James White's hay & corn store plus dwelling, part of Metropolitan Hotel, 261 William Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Title:
James White's hay & corn store plus dwelling, part of Metropolitan Hotel, 261 William Street, Melbourne
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Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 110105
Level of description:
Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
Type of materials:
Graphic materialsTextual material
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Series: Central City (BIF-CITY)
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UnrestrictedOpen access.
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UnrestrictedPlease contact City of Melbourne Libraries about obtaining permission to reproduce images.
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RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2023:__________________________________________________DATE: 1854-1855;ASSOCIATIONS: White, James hay & corn dealer;DESIGNER: Amess & McLaren?;BUILDER: Amess & McLaren, Melb.?Period: Early VictorianMaterials: Stone, dressedNotable features: Part of old Metropolitan Hotel______________________________Graeme Butler & Associates 2011, Central City (Hoddle Grid) Heritage Review -Statement of SignificanceWhat is significant?This shop and dwelling was constructed in 1854-5 as a contiguous part of the Metropolitan Hotel (opened on this site in October 1854), as a separate retail shop at the south end, for James White, a hay and corn dealer. The adjoining hotel had stabling and a supply of hay and corn adjoining was ideal. Coincident with the hotel and shop erection was S H & T H Merrett's Melbourne first Exhibition Building of 1854, located near opposite in William Street on the Latrobe Street corner.The building is clearly visible in John Noone's photograph of c1869 in its original state. Another view of 1881 from the Melbourne law courts dome shows the building as that of `A Harris' (Abraham Harris) which is at the end of, but part of, the dressed blue stone Metropolitan Hotel at the Little Lonsdale St corner. The Harris shop is, in turn, north of Coffey's bakery adjoining Robert Dixson's three-storey stone-faced American Tobacco Works, as a fine streetscape of two and three storey early Colonial buildings. The 1881 view shows an entrance at the north end of the shop façade with a display window adjoining. The upper-level has a dressed stone string and parapet cornice mould and two double-hung sash windows each pulled half-way up; the roof, like the hotel, is hipped with a slate roof. The name `A Harris' is placed above the display window and just under the parapet cornice on the upper-level: three suspended orbs denote that this was a pawn shop. Harris is noted for his house Rosaville (1882-83) now part of Medley Hall, Carlton and designed by Nahum Barnet.The parapeted shop and dwelling is finished in dressed and tuck-pointed stone with slate to its hipped roof. The building is a typical example of a small early Victorian-era shop and residence, made distinctive by its dressed stone facade construction. The small scale of the building compared to the replacement hotel building is of note showing the higher ceiling heights of the mid Victorian-era compared to this early colonial building.The ground level wall has been rendered , the stone upper-level has been painted, the double-hung sash windows at the first floor have been sheeted over but their original dressed stone sills survive. The carved stone cornice and parapet are intact. Signs have been added.Despite these largely reversible alterations and additions, the building remains legible as one of the oldest shops in Melbourne, made more distinctive by the dressed stone construction that is firmly linked with early Melbourne building before the Italian influence meant cemented facades were used almost exclusively for City commercial buildings in the mid to late Victorian-era. The former hay and corn store retains its early form and much of its original detail and is generally in good condition.How is it significant?James White's hay and corn store, part of former Metropolitan Hotel, is significant historically to the Melbourne Capital City Zone.Why is it significant?James White's hay and corn store, once part of the old Metropolitan Hotel, is of historical significance as one of the oldest group of shops and dwellings within Melbourne's Capital City Zone, in this case the remnant of the Metropolitan Hotel development which coincided with the opening of the first Melbourne Exhibition Building once located opposite in William St. The building's small scale juxta-posed with the later rebuilt Metropolitan Hotel adjoining, and dressed stone construction remind us of how different early colonial buildings were from those of the Victorian-era, post gold rush. The combination of a Colonial freehold shop & dwelling with a hotel development is also uncommon.______________________________Bryce Raworth Pty Ltd, 2002 REVIEW OF HERITAGE OVERLAY LISTINGS IN THE CBDHistory and Description261 William Street was constructed in 1855-56 1 as a two storey shop and residence for James White, a hay and corn dealer.2 It is believed to have once formed a part of the Metropolitan Hotel.3. The designer and builder are not known. The shop is clearly visible in John Noone's photograph of 1869 in what is assumed to be its original state.4 As constructed, the building was a typical example of a small shop and residence. It was finished in dressed stone with, what appear to be, timber shingles to its roof. The ground floor was decorated with plain rustication with two entries (one commercial, one residential) flanking a large central window. The upper storey was simpler with no ornament other than window mouldings and an understated cornice and parapet. The building has been considerably altered since the time of its construction. The ground floor has been remodelled to create the more conventional single entry and large window. The exterior has been tiled although it is possible that the original rusticated stonework survives beneath the new cladding. At the first floor, the window mouldings have been removed although the original dressed stone sills survive. The cornice and parapet are intact. A number of inappropriate awnings have been added to the facade at ground and first floor level and a number of signs have been added. Despite these alterations and additions, the building remains legible as one of the earliest extant shops in Melbourne. It retains its early form and much of its original detail and is generally in good condition.Statement of Significance261 William Street is of aesthetic and historical significance at a local level as one of the earliest shops to survive within Melbourne's CBD.Footnotes:1 Perrott, CAD Study, 1979, p 162.2 Perrott, CAD Study, 1979, p 162.3 Butler, CAD Conservation Study, 1985, 261 William Street.4 Paynting & Grant, Victoria Illustrated, p.95.____________________________GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM_______________________________________Perrott Lyon Timlock and Kesa, Historical and Architectural Survey Area 2, Melbourne Central Business District (CBD), for the Historic Buildings Preservation Council, 1976 ( 79): 162: Owners- Henry Monteith sells lot first to James White for ₤736 January 1854 who owns it 1854-1868, Abraham Harris 1872-1974 (cites RGO, rate books). Hotel site adjoining was sold to Charles Forrester April 1854, with the hotel mentioned as a lease October 1855 to Robert Wilson. States that the building devoid of the rest of the structure (hotel) was not architecturally important in the State context._______________________________________MCC i-Heritage: Central Activities District Conservation Study - Graeme Butler, 1984 Building Identification Form (BIF): Notable features include - part of Old Metropolitan Hotel; stone façade (pressed). Alterations Stone painted (remove by approved method), awnings obscure windows, sign new and new verandah awning (all inappropriate - remove or reinstate sympathetic alternative), new shopfront (inappropriate - reinstate original design or sympathetic alternative). Other Comments: see v1 p.95_______________________________________Building Permit Application 4/11/1854, 12 ₤2/10/ owner James White, and builder;`house' (public house? See fee size) William St near Lt Lonsdale St, Amess & McLaren, Melb._______________________________________Melbourne Roll Plan 12 (1856): shows Metropolitan Hotel with this building contiguous with structure. Opposite is police station and the Exhibition Building on the Latrobe St corner._______________________________________Mahlstedt Fire Insurance Plan Series:Mahlstedt 1910-1923 (MUA): Shown as P Browne's shop (with residence behind) next to Kingedens Metropolitan Hotel (earlier hotel) separated by a passage: stable and outhouses on rear lane_______________________________________De Gruchy & Leigh 1866: shown as 2 storey building next to others to corner, with 3 storey buildings to south.AC Cooke Melbourne panorama 1871:obscured_______________________________________Newspapers:`The Argus':Tues 7 June 1853ALLOA. ALLOA. ALLOA.SHOULD this meet the eye of James White, mason, from Alloa, Scotland, he will hear of his old friends, Robert Brown and Thomas Hunter, in Sackville-Street, Collingwood.Monday 16 October 1854James White grocer William St advertises house to let in Spencer st.16 October 1854`THE Metropolitan Hotel, opposite the Crystal Palace, corner of William and Little Lonsdale streets. The above house will be opened to the public on Tuesday next, with the opening of the Exhibition. This house is elegantly furnished, and possesses every convenience for the accommodation of visitors, with good beds, and large and commodious stabling for horses There will be an ordinary every day from eleven to three, and meals served to order at all hours. J. M. CHISHOLM, Proprietor' (Previous location of Metropolitan was in Bourke St)18 May 1855INQUESTS.-An inquest was held at the Metropolitan Hotel yesterday on the body of this child which was found in the manner described in our last issue. John Gillman, sexton at the old cemetery, deposed to having discovered the body enveloped in a sugar bag. A post mortem examination had been instituted by Dr. Mnuad…'Thursday 24 January 1856`TO Parties in quest of a First Class Hotel.