Moss White & Co Factory, later Gill Memorial Home, 217-219 A'Beckett and 24-40 Wills Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme01/01/1985
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Title:
Moss White & Co Factory, later Gill Memorial Home, 217-219 A'Beckett and 24-40 Wills Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
01/01/1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 100158
Level of description:
Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
Type of materials:
Graphic materials
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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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ASSOCIATED RESEARCH BY GRAEME BUTLER:Period: Late VictorianStyle: Tall-arched Romanesque RevivalConstruction Date: 1889Designer: Barnet, Nahum.Graeme Butler 1985 Melbourne Central Activities District Conservation StudyStatement of Significance`HistoryMutual friends in the old country George Moss, Thomas Cherry and James White constituted the tobacco importing and manufacturing firm who commissioned Nahum Barnet to design this factory in 1888. The firm had started making cigars in 1864, having emigrated with the makings, and tobacco production began in 1877; no doubt inspiring the construction of this new six level brick factory.DescriptionAppearing remarkably like a Salvation Army designed building, this red brick and stucco factory has the tall arched fenestration associated with later Barnet designs and the main stream of warehouse designs, commencing with Royston House in 1898. Rather than the Romanesque origin of this latter group, this building probably derives from the British Queen Anne interpretation of Italian Renaissance examples like S. Andrea at Mantua and S. Francesco Alla Vigna, Venice, which have tall arched fenestration usually below a parapet pediment and between giant orders. Absence of the foliated ornament to capitals and spandrels, and the oriel window bays, combined with the presence of the architrave, keystone and impost mouldings show the style difference from Barnet's later Romanesque revival designs. Despite these subtleties of ornament, the tall arched form seems archetypical for revivalist factory designs, needing large window areas associated with undivided internal spaces. The American Sullivan led influence may have simply added an embellishment to the continuation of an appropriate eclectic form for the purpose which perhaps places the Moss - White factory at the vanguard of the form's use in Victoria. The Barnet signature, shared with the nearby Spiers Crawford warehouse, is the long trailing consoles beneath the entrance pediment and its repetition in the joinery of the grand level windows. Another unusual ( possibly functional ) element is the bell - cote placed on the roof at the rear of the factory.External IntegrityGlazing and the entry details have altered; the parapet was probably amended in 1929 and air units are new.StreetscapeShares face brick and stucco walling with buildings to east and west also the parapet form of 199 A'Beckett Street (c1930).SignificanceAn early use of the tall arched form adopted almost universally in late Victorian and Edwardian periods for factories and warehouse ; the earliest known, near to original Barnet commercial / industrial design, and one of many to come, particularly for the tobacco industry ; the surviving tobacco factory of three grouped in this area; and, in its re-use, a relic of the world economic depression of the late 1920's and the Salvation Army's possibly single handed role in providing specifically for homeless man, in the inner city during this period.',Lewis, M. Australian Architecture Index:71275 Barnet, Nahum; owner Moss, White & Co Melbourne VIC Factories builder- Smith & Upton - Gipps St Collingwood 1888 10 1 3627-MCC registration no 3627 [Burchett Index]. Fee 6.0.0 factory.Newspapers:The Age Sat 26 Oct 1889 Page 10 MESSRS. MOSS, WHITE AND CO.'S NEW PREMISES.https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/197505087MESSRS. MOSS, WHITE AND CO.' S NEW PREMISES.The new factory erected by Messrs. Moss, White and Co., tobacco manufacturers, at the corner of Wills and A'Beckett streets, was yesterday visited by about 40 gentlemen com prising several leading merchants, Mr. A. C. Mountain, the city surveyor; Mr. Kerr, the Government architect ; and a number of others who are included in the clientele of the firm. They were received by the partners, with Mr. Nahum Barnet, from whose plans the premises were erected, and were shown over the building. In all, there are about 70 hands employed. The best class of goods; manufactured both in cake tobacco and cigars are made from imported leaf, but a considerable amount of colonial grown material is also used.Manufacturing has been carried on here for about two months. Everything about the place is most complete. There are sweating rooms fitted with the most modern appliances, engine and boiler rooms, tobacco making rooms, storing apartments, and a special flat is set apart for cigar making. The sanitary arrangements are admirable, and are sufficiently isolated from the work rooms. An altitude of six storeys above the basement floor is reached by the building, which cost about £20,000 to construct. Communication is established by stairs arid a Waygood elevator.The visitors were very much edified with all they saw. Everyone appeared to be busy, and all parts of the premises were clean. A cold collation was served at the conclusion of of the tour of inspection upon the second floor, which was gaily decorated with flags for the occasion. The chair was taken by Mr. F. Stuart, M.L.A and Mr. Zox, M.L.A., was vice-chairman. In proposing the health of the firm, the chairman said that Messrs. Moss, White and Co. formed a very fair type of a number of partner- ships in Melbourne to whom we owed that wonderful success in manufactures which this city has already achieved. Victoria was just waking up to the fact that manufactures were the backbone of the colony. Mr. Cherry, Mr. White and Mr. Moss (not the one here), who had unfortunately passed away, were boys together in the old country, and came here and started business 26 years ago in a very small way in Queen Street. The firm had held together ever since. They had succeeded, and in this magnificent building, the emblem of their progress, he was very glad to-day to be able to pro pose their health. Messrs. Moss, White and Cherry each responded, amidst cheers. Mr. Zox, M.L.A., proposed the health of the architect, Mr. Nahum Barnet, which was also honored
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| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 100158 | 1PDF : 1,359 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |