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Connibere Grieve & Connibere's warehouse, 308 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

Butler, Graeme1985

Record details

Title:

Creator:

Butler, Graeme (Name details)

Date of work:

1985

Reference number:

BIF-CITY 559365

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 2024:__________________________________________________DATE: 1909;ASSOCIATIONS: Connibere Grieve and Connibere;DESIGNER: Barnet, Nahum after Crouch, T J?;Period: Edwardian___________________________GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceHistoryWarehouses, 302-306, 308 Flinders LaneBuilt: 1886, 1909Thomas J Crouch designed three three-storey warehouses on this site (302- 306) in 1886 for L Benjamin of Beehive Chambers (qv). His builder was Page McCulloch of Carlton. One Clarke owned another three-storey warehouse to the west of the group (1885). Connibere Grieve and Connibere (E W R Connibere, J Grieve and C W Connibere) occupied 304 from the mid 1890s, after a variety of tenants, acquiring it and the others (306- 308) by 1908. Nahum Barnet designed a steel-framed warehouse for Connibere at 301-311 Flinders Lane (1914) so it is likely that he was the architect for the added floor to 302- 306 and the reconstruction of 308 to five levels, in 1909.With Connibere's departure, the remaining occupiers were united under the name Ferrando's Building, named after G Ferrando and Co., a soft goos merchant. Although Ferrando and Co. were still in occupation, now as olive oil importers, the building's name had become Leicester House by World War Two. The few major tenants included Harrington's photographic suppliers but the balance were smaller firms than had been before.DescriptionAppearing to be from the late Victorian period and designed in a Medieval revival mode, the extension of the buildings has been matched to the 1886 levels of 302-306. Given the previous separate ownership and earlier date of 308, it is probable that it was a total reconstruction (rather than an addition) to match both facade and floor levels of 302-306 and, truly unite the buildings for one occupation.Gothic detail is applied at the fourth level and Romanesque inspired foliated colonette and column capitals prevail elsewhere. Beyond these details the facades are ordered in the classical manner and the cornice and string moulds, bracketting and balustrading follow the Renaissance revival. The cemented details are as impressive as they are contradictory, complementing the intricate fenestration pattern of both facades. A previous study noted marble and panelling at the entry at 308 (1976).IntegrityGenerally externally original (302-306) the ground level is altered and the upper storey appears gutted (308).StreetscapeThe two buildings relate closely and contribute to the warehouse streetscape precinct adjoining.SignificanceAn ornate, proficient and almost complete design with details derived from Italian medieval sources to provide an unusual elevation, distinct from the Italian Gothic of the Rialto and Olderfleet.___________________________GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites source 80 REID, KEITH & JOHN R, 1976, MELBOURNE CBD STUDY AREA 7 (source 80), p239;___________________________REID, KEITH & JOHN R, 1976, MELBOURNE CBD STUDY AREA 7 (source 80), p239;LEICESTER HOUSE1886 1909 (2)Originally constructed as separate properties, 302-306 is a 4 storey store with cellar (1886) and 308 a 5 storey store with cellar (1909) . The two facades are identical in appearance....The building is very intact, both externally and Internally.Brick walls timber floors..The building is a unique example of 1880s warehousing with elaborate detailing inside and out. The façade is also important as a major element in a streetscape....Retention of whole building Is essential….CHRONOLOGY1885 The site consisted of two properties. 302-306 consisted of a brick store owned by Benjamin and occupied by four tenants, Wright, Morrison, Smith and Heymanson308 also contained a brick store, owned by Clarke and occupied by Metcalfe, 3 stories high.1886 A new brick store was under construction at Nos 0 302-306.1887 302-306. The new 4 storey plus cellar brick store, still owned by Benjamin, was occupied by Atcherley and others. It was noted as containing eleven flats. Refer c. 1887 photo.1894 Connibere first became a tenant of 302-306.1908 By this date Connibere Grieve Comribere and Co. had become the whole occupants of 302-306, now owned by Benjamin TrusteesConnibere Grieve Connibere & Co had also became the owners of No. 308 which was occupied by Rice T. Hopkins, who became the owners and occupiers of 312-314 Flinders Lane when 308 was demolished.1909 The 3 storey brick store at 308 was demolished and replaced by a brick store of five floors with basement. The new store facade matched exactly in floor to floor heights, window treatment and detailing, the adjoining 302-306.1910 Connibere Grieve Connibere & Co. occupied both buildings.1914 Connibere Grieve Connibere & Co. built Reliance House opposite at 301-311 Flinders Lane.___________________________VICTORIA HERITAGE DATABASENATIONAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA (VIC)Numbers 302-306 were built in 1886 as a four-storey warehouse with cellar. In 1909 No. 308, a five-storey warehouse was added with matching floor levels, windows and general detailing which is mostly intact, both externally and internally. The combined facades, which are very elaborately detailed for a warehouse, form an attractive elevation and contribute an important element to the streetscape. The architect was T J Crouch.Classified: 30/03/1978___________________________

Names:

City of MelbourneBarnet, Nahum, 1855-1931

Topics:

Central Activities District Conservation Study 1985Conservation studiesFederation/Edwardian styleWarehousesOffices1880-18891900-1909

Places:

Melbourne (Vic.)

Form/Genre:

Building Identification Forms (BIFs)

Record types:

Research and reports

Record number:

1267501