-For Sale that splendid Freehold Property known as the Metropolitan Hotel 117 William street and situate at the comer of the above named street and Little Lonsdale.This hotel is without exception, one of the first class buildings in Melbourne, and has ample accommodation in out-houses and stabling W & C WALKER, 12 Bourke street east' (auctioneers)29 January 1856` THURSDAY 31st JANUARYThe Metropolitan Hotel, in William street,at its junction with Little Lonsdale street. To Speculators, Capitalists, and OthersW and C WALKER will sell by auction, on the premises on Thursday, 31stinst at twelve o clock,All that piece or parcel of land described as having a frontage of 40 feet to William street by a depth of 100 feet to Little Lonsdale street and on which is electedThe Metropolitan HotelThis superb building erected only a few years since was built of the very best materials. On the ground floor is a spacious bar with four other rooms. The second floor comprises a large dining room and four bed rooms. The cellarage is very complete, being partitioned off and deal floored. The kitchen is large and fitted up with two first rate cooking ranges. A servants room is attached. A verandah connects the kitchen and dwelling house and under which stands a very large water tankAn eight stall stable, with hay loft above, is on the premisesFor further particulars apply at the office of the auctioneer, 12 Bourke streetTerms at sale 104 Feb 1' (40 feet frontage- appears to be just hotel not adjoining shop)`The Argus':2 May 1857Wilson, Robert licence renewedSaturday 9 January 1858James White clearing sale from his store at Hawthorne.Thursday 3 June 1858re polling place for Central province elections.Friday 1 October 1858THIS DAY.To Contractors, Livery-stable keepers, FurnitureDealers, and Others,RM. MARTIN, of Clarke and Martin,has received Instructions to SELL by AUCTION, on the premises, 115 William-street, adjoining the Metropolitan Hotel, on Friday, October 1, at 12 o'clock prompt.8 tons chaff100 bushels oats100 bushels bran8 half-chests of teaChaff cutting-machineWeighbridge.Also,The household furniture, comprisingMahogany extending dining-table, sofa, sideboard, chairs, chest of drawers, iron tent-bedstead, bedding, &c, carpets, prints, kitchen utensils, and sundries. 1 Lot of firewood1 shower bath1 largo tent complete, &c.Tues 24 may 1859FOR SALE, by PRIVATE CONTRACT, the PREMISES No. 115 William-street, opposite the Exhibition Building and adjoining the Metropolitan He tel. The property Is occupied by Mr. Mahood as a store and dwelling house, is substantially built of blue stone, and has a frontage of 16 foot to William-street by a depth of 100 feet to a right-of-way 12 feet wide. The premises were recently occupied by Mr. James White as a hay and corn store.For further particulars apply to W. O. Dickson,Market-street.Australian Architecture Index (AAI)Auction of the Metropolitan Hotel. Situated in close proximity to the new Supreme Court Buildings and opposite the Royal Mint. Corner of Little Lonsdale Street and William Street. Sale instructed by Mr R. Kerr (as agent for Mrs Forrester). Brief description.Argus 24.11.1877, p 2Melbourne Exhibtn. Buildings of 1854.Illus. Victoria and its Metropolis, I, 465The Melbourne Exhibition Of 1854 in 1861 anticipation of the 1855 Paris Exhibition, and the Melbourne Exhibition of 1861, preparatory to the London Exhibition of 1862, were both held in the same building in William Street. Argus Exhibition Supplement, 2.10.1880, p 3State Library of Victoria collection: Cole CollectionFirst listed licence Metropolitan Hotel in William StLicensee WILSON, ROBERTDate 1855followed byLicensee CARROLL, JAMESDate 1858Licensee FORRESTER, CHARLESDate 1859Licensee FORRESTER, CHARLESDate APR 1860Licensee FORRESTER, CHARLESDate APR 1861Licensee FORRESTER, MARGARET, MrsDate 1874…____________________________________DIRECTORIES OF VICTORIA, MELBOURNE-SANDS AND KENNY, SANDS & MCDOUGALLSands & McDougall Directory of Victoria1904: 261 Browne, Patrick, bootmaker1893: 261 Cunningham, John, bootmaker1886-1887 Duncan, George1881-1872 Harris, Abraham, pawnbroker:1880(111 Coffey, Thomas, baker)115 Harris, Abraham, pawnbroker(117 Metropolitan hotel, Duncan, Gilbert)D1875115 Harris, Abraham, pawnbroker(117 Metropolitan hotel, Mrs Margaret Forrester)1870:115 Morris, JW saddler; Morris, Miss dressmaker.(117 Metropolitan hotel, Charles Forrester)1869-1860: Morris, James W saddler; Morris, Mrs M; Morris, Miss dress and mantle makers.1858:115 James White produce merchant117 Metropolitan Hotel, Robert Wilson._______________________________Municipal rate books [RB]See Perrott Lyon Timlock and Kesa, Historical and Architectural Survey Area 2, Melbourne Central Business District (CBD), for the Historic Buildings Preservation Council, 1976 ( 79): 162
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| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
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| Original | 110105 | 1 JPEG : 831 KB ; A4 | Single Item (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |