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Titles Office, including strong room, Registrar-General's and Income Tax Office, 247-283 Queen Street, Melbourne

Butler, Graeme1985

Record details

Title:

Creator:

Butler, Graeme (Name details)

Date of work:

1985

Reference number:

BIF-CITY 105734

Level of description:

Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)

Type of materials:

Graphic materialsTextual material

Part of:

Series: Central City (BIF-CITY)

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UnrestrictedOpen access.

Use restrictions:

UnrestrictedPlease contact City of Melbourne Libraries about obtaining permission to reproduce images.

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RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2022:__________________________________________________Period: Early Victorian, Victorian, EdwardianDATES: 1875-7, 1888, 1911 added storey, 1930;ASSOCIATIONS: Victorian Government.;DESIGNER: Wardell, W Public Works Department Chief Architect (1875) et al.; Oakley & Parkes 1930;BUILDER: Pigdon, J.; Peters & Hetherington 1911.IMAGES 1984-5:https://flic.kr/p/2noJQDfhttps://flic.kr/p/2noGb82.VICTORIA HERITAGE REGISTER H1529https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/2975Statement of SignificanceWhat is significant?The Titles Office, 283 Queen Street, was erected in three stages. The first stage, begun in 1874 and finished in 1877, comprised an L-shaped two storey office building built around the strong room. The strong room was extended to its present size in 1884-85. Between 1887 and 1889 the perimeter office building was completed to give the current external appearance occupying the full length of a block to Queen Street. The designs for the perimeter structure were undertaken by the Public Works Department and are attributed to J J Clark. The main facade is symmetrical about a central three storey block, and sits on a bluestone plinth. The two storey wings are recessed and terminate in pavilions that project to the same line as the central block. The facade employs the Doric style in a quite severe and plain manner. The rhythm of the paired round arch windows on the ground floor is mimicked by paired columns on the first storey and by pairs of urns on the balustraded parapet. Construction is of rendered brick. The Old Law Office (formerly the Strong Room) has an interior incorporating arched, fire proof floor construction, known as the Dennett system. Fire precautions were essential to protect the irreplaceable Certificate of Titles and other land-related documents that the building houses.How is it significant?The Titles Office is of architectural, technical and historical significance to the State of Victoria.Why is it significant?The Titles Office is architecturally significant for exemplifying the dictum of the Public Works Department, led by William Wardell until 1878, that architectural style needed to be as simple as possible so long as proper architectural effect was preserved. The restraint is clearly evidenced by the severity of the Doric order employed by architect JJ Clark, and decoratively the building is in contrast to his masterpiece, the Treasury Building of 1858. However, the composition of the Titles Office still draws on the Italianate style and on Renaissance palazzos for inspiration to produce a building with serene and sedate grandeur, and one of the most extensive public building facades in Melbourne.The Titles Office is technically significant for the range of fire precaution measures employed. The strong room with its superb interior is an exceptional example of early high security and fire-proof construction in Victoria. The floor, built on the Dennett system, is a development of fire resistant construction employing iron bressumers connected by brick arching and covered with a layer of cement.The Titles Office is historically significant as a building signifying the change of law for the recording of land ownership. The 1862 Real Property Act introduced the Torrens System to Victoria and dealings under the new Act were dealt with exclusively from the new building.HO732 Titles Office, 247-283 Queen Street, MelbourneRef No H1529.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites source 81, Yuncken Freeman Architects P/L 1976.. Historic Buildings Preservation Council Melbourne CBD Study Area.Yuncken Freeman Architects P/L 1976.. Historic Buildings Preservation Council Melbourne CBD Study AreaTitles Office285 Queen StreetBuilt in two Stages 1875 and 1888 (main Titles Office) 1875 (strong room)Public Works DepartmentJ. PigdonTitles Office (continuous since construction)two/three storey and basement rendered brick and stoneExterior of main building - good condition.Continuous Government occupancy since 1875 and prior to 1875 was the site of the Colonial Public Works Department Offices.proposed part environmental area: C. QUEEN STREET PRECINCTDetailed report to be completed..HERITAGE BRANCH, MINISTRY FOR PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT 1987 CITY OF MELBOURNE CENTRAL CITY NOTABLE BUILDINGS CITATIONShe Titles Office was erected in three stages between 1874-89 to designs by J J Clark for the Public Works Department. It is a masterpiece of conservative classical design and an important marker of Victoria's development as a colonial power..VICTORIA HERITAGE REGISTERsee https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/2975The Titles Office was erected in three stages. The first stage (1874-77) comprised an L-shaped two storey office building and half the strong room which was extended to its present size in 1884-85. In 1887-89 the perimeter office building was completed as we know it today. The designs for the perimeter structure were undertaken by the Public Works Department and are attributed to J. J. Clark. The site has been used for Government purposes since 1853.TITLES OFFICE - HistoryThe Office of Titles came into existence with the introduction of the Torrens System by the enactment of the Real Property Act 1862. The Act was first administered from a building subsequently demolished to make way for the Law Courts on William Street. It was originally intended for the Titles Office to be located with in the Law Courts but it was soon realised there would be insufficient space.The first part of the present building was finished in c1877. It consisted of the north wing along Little Lonsdale Street and 115 feet along Queen Street. This included the north Strong Room. The South Strong Room was added in 1885.The main building was extended in 1890 along the whole block from Little Lonsdale Street to Lonsdale Street. Further additions and alterations followed in 1931.Associated People: Owner VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT;.NATIONAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA (VIC)https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/65417Interior only Old Law Office at rear - invisible from street. 1875 section - including street facade and old original construction inside and outside. 1888/9 section - including street facade and 2 sets of arches on the first floor of the interior.One of the most extensive public building facades in Melbourne. Built in two stages (1875 and 1888/90) around a central strong room building (now the Old Law Office). The facade has unusually severe architectural features in the Doric style and distinctively coupled arched window details.The Old Law Office (formerly the Strong Room) has an interior of special interest for its arched, fire proof floor construction, ironwork structure and store details and slate shelving.Classified: 13/09/1973.VICTORIAN HERITAGE INVENTORY H7822-1152Prior to 1875, site of Colonial Public Works Offices Land Titles Office constructed 1875.1905 map shows detail of complex and layout. 2 & 3 storeys, some basement areas.MAHLSTEDT FIRE INSURANCE PLAN SERIESMap 3A, series 2.NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)1911https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11596126https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/89850764https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/10900496Enlarging of Titles Office strong-room, lowest tender Peters & Hetherington ₤15,737- awaiting approval by Minister for Public Works-(Edgar) another storey added to the existing building being 140 x 70 feet area, fireproof throughout, fitted with Mintaro slate shelving. Also accommodation for 50 draftsmen. `…enable the department to carry on the work with more efficiency and economy..'1929The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954) Wed 22 May 1929 Page 13 illust.https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2444497531930https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/244472708Rejuvenated Titles OfficeAT a cost of £50,000, the old Titles Office at the corner of Queen and Lonsdale Streets is being rejuvenated. In company with the Registrar (Mr Norman R. Currey) and the senior assistant registrar (Mr W. A. Paterson).I inspected the works yesterday afternoon. The business of the department goes on as smoothly as can be expected while workmen are removing walls, adding rooms, stair-cases and lifts and generally modernising this old department.When the work is completed, in about 12 months' time, the department will be one of the most up-to-date in Melbourne, and members of the public and the staff will no longer have to put up with draughty corridors and cheerless offices.Laying the "Ghost"The draught problem has been solved by closing the Lonsdale Street entrance and installing a doorway in Queen Street. It is expected also that this alteration will result in the laying of the famous Titles Office "ghost." For years this invisible occupant has enjoyed the freedom of the department, but when the ventilators are no longer rattled by the wind it is believed that he will depart.Possibly he will make his headquarters in future in the imposing new building which is being erected next door for the State Income Tax Department. There he would surely work overtime!Comparison of DealingsMR- CURREY, who is the oldest officer In the Titles Department, will retire in another two years. He told me yesterday that the dealings put through by his department Iast year numbered 107,670, as compared with 117,890 in 1923, which was the record year. The next highest was 115,913 in 1920, while 1912 led In the years just prior to the war with 68,626, in the "boom" year (1888) the dealings numbered 69,370, while the lowest figure on record was 30,846, in 1895 just after the collapse. Last year's figures seem to indicate that the present depression is not as depressing as it might be.

Names:

City of MelbourneWardell, William Wilkinson, 1923-1899

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