Australian Natives Association, 28-32 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
Archives
Total copies: 1
Title:
Australian Natives Association, 28-32 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 103327
Level of description:
Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
Type of materials:
Graphic materialsTextual material
Part of:
Series: Central City (BIF-CITY)
Access restrictions:
UnrestrictedOpen access.
Use restrictions:
UnrestrictedPlease contact City of Melbourne Libraries about obtaining permission to reproduce images.
General notes:
Period: Inter-WarConstruction date: 1938-9Architects: Marsh & MichaelsonNotable features:1. Canopy.2. Bronze spandrels, ANA crest..ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2021:.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceHistoryFormed in Melbourne as a Friendly Society during 1871, the Australian Natives Association (ANA) helped promote a national awareness which was eventually to lead to federation in 1900. A series of conferences, held by the ANA after the economic fall of the early 1890s, inspired further conventions to formulate a constitution. A similarly nationalistic role was taken during the conscription issue of World War One, Women's suffrage, the one- vote-one-'man' principle and the minimum wage. Aboriginal welfare, soil and water conservation issues and decimal coinage were among the association's campaigns and Sir Issac Isaacs, Alfred Deakin, Sir Edward Barton and Sir Robert Menzies were prominent among their membership.The street elevation of 28-32 Elizabeth Street changed its style in 1938-39 to the design of architects and engineers, Marsh and Michaelson. Maintaining its limit-height capacity, the building's style changed from Neo-Grec of the former Craig Williamson Building to the Neo-Egyptian of the ANA. The Manhattan Hat Bar was just one of the attractions of the ground level shops whilst upper levels held a mixture of tenants, including chiropodists, solicitors, costumers and for a time, the Australasian Women's Friendly Society (prior to women obtaining franchise in the ANA itself).DescriptionPolished granite and stainless steel at the shopfronts and foyer once provided a Moderne counterpoint to the restrained Egyptian revival forms and ornamentation, applied to the facade above. The multi-paned windows of the former Craig Williamson Building have been divided with reeded bronze to second storey level where the plainly treated spandrels, ornamented with rams' heads only, give way to embellishment in a typical stylised palm- leaf motif further up the facade. A similarly Egyptian character is evoked by the pylon element placed on the lower facade, which contains the Australian Coat of Arms, in bas-relief, spread over three spandrels. Koala bears, carved into the stone, cling gamely to either side of the portal opening.The attic storey now possesses papyrus reeding and an Egyptian cornice freeze whilst a more general Moderne character is expressed in the gently scalloped frieze of the street canopy fascia (colour original?).External IntegrityShopfronts and ground-level detailing have been replaced and air- units and an obtrusively coloured illuminated sign added.StreetscapeRelates to the Moderne styling of the adjoining building to the north.SignificanceA near original upper facade in the uncommon Neo-Egyptian styling (see Marsh and Michaelson's Theosophical Society Building, qv) also expressive by its ornament of the strongly nationalistic creed of the once politically reformist ANA..CITY OF MELBOURNE BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONSCity of Melbourne Building Permit Application 19517Drawings `Alterations and additions to 28-32 Elizabeth Street for Trustees of the Australian natives Association, architects an engineers Marsh & Michaelson, 107 Collins St… dated 1/7/1938, drawn by EJM; elevations 30 June 1938 drawn by CPV shows west elevation existing as neo-Grec and proposed as Moderne- see images on filesee index at https://www.ancestry.com.au/imageviewer/collections/60672/images/44777_349572-011551922-1938 July 19517 ₤20,000 alts and additions to buildingetc.NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957)Thursday 17 December 1931 - Page 8https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4434354A MONUMENT TO BARAK. As the amount received by "The Argus," together with that collected by the Healesville branch of the Australian Natives' Association, will furnish the £60 asked for to complete the erection of a monument over the grave of Barak, the last chief of the Yarra Yarra tribe of aborigines, the appeal will close on Saturday. Contributions may be sent to "The Argus." They should be addressed to Wilson and Mackinnon, 365 Elizabeth street, Melbourne. ….The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957)Saturday 24 June 1933 - Page 91933 about the ANA, as a Friendly Societyhttps://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4744544.Construction (Sydney, NSW : 1938 - 1954)Wednesday 10 August 1938 - Page 5https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/222852511AUSTRALIAN NATIVES' ASSOCIATION. (illust)Melbourne Building.The building at. 28-32 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne—portion of the Craig Williamson block— which was purchased by the Australian Natives Association recently for £110,000 is to be completely remodelled. An entirely new front will be built up of Hawkesbury stone relieved with coloured terra cotta faience spandrels and columns of the same material to the lower central feature. Carved Australian motifs, including koala bears, kangaroos and emus, will be featured on the front. The centre windows, at first and second floor levels, will have metal grilles. In the section to be occupied by the Association there will be a boardroom 35ft. by 24ft. which will have Australian timber panelling to the full height of the walls. Black bean will be used for the lower section and a light timber, such as white holly, for the upper part. The ceiling will also be panelled in timber. The corridors on each floor will have a 4ft. 6in. panelled dado of Australian hardwood. A different finish will be applied on each floor with the idea of displaying various decorative effects which can be obtained with this timber. Red, green and yellow analine dyes will be used for colouring, also lime. The floors will be carpeted to match. The Association will use the rear portion of the ground floor and three upper floors for its offices. The balance of the building will be let.Messrs. Marsh and Michaelson, 187 Collins Street. Melbourne, have been appointed architect and engineer for the work. Tenders arc being called closing on 26th. August..See also https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/243338228, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205129151
Related material link:
Topics:
Places:
Form/Genre:
Record types:
Research and reports
Record number:
1207463
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 103327 | 1 PDF : 877 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |