top, but what is remains is still a boldly modelled design in a Medieval inspired manner. Window bays, either semi-sexagonal or semi-circular, comprise the oriel motif used on all facades of the building. At the corner, piers extending to the parapet level divide these motifs and once communicated with the ground, dividing off show windows. Distinctive elements include the cushion-capital colonnade at the attic level and the first floor level, with similar but larger capitals echoed in the ground level pilasters. Whiplash Art Nouveau or Arts and Crafts detailing is used in oriel spandrel panelling and below balconettes, whilst wrought iron balustrading to semi-circular balconies takes on a similar serpentine appearance. Joinery is typically after the medieval proto-types (main lights topped by smaller casement sashes) whilst balcony entrances at the other level have top and side lights to typical Victorian period panelled doors.External IntegrityWhat was once one of Melbourne's most picturesque corner buildings has been severely treated. Much of the ornate roof line, including the corner round tower and its oriel window extension, has been removed and the pronounced cornice line obliterated. The bricks have been painted and the shopfronts replaced (in part sympathetically). The solid balustrade of one balcony to the Collins Street elevation has been cut back. Photographs of this building exist, making its restoration a possibility.StreetscapeA major corner building which was designed specifically for that role and also as a continuation of the Collins Street elevation, itself later filled in with another Barnet design which utilized many of this building's elements in another style's vernacular.SignificanceOnce a magnificent corner design but now sadly incomplete, it nevertheless possesses valuable pressed cement detailing and bold architectural forms which have been echoed in the important adjoining Collins Street elevation. It has also been recognized as popular Melbourne meeting place, particularly in the days of promenading on The Block when its owner, Henry Altson, was also recognized as a human landmark in the history of Melbourne's late 19th and early 20th century development..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDY BUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites source 78 78, 78A John & Phyllis Murphy Pty. Ltd. Architects. Historic buildings study of part of the C.B.D. Melbourne. (part 1) 1976Report to the Historic Buildings Preservation Council covering the area bounded by Little Collins, Flinders, Springand Elizabeth Sts, download at https://mls1.spydus.com/spydus#viewRecord?appId=ar&irn=17808238 ;CITY OF MELBOURNE BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS 9051;.National Trust of Australia (Vic)A multi-storey Edwardian office building constructed in 1904 and of special significance because of its corner location and relationship to the important 19th century commercial buildings near the corner of Collins and Elizabeth Streets. That prominence would be enhanced by the reconstruction of the building's corner tower (now missing).Classified: 06/06/1994Note: The tower was reconstructed in 2000..LEWIS, M- AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURE INDEXRecord 75205 Barnet, Nahum; Alston, B H Melbourne VIC Office Buildings; Shops Langford, Clement - 275 Bridge Rd Richmond 1903 07 11 9051, MCC registration no 9051 [Burchett Index]. Fee 9.0.0 two shops & offices, Elizabeth & Collins.NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)Guinea Gold (Papua New Guinea : 1942 - 1945) Sun 4 Mar 1945 Page 2 VICTORIAMR. B. H. ALTSON, well known in Melbourne for more than 60 years as the proprietor of the tobacconist's business at thecorner of Elizabeth and Collins sts., has died at the age of 85..The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957)Tuesday 10 July 1956 - Page 1https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/71645054 illust.£¼M. FOR ALISON'S CORNER By HARRY PERROTT,The Argus Property WriterALTSON'S Building, on the Collins-Elizabeth sts. corner, was sold yesterday for about £250,000. Purchaser was Mr. Alex Davison, as trustee for a company to be incorporated, which will rebuild on the site. This city landmark has 7 floors and basement and is on land 52ft. 8in. to Collins st. by 32ft. to Elizabeth st.The site is part of lot 1 in the first sub divisional land sale of the city in 1837 - a block 99ft. to Collins st. by 157ft. along Elizabeth st., bought by James Ross for £32. The price paid. in 1837. was equal to about id. a square foot, but the present sale is equal to about £ 147 a square foot, or £4,700 a foot to Collins st. The first brick building in Melbourne was built on the site in 1839. Under the sale terms B. H. Altson Pty. Ltd. has 12 months in" which to give the buyer possession of the sections it occupies. The buyer will obtain possession of the adjoining J shops in Collins st. In three ¡ months. The sale was negotiated by Mr. Louis A. Sallmann.
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Research and reports
Record number:
1197114
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 102138 | 1 PDF : 1,258 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |