George Robertson & Co's warehouse also Briscoe & Co, later EL Yencken & Co Pty Ltd, 392-396 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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George Robertson & Co's warehouse also Briscoe & Co, later EL Yencken & Co Pty Ltd, 392-396 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
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Date of work:
1985
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BIF-CITY 105955
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Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
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Graphic materialsTextual material
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Series: Central City (BIF-CITY)
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RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2022:__________________________________________________Period: VictorianDATE: 1882-3;ASSOCIATIONS: Robertson , Geo;DESIGNER: Twentyman & Askew;BUILDER: Lockington, Harry.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceHistoryGeorge Robertson & Co, stationers, publishers and booksellers, were located in Little Collins Street West during the 1880s and, prior to that, in Elizabeth Street South; near the present business (refer 2.62, 107-113 Elizabeth Street). Robertson reconstructed much of this side of the street, between McKillop and Queen Streets, during this period: building a speculative four-storey warehouse pair in Brown's Lane (now Penfold's Lane) in 1882 and this five level warehouse in 1882-3. Robertson's own premises, at the McKillop Street corner, were also extensive (c1875-80).Briscoe and Co., wholesale ironmongers, were the first and long-lived tenants of this building, having moved from what became George and George's (George's), Collins Street, to be located near their iron yard, in Queen Street. The Little Collins Street premises were claimed as `…classed with the finest of the Melbourne Stores'. The basement was a bonded store, holding oil and nails; the ground was divided as offices and a large show room; the first level was a single space, furnished with racks for stock and accommodating the manager (A W Gellantly); and the second and third were large bulk stores.Briscoe had been established in England for over 100 years (as William Briscoe & Son) when they leased this warehouse, having opened in this colony at Elizabeth Street during 1853. By the late 1880s they had branches in New Zealand and New South Wales. Architect, Edward Twentyman, had designed the Queen Street premises; in 1882-3, the new firm of Twentyman & Askew being responsible for this building. The builder was Harry Lockington. Twentyman had already proved himself as the ironmonger's architect, executing the design for McLean Bros. and Rigg's Bourke Street West store (qv).By 1910 Robertson had moved back to Elizabeth Street (107-113) and both warehouses, 384-90, 392-96 Little Collins Street, were occupied by E L Yencken & Co., importers of oils, colours and plate glass (a forerunner of today's glazing firm) until at least the 1940s.DescriptionA brick, former wholesale and retail Warehouse with ornate detailing imposed on an otherwise conservative Renaissance revival façade keep closely spaced cornice brackets, an unusual corbel table over the two side window bays and foliation of the impost mouldings, are overlayed on a simple three bay elevation with alternatively full and segment arched paired openings in each. (et. Twentyman & Askew's grander, more ornate, but later Stalbridge Chambers).External IntegrityGround level rebuilt, signs added.StreetscapeIn a mixed but similarly scaled streetscape.SignificanceA relatively ornamental Renaissance revival former Warehouse which, despite ground level alterations, possesses unusual cement detailing (but characteristic of the architects) and serves as a reminder of an important Victorian ironmongery firm..GRAEME BUTLER & ASSOCIATES 2011, CENTRAL CITY (HODDLE GRID) HERITAGE REVIEWStatement of Significance__________________________________________________What is significant?George Robertson & Co, stationers, publishers and booksellers, were located in Little Collins Street West during the 1880s and, prior to that, in Elizabeth Street South; near the later book and newsagency business (refer 107-113 Elizabeth Street, Robertson & Mullens). Robertson reconstructed much of this side of Little Collins St, between McKillop and Queen Streets, during this period: building a speculative four-storey warehouse pair in Brown's Lane (now Penfold's Lane) in 1882 and this five level warehouse in 1882-3. Robertson's own premises, at the McKillop Street corner, were also extensive (built c1875-80).Briscoe and Co., wholesale ironmongers, were the first and most long-lived tenants of this building, having moved from what became George and George's (later George's) in Collins Street to be nearer their iron yard in Queen Street. This site was also in the midst of a traditional concentration of hardware merchants and wholesalers in this part of the