Newell Hooper and Stevens & Co., later York Butter Factory, 62-66 King Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Title:
Newell Hooper and Stevens & Co., later York Butter Factory, 62-66 King Street, Melbourne
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Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 105394
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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RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2021:__________________________________________________Period: Early VictorianDATE: 1852, 1855-;ASSOCIATIONS: Allison and Knight; Newell, Hooper and Stevens (merchants); Hansen and Farrell (Butter manufacturers); York Butter Co.BUILDER: Allison & Knight?..VICTORIA HERITAGE REGISTERH0396Statement of SignificanceWhat is significant?The York Butter Factory was originally two separate three storey bluestone warehouses, each with a basement. One section was built in 1852 by the owners of the land, Allison & Knight. The exact date of construction of the other is not known but it is probably also around the early 1850s. Possible architects for its design include Charles Laing and John Gill, both of whom called for tenders for the erection of several bluestone warehouses in King Street in the early 1850s. The three openings to the northern part of the building have segmental arches, whilst the openings to the southern part have elliptical arches. In the first years of the twentieth century both buildings came under the tenancy of Hansen and Farrell, who converted them into a butter factory. From 1902 the buildings were known as Hansen and Farrell Co. Butter Factory. Around this time the exterior of the first floor was rendered and the cement balustrade was added to the bluestone parapet. The name painted on the facade was changed to the ?York Butter Co? in 1940.Whilst externally the main facade now presents a unified building to King Street, internally the buildings are quite different. The larger southern part of the building has chamfered timber Oregon columns supporting the ground and first floors and first floor ceiling. The basement and ground floor columns have additional diagonal struts. The roof is a timber queen post truss with corrugated steel cladding. The northern part of the building shares a bluestone party wall with the southern building. It has five cast iron columns supporting each floor, the basement columns resting on square bluestone plinths. The columns have crosshead capitals to carry Oregon beams, which in turn carry joists. The roof is a king post truss. At the rear is the remnant of a bluestone laneway. Access to the ground floor and basement is via King?s Street, whilst a walkway has been introduced to give access to the first floor from the Rialto Plaza.How is it significant?The York Butter Factory is of historical and architectural significance to the State of Victoria.Why is it significant?The York Butter Factory is historically significant as one of the oldest warehouses in central Melbourne. The various tenancies demonstrate the range of manufacturing business types that once operated in the central business area. Before the two buildings were unified to operate as a butter factory from 1902, a large variety of business types were conducted from the premises, including shipping agents, a meat preserving company, tanners and printers. The building is one of the few survivors of a large number of warehouses which owed their existence to the presence of wharves on the nearby River Yarra.The York Butter Factory is architecturally significant as one of the few survivors of a large number of bluestone warehouses which date from the period of the early 1850s. It is significant for its expressed structural use of bluestone, a stone which despite its ready availability remained out of favour until the 1850s. The King Street facade is representative of simple but dignified warehouse architecture of the 1850s, a style which persisted into the 1860s. Internally the building contrasts the structural use of Oregon posts to cast iron columns. If the cast iron columns were accurately dated to the early 1850s, they would represent one of the earliest surviving examples of this construction in Melbourne..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites source 79, p34;.PERROTT, LYON, TIMLOCK AND KESA 1976, C.B.D. STUDY, CITY OF MELBOURNE CONSERVATION STUDY AREA TWO1.05 62-64 KING STREET(No. 28 KING STREET)DESCRIPTION: Stone (Bluestone) warehouse and offices2 floors and cellarSITE: 31' x 84'BUILT: 1855LAND OWNER: Allison and Knight (1840's-1935… ) (2)OCCUPIERS: (1855-69) Newill, Hooper and Stevens & Co. (Merchants) (1)(1869-71) J.N. Alexander (Commission Agent)(1874 ) Echuca Meat Preserving Co., John McIntosh Edwards & Co.(1875) Howard, Charles (Australian Wine Merchant) Poole, Picken and Co. (General merchants and shipping agents.)(1881) H. Drysdale(1886) Wells Storage Co,(1902-38) Hansen and Farrell (Butter Manufactures)(1940 … ) York Butter Co. (Butter Manufactures)NOTES ON EXISTING CONDITIONS:The facade to King Street is integrated with that of Nos. 64-66 King Street and, as such, ·appear to have been constructed concurrently though No. 66-64 is some 15' shorter.Early photographs indicate that the render on the walls of the upper floors is not original: However it was applied when the balustrading above the cornice was added, presumably when Nos. 68-70 King Street was constructed (during 1898 the three storey stone store, formerly on that site being still indicated on Mahlestedt’s Detail Plans of Melbourne, 1888. Robb’s Building was built in 1885 and the two-storey addition, Nos. 68-70 King Street was added later, on a separate title, with matching architectural detail.)THE INTERIOR:Integral with Nos. 64-66 King Street, but with a dividing party wall. Fitted out as the Hansen & Farrell butter factory in 1902, possessing an assemblage of vats, conveying devices and partitioning (original, in many respects, from 1902) on the top floor level. Columns throughout are timber, (hardwood) generally square and without cross-heads. Column edges are chamfered to near their vertical height.Introduction of false capitals is done in the office areas, whilst diagonal braces are employed on the basement columns. The beams are of hardwood, square in section. Cement screeds have been laid intermittently on the timber flooring.The basement - level dividing party walls have been faced with brickwork (Pressed red) and rendered to achieve the clean finish required for butter production.A hatchway links the basement with the hydraulic hoist at the rear of 64-66 King Street. An unusual feature in the party walls, is the location of a timber string course at 1st storey level, below the 1st floor. This indicates two stages in construction: the timber string course having acted as a wall plate before the next storey was added.NOTES:(1) Newell and Co. Victoria and it's Metropolis (1888) p. 571.1853 Newell, Hooper and Stevens commenced business in Melbourne.1860 Company dissolved.Mr. A.H. Newell continued on as 'Newell and Co. 'Newell and Co. have always been in the business of agents for and importers of American Merchandise. This type of firm was rare in 1888.(2) Memorial: Sydney 1757 (September 1840) J. Allison and A. Knight purchased allotments 16 and 17 for E3,000. The holding was reduced by the purchase of allotments to King Street of Francis (1855), Levicks (1858) and Tim Lane (1855) ..LEWIS, M- AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURE INDEXRecord 72067 Allison & Knight Melbourne VIC Warehouses Allison & Knight 1852 04 3 62, MCC registration no 62 [Burchett Index]. Fee 1.1.0 warehouse King near CollinsNATIONAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA (VIC)One of Melbourne's most interesting rusticated bluestone fronts at ground level, with one three-centered and five segmentally arched openings; plus an upper storey stuccoed (at a possibly later date) with crude window dressings and parapet balustrade.Classified: 'Local' 17/08/1972Revised:03/08/1998Victorian Heritage InventoryThird land sale 1838, Block 2, Allotment 18, J H Wedge. Land owned by Allison & Knight 1840s-1935. 1855 - current building built on site. 1877 - two two-storey building, Lord & Co, E Tinsley. 1888 - two two-storey building, Tyzack & Picken, Printers. 1905 - Hanson, Farrell & Co, Produce Store; W Baird & Co, Produce Agents..HERITAGE BRANCH, MINISTRY FOR PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT 1987 CITY OF MELBOURNE CENTRAL CITY NOTABLE BUILDINGS CITATIONSThis building originally consisted of two adjacent warehouses built in 1854 and 1855. In 1902 they were combined and converted to a butter factory by Hansen and Farrell. It is a significant member of the King Street warehouse group..VICTORIA HERITAGE REGISTERArchitect not known. Possibilities include John Gill or Charles Laing, both of whom tendered for several bluestone warehouses in King Street in the early 1850s.History of Place:The Memorial Sydney 1757 of September 1840 records J Allison and A Knight purchasing Crown Allotments 16 and 17 for 3000 pounds.Occupiers (not owners, who were Allison and Knight from 1840-1935):62-64 King Street (southern part)1855-69 Newill, Hooper and Stevens (merchants)1869-71 J N Alexander, (Commission Agent)1874 Echuca Meat Preserving Company1875 Charles Howard (Wine Merchant), Poole Picken & Co. (General merchants)1881 H Drysdale1886 Wells Storage Co.1902-38 Hansen and Farrell (Butter Manufacturers)1940 York Butter Co..64-66 King Street (northern part)1854 Thomas Gardiner & Co1855 Wills, Holden and Co1859-60 Lord & Co1860-66 Vacant1867 Anderson & Co1874-81 Eliza Tinsley & Co (Iron and steel merchants)1882-87 Lloyd Bros (Tanners and curriers)1888-1901 Tysack & Picken (Printers01902-38 Hansen and Farrell (Butter manufacturers)1940 York Butter Co.
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|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 105394 | 1 PDF : 1,670 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |