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Tasmania House, 317-323 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

Butler, Graeme1985

Record details

Title:

Creator:

Butler, Graeme (Name details)

Date of work:

1985

Reference number:

BIF-CITY 103947

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:

RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2021:Period: Inter-WarDATE: 1923;ASSOCIATIONS: Jane Tasmania Peacock, Larnook-street, Armadale;DESIGNER: Gawler and DrummondIMAGE: Flickr at https://flic.kr/p/2m7ubSM.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites 80,, Keith & John R Reid, 1976, CBD STUDY AREA 7.Keith & John R Reid, 1976, CBD STUDY AREA 7: 191-1923 Gawler & Drummond8 storey and basement, concrete floors on 600mm deep beams at apprx. 2m centres. Replaced stone warehouse - `bold top cornice has been deleted'Recommendation `retention of front façade important' as an `important step in the development of early 20th century warehouse buildings…'.NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954)Wednesday 12 October 1921 - Page 4https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/242632202 illustNEW CONCRETE BUILDING TO COST £50,000Although it may be rightly contended that in none of the arts is a correct judgment on the part of the public more necessary than in that of architecture—for it enters so largely into the public and private life of the people— yet which of them is so little, appreciated, or what important subject, is there of which so little is known by the public generallyCompetent criticism of architectural work through; the dally press can do much to, raise the standard of taste among the, people, so as to enable them to discriminate between what is good and bad in the work of the architect. For architects to give their best they must feel that they are backed by public opinion, and that good work will be appreciated. People can escape from bad pictures. They need not read trash, but front a false, meretricious or ugly example of architecture there is no escape— it may disfigure a street for all time.INFLUENCE OF CONCRETE ON DESIGNConcrete construction is going to have a dominating Influence on the architectural style of the future, and every new building in this material claims special attention from this point of view. A now concrete building, to be known as Tasmania House, is about to be erected in Flinders lane, near Elizabeth street. The elevation (a perspective sketch of which is published herewith) shows it to be de signed on sound, simple, and appropriate lines, and when finished it should rank as one of the finest examples of concrete work In the city.TASMANIA HOUSEWork has already started with the pulling down of the three-storied ware house now on the site. The new building will be of nine stories with a capacity of a million cubic feet, and covering an area 66 feet to Flinders lane by a depth of 160 feet with a return arm to Mill lane. The basement is designed for a billiard saloon, and to it lead two independent stairways from Flinders lane and an e shape stair to the rear.Ample lighting is given from the front and near the rear of the building and also by two huge roof lights at the centre with a glass area of over 800 super feet. In those light shafts are placed the mechanical ventilating systems, whereby pure air is drawn down the shafts and driven into the basement at varying speeds, according to the atmospheric conditions. It will be possible to completely change the air in the basement in two minutes. The walls of this section are to be faced with panelled tapestry bricks to the door height and finished in white plaster above. Above this are eight floors designed to carry floor loading suitable for ware house merchandise, with inlet and outlet ventilation sufficient to comply with Factories Acts and natural lighting and ventilation to conform with the City Building By-laws for office floors.Cement dadoes protect the lower portion of the walls and the remainder of the surfaces are plastered. Corridors are to be finished off in ironite-Near the main entrance Is a reinforced concrete stair and at the rear an external open stairway leading to Mill lane. Both these stairs commence at the ground floor with a width of over six feet. The plan of the building is such as to really divide the building in two sections securely fireproofed by metal frame and wired plate glass windows, and Fire Underwriters tin clad doors. Connecting the two sections is a lire- proofed corridor and off this are the sanitary conveniences and caretaker's cupboards and pipe shaft. A largo water-fire service is supplied on every floor, both front and back, with complete Are hoses and directors. Three lifts are provided for to supply the needs of the building, one near the front and two near the rear.Throughout, the window .frames are of steel, and amazingly little timber will be found about the building. The flat concrete roof, covered with a compo roofing reaches the height limit allowed in the city, and from this rise the lift; bulkhead, the water storage tanks, and the stair bulkhead.ATTRACTIVE ENTRANCESpecial attention has been' paid to the main entrance, and money has not been spared to make this attractive. The base work is to be of polished granite and inside the vestibule the walls are dadoed up with polished granite surrounding panels of hand-made tiles and floored with terrazzo. The stairs leading to the vestibule are also in terrazzo, with rubber treads let in. External bronze directories, ample letter boxes, oak interior directories, imported oak and plate glass entrance doors with brass trim are all in evidence. Tasmania House can boast also of other interesting details in the way of a letter chute on every floor for the convenience of tenants posting their mall. These discharge into a box on the ground floor which will be regularly cleared.The architects for the work are Messrs Gawler and Drummond, A’s. R.V.I.A., of this city, with whom Mr A. H. Beckwith is associated. The cost of the building is estimated at more than £50,000..1922https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1831854Tasmania HouseIn course of erection - 80,000 ft to let. Occupation about Jan 1923 apply C N Long, Smith and Co.1923 Big Structures in Small Streets, Law Suit Over a Staircasehttps://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204072179.1923https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/184807318The Lindrum family have opened a new era. of billiards for this state by the establishment of probably the most modern rooms in the world. They are situated on the basement of Tasmania House, in Flinders lane....1923https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2040721791955https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/71780359masonry falls from top of building.DIRECTORIES OF VICTORIA, MELBOURNE-SANDS AND KENNY, SANDS & MCDOUGALL1925317-323 TASMANIA HOUSEBasement-Lindrum, Fred., senr, billiard saloonGround Door—Wallace, Buck & Goodes Pty Ltd. men'.mercersFirst floor—Lampe, Moffat Pty Ltd, wrelisemnBugler, A. L., hosiery imprtrMarchant & Co, importersFinkelstein, J. & Co, soft goods imprtrsAustral Import Co, fancy goodsSecond floor—Marks, L. & E. & Saulwick, hosiery imptrsThird floor-Nott Bros & Co Ltd. imptrsFourth floor—Pickles, Joe. & Son Ltd, wrehsemnFifth floor—Snow, Elliott Pty Ltd, silk merchsLatiners, mlnry mnfrsSixth floor-Stogdale & Sons Pty Ltd, mnfrs' agtsTaylor, C. & Co, mnfrs agtsMason. McCartney Pty Ltd, cstmrsKay & Co, lace mnfrsWalders, A B., mnfrs oatMarks, L. & E. & Saulwick, imptrs hosrySeventh floor—Long, C. N., Smith & Co, est agtsGunning, W. J. & Co, mnfrs agtsInternational Fur AgencySturt, Sidney & Co Pty Ltd, soft goods imptrs & indentorsRochussen, F. E., merchsJohnson, F. E., mlnry wrehsemnChipman & Hamilton. Mfrs agts

Names:

City of MelbourneGawler & Drummond

Topics:

Central Activities District Conservation Study 1985Conservation studiesInterwar period1920-1929

Places:

Melbourne (Vic.)

Form/Genre:

Building Identification Forms (BIFs)

Record types:

Research and reports

Record number:

1208596