City. The Little Collins Street premises were claimed as `…classed with the finest of the Melbourne Stores'. The basement was a bonded store, holding oil and nails; the ground was divided as offices and a large show room; the first level was a single space, furnished with racks for stock and accommodating the manager (A W Gellantly); and the second and third were large bulk stores.Briscoe had been established in England for over 100 years (as William Briscoe & Son) when they leased this warehouse, having first opened in Melbourne at Elizabeth Street during 1853. By the late 1880s they had branches in New Zealand and New South Wales. Architect, Edward Twentyman, had designed the Queen Street premises while, in 1882-3, the new firm of Twentyman & Askew were responsible for this building. The builder was Harry Lockington. Twentyman had already proved himself as the ironmonger's architect, executing the design for McLean Bros. and Rigg's Bourke Street West store (qv).It was claimed in 1887 that:`Briscoe and Co. are the largest wholesale house in the colonies, and greatly encourage local industries, one tenth of their output being of colonial manufacture, including brooms, brushware, glassware, colonial ovens, spouting and ridging, tinware, galvanised tubs and buckets, glue, rope, &c.'By 1910 Robertson had moved back to Elizabeth Street (107-113) and both warehouses, 384-90, 392-96 Little Collins Street, were occupied from 1904 by E L Yencken & Co., importers of oils, colours and plate glass (a forerunner of today's glazing firm) until the 1940s. Edward Yencken had risen in the 1890s to dominate the hardware business and by the turn of the century Yencken was honoured as 'father' of the Melbourne hardware trade. The building location follows the established grouping of hardware and engineering firms in the north-west of the City during the Victorian-era.This brick, former wholesale and retail warehouse has an Italian Renaissance revival façade which is distinguished by a vigorous fenestration pattern and the type of ornate cemented detailing typical of Twentyman & Askew's work and later that of David Askew. The street façade is in three parts with the central projecting bay extending over the side bays with an ornate corbel table. Each bay has three levels of double-hung sash window pairs, each window topped with deep label moulds and embellished with foliated cemented capitals to the piers and colonettes between each . Openings alternate as either full or segment-arched and there is a deep cornice, supported by closely spaced brackets. The building base has smooth rustication extending down the side lane but the side elevation brickwork, with its deep set windows and loading doors, has been painted. The ground level in Little Collins Street has been changed, another level added behind the parapet, as also have some balconies on the lane elevation, a canopy and signs.Briscoe's building can be viewed favourably with the highly significant, grander and more ornate but later Stalbridge Chambers (Victorian Heritage Register), also by Twentyman & Askew.How is it significant?Briscoe & Co warehouse is significant historically and aesthetically to the Melbourne Capital City ZoneWhy is it significant?Briscoe & Co warehouse is aesthetically significant as a well-ornamented Renaissance Revival former warehouse design which, despite ground level alterations, possesses the distinctive and rich cement detailing and design characteristic of the architects, Twentyman & Askew.Historically the building serves as a reminder of two important Victorian ironmongery firms, Briscoe & Co. and EL Yencken & Co, both major hardware businesses in this former hardware precinct of the City as well as within Victoria..MCC i-Heritage: Central Activities District Conservation Study - Graeme Butler, 1984 Building Identification Form (BIF): Notable features include an elaborate / high standard design of cement rendered surfaces. Alterations / Recommendations: Ground level rebuilt ( inappropriate - reinstate original design or sympathetic alternative) Illuminated sign added ( remove or reinstate sympathetic alternative) Other Comments 1899 Briscoe & Co., ironmongers.__________________________________________________GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYGraeme Butler Data Sheet :Mahlstedt Map 1888 Block 13 shown as 4 storeys (as 37-39 Lt Collins St west) Briscoe & Co iron and machinery merchants;__________________________________________________CITY OF MELBOURNE BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS16/10/1882, 32 Geo Robertson as owner, warehouse, designed by Twentyman & Askew etc. (also 18/8/1882 store Queen St, for Briscoe & Co, Twentyman & Askew, B= James Redfern )VPRO Building Permit Application(2/1/1903 9149 Briscoe & Co warehouse 391-5 Lt Collins st)(30/8/1912 3558: B= J Duncan, O= Briscoe & Co additions to 391-5 Lt Collins St, fee ₤2/2/)__________________________________________________SUTHERLAND, 1888. VICTORIA & ITS METROPOLIS VOL 1 & 2: 536, 558:Twentyman & Askew biog. cites Briscoe's stores; Briscoe & Co. entry - detailed description`Briscoe and Co., Melbourne. This is a branch of the old firm of William Briscoe and Son, of Wolverhampton and London, which had been established in England for 110 years. The colonial business, wholesale and retail, was opened in 1853 in Elizabeth-street, Melbourne, but the premises there not being large enough for the rapidly increasing trade, the firm built the magnificent premises now occupied by Messrs. George and George, in Collins-street east. Finding it undesirable to carry on a wholesale and retail business combined, they gave up the latter, and removed to their present spacious building in Little Collins-street west, where they have since carried on an entirely wholesale business.In addition to these premises, they have a large yard and offices at 172 Queen-street, managed by Mr. James Paton, where all heavy goods are kept, including an immense stock of iron bars of all descriptions, fencing wire, galvanised iron, steel, &c., the convenience for storing and handling which is a striking feature of the establishment, a rack that will hold 1600 tons of bar iron, a travelling crane spanning the yard, and capable of being moved over any point of it, as may be required, being worthy of mention.The main building in Little Collins-street may be classed with the finest of the Melbourne stores. It consists of five stories, the basement being used as a bonded store, and containing a large stock of oils, nails, &c. The ground floor is occupied by the cashiers and private offices, and also contains a large stock of hardware. The first floor is one large room, which by means of tiers of shelving built at right angles to the walls, and standing out some ten or twelve feet therefrom, is formed into a number of bays, that provide accommodation for the storage of every variety of goods, and bring them conveniently to hand for making up orders, thus greatly facilitating packing. The general manager's (Mr. A. W. Gellatly's) office is placed in this room. The second floor is another large bulk store room, every available foot of which is occupied by goods of all kinds, and the third floor is equally well stocked.In 1860 the firm established a branch house in Dunedin, N.Z., and in 1861 opened another in Sydney, N.S.W., under the style of Briscoe, Drysdale and Co., both being entirely in the wholesale trade. The principal business is done with foundries, country stores, and contractors. They have also a Government department, constantly occupied with working contracts for iron, steel, general ironmongery, oils, &c., for the Victorian railways, the Harbour Trust, and the Public Works department. In December 1885 they obtained, and are now executing, a Government contract for 40,000 tons of iron rails. Briscoe and Co. are the largest wholesale house in the colonies, and greatly encourage local industries, one tenth of their output being of colonial manufacture, including brooms, brushware, glassware, colonial ovens, spouting and ridging, tinware, galvanised tubs and buckets, glue, rope, &c. The firm is at present composed of Messrs. Richard, Arthur, and Walter Briscoe in England, Mr. Alexander Macneil in Melbourne, and Mr. Hugh Macneil in Sydney.'__________________________________________________MELBOURNE METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS (MMBW)PSP 8798: Briscoe & Co owners__________________________________________________PROBATE, PROVJohn E Briscoe probate (d 12/10/1901 at St Petersburg, Russia) appoints his brother George Briscoe of London as executor. provides 3 parcels of 5000 shares in company to his 2 sisters Helen Margaret and Mary Ethel etc.SeeSeries number: VPRS 28Consignment number: P0000Unit number: 1068Consignment number: P0002Unit number: 616Series number: VPRS 7591Consignment number: P0002Unit number: 334__________________________________________________John Handfield, 1953.`Briscoes in Australia : one hundred years in hardware' / story by John Handfield; illustrations by Douglas Annand__________________________________________________Stuart Sayers, 1990, AUSTRALIAN DICTIONARY OF BIOGRAPHY'Yencken, Edward Lowenstern (1854 - 1932)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 12, Melbourne University Press, 1990, p. 594.`YENCKEN, EDWARD LOWENSTERN (1854-1932), merchant, was born on 13 February 1854 at Brixton, Surrey, England, son of Edward Ferdinand Yencken, merchant, and his wife Ellen, née Druce. Young Edward attended school at Shrewsbury and, after his family arrived in Victoria, completed his education at Melbourne Church of England Grammar School. In 1871 he joined the Melbourne branch of the Bank of New South Wales, but next year removed to Brooks, Robinson & Co., wholesale oil, colour and glass merchants and importers of painters' and decorators' supplies, thus entering the trade he would eventually dominate. On 24 January 1882 at All Saints Anglican Church, St Kilda, he married English-born Florence Orr. That year, after reaching managerial level at Brooks Robinson, he decided to found his own business: he returned to England for ten months to establish connexions with British and European manufacturers, and to establish a buying office at 9 New Broad Street, London.In January 1883 E. L. Yencken & Co., wholesale importers and general indent merchants, opened for business at 3 Flinders Street, Melbourne, sharing 'a handsome building on a bluestone foundation, having cellars and three floors above' with the tea merchants, Griffiths Bros. Unlike many of his older competitors, Yencken was reputed to have begun with 'a large capital'. His business expanded rapidly and survived the loss in May 1885 of goods worth £70,000 in a sensational fire. By 1888 the firm had two adjoining city warehouses and a large store by the Yarra River. Its warehouses were equipped with 'every modern labour-saving applicance', including hydraulic lifts connecting with an iron tramway which delivered goods to their entrances.Yencken gradually absorbed the business of his main competitors, including that of Brooks Robinson. In 1892 the firm became a limited liability company and by the turn of the century Yencken was honoured as 'father' of the Melbourne trade. The business moved to Little Collins Street in 1904 and shifted from the city to South Melbourne after World War II. A noted member of the Yorick Club from 1903, Yencken enjoyed golf and gardening. Survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters, he died on 7 September 1932 at his Toorak home and was buried in St Kilda cemetery; his estate was sworn for probate at £11,863.His younger son Arthur Ferdinand (1894-1944) was educated at Melbourne Church of England Grammar School and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (B.A., 1919). Enlisting in the British Army in August 1914, he became a major in the artillery and was awarded the Military Cross. After World War I he joined the Foreign Office and rose to be British minister in Madrid. In 1941 he was appointed C.M.G. Arthur Yencken died on 18 May 1944 in an air crash south of Barcelona, Spain.Select BibliographyA. Sutherland, Victoria and its Metropolis, vol 2 (Melb, 1888); T. Carrington and D. Watterson, The Yorick Club (Melb, 1911); Australian Storekeepers and Traders Journal, 23 Dec 1910, 31 Jan 1911; Argus (Melbourne), 8 Sept 1932; Times (London), 20 May 1944. More on the resources ';__________________________________________________NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)The Australasian Sketcher with Pen and Pencil (Melbourne, Vic. : 1873 - 1889) Saturday 29 July 1882`A large transaction in Melbourne city property has just been completed by Messrs. C. J. and T. Ham. The extensive premises in Collins-street, with a wholesale warehouse at the rear, hitherto owned and occupied by Messrs. Briscoe and Co., have been purchased by Messrs. McLean Bros, and Rigg, of Elizabeth- street. The land has a frontage of 66ft. to Collins street by a depth varying from 73ft. to 208ft., the purchase money being £52,000. The sale has been brought about by Messrs. Briscoe and Co. haying determined to relinquish the retail business and devote themselves exclusively to the wholesale trade.'__________________________________________________DIRECTORIES OF VICTORIA, MELBOURNE-SANDS AND KENNY, SANDS & MCDOUGALL__________________________________________________1883 37 Geo Robertson, storeSteinfeld Levinson & Co furniture manuf.Wise 1884-5 37-39 Briscoe wholesale ironmongers, Steinfeld Steinfeld Levinson & Co furniture manuf1893 McKillop st(390 Vacant396 Briscoe & Co, wholesale ironmongersBrown's la-1900 392-396 Briscoe & Co, wholesale ironmongersBrown's la-1904 384-390 Vacant392-396 VacantBear Alley-1910 384-396 Yencken, EL & Co P/L importers of oils, colours and plate glass1915 384-396 Yencken, EL & Co P/L importers of oils, colours and plate glass1924 384-396 Yencken, EL & Co P/L importers of oils, colours and plate glass1939 384-396 Yencken, EL & Co P/L importers of oils, colours and plate glass1974 Fairfax HouseJohn Fairfax & Co P/L newspapers, Associated Newspapers, etc.__________________________________________________City of Melbourne Rate Books:__________________________________________________VPRS 5780 MicroficheLittle Collins Street 392– City of Melbourne – Lonsdale WardDate Rate no Occupier Owner Description Nav1900 307 Briscoe & Co George Robertson Trust 392 Bk. Store 5 floors 50 x 157 12501895 303 Briscoe & Co Robertson George 392 Bk. Store 5 floors 50 x 157 12501890 425 Briscoe & Co Robertson George 392/6 Bk. Store 50 x 157 14001885 392 Briscoe & Co George Robertson Bk. Store 50 x 157 13001884 399 Briscoe & Co George Robertson Bk. Store 50 x 157 12001883 403 Briscoe & Co George Robertson Bk. store unfinished 50 x 157 12001881 354 George Robertson George Robertson Bk. & stone warehouse 54 x 186 13501880 354 George Robertson George Robertson Bk. & stone store 54 x 186 1350
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| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
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| Original | 105955 | 1 JPEG : 488 KB ; A4 | Single Item (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |