Equitable Cooperative Society Building, later George & Georges, 162-168 Collins Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
Archives
Total copies: 1
Title:
Equitable Cooperative Society Building, later George & Georges, 162-168 Collins Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 102152
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: VictorianConstruction date: (1) 1883-1884 (2) 1887-1888 (3) 1890-1891.ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER:.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceHistoryThe Independent and Scots churches were generously provided for at Melbourne's early land sales (1838-9), receiving two corner blocks and two allotments each for a school and minister's dwelling: one quarter of a city block each. In the investment climate of the 1880s, Scots Church leased a lot adjoining the Baptist Church to the Equitable Co-operative Society Ltd. where, to the design of Grainger and D'Ebro, contractor David Mitchell erected offices and stores in 1883.Reputedly the company's insolvency meant their replacement by drapers, George and George after architect, Twentyman and Askew, had completed alterations and additions at the rear of the building in 1887-8. B.J. Fink's involvement with the insolvency and consequent redevelopment of the land may be confirmed by the architects chosen for the work, having been exclusively used by both Fink and the Georges previously.Certainly Fink's involvement was clear when he commissioned Charles D'Ebro to complete the facade onto Little Collins Street in 1890-1; McConnell & McIntosh were the builders. Shopfront alterations appear to date from early this century.W.H. and A.H. George had commenced in the mid 1860s as drapers in Smith Street, Collingwood moving to Melbourne in the early 1870s. After a century of trading, the company Georges Australia Ltd. was to have a nominal declared capital of 3 million dollars.DescriptionResembling closely the Grainger and D'Ebro design for McLean Brothers and Rigg of 1888 (107-113 Elizabeth Street, qv), the Collins Street face however is a more sophisticated Renaissance revival than the later building. A pediment, central to the parapet, is supported on pilasters which become column couplets at the piano nobile of the elevation. Here an arcade is implied by deeply set arched windows and balustrading whilst additional columns and pilasters provide a trabeated structure, overlaid on the arcuation. The top storey acts as a traditional attic level, placed over the enriched string mould cum cornice, and window pairs used here continue the traditional reduction of window size, progressing up the facade, whilst maintaining the mass to void relationship of other floors.Ox-bow arches over each shop portal suggest that the leadlighting and metal joinery was added this century.External IntegrityShopfront glazing (toplights) has been sheeted over but otherwise externally near original.StreetscapeAn individually meritorious building, placed among others forming a streetscape which because of its stylistic heterogeneity, has an implied, rather than a literal association of period detail, siting and scale.SignificanceA relatively sophisticated Renaissance revival design, for its early date and use, which has been linked with the drapers, George and George for near to 100 years and supports an important streetscape..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites MURPHY ARCHITECTS, JOHN AND PHYLLIS 1976. HISTORIC BUILDINGS STUDY OF PART OF THE C.B.D. MELBOURNE : { AREA 1} WITH MURPHY, JOCK, FOR HISTORIC BUILDINGS PRESERVATION COUNCIL; CITY OF MELBOURNE BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS 443, 1883..;Victoria Illustrated: 154.LEWIS, M- AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURE INDEXcites CITY OF MELBOURNE BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONSRecord 76898- cites CITY OF MELBOURNE BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONSD'Ebro - William St; Fink, B J Melbourne VIC Warehouses; alterations McConnell & McIntosh - Levison St N. Melb 1890 12 4 4763, MCC registration no 4763 [Burchett Index]. Fee 8.2.0 additions and alterations, Little Collins - Equitable stores occc, George & George'sRecord 74561Grainger & D'Ebro; Equitable Coop. Society Ltd Melbourne VIC Office Buildings; Warehouses Mitchell, David - Burnley St Richmond 1883 03 20 214, MCC registration no 214 [Burchett Index]. Fee 3.10.0 offices and stores Collins east.National Trust of Australia (Vic) file B3899Statement of SignificanceThe building known as Georges, at 162-168 Collins Street, Melbourne, designed by Grainger & D'Ebro and completed in 1884, and ectended to Little Collins Street to a design by Charles D'Ebro in 1891, is of State importance as the only 19th century department store remaining substantially intact in Victoria, and as the site of what became Melbourne's most exclusive department store.The Italianate Collins Street facade is notable for incorporating neo-classical features such as arcading and corinthian columns at first floor level, and a pediment surmounting the central bay, which provide a certain grandeur. Built originally for the Equitable Cooperative Society, it was occupied by the Collins Street drapers, George & George, in 1889, who were one of the premier 'Universal Providers" in Melbourne by 1900.The only evidence of other 19th century department stores to survive is the arcade of the Mutual Store in Flinders Street, built in 1891. Many other department stores remain, but they are all early 20th century, for instance the facade of Ball & Welch, Flinders Street, 1899, the Big Store, Chapel Street, 1902, or Buckley's (now David Jones), Bourke Street, 1910-12.Having gone bankrupt in 1907, the store reopened in 1908 as Georges, concentrating exclusively on women's wear, and from the 1930s gradually became more and more exclusive, catering to the cream of Melbourne society. By the late 1950s, Georges had become the most exclusive shop in Melbourne, and was one of the institutions that was strongly associated with the wealthy, largely Anglophile and conservative elite, and was therefore seen as a place that characterised Melbourne itself.The store was purchased by the Sydney based retailer David Jones in 1981, and was closed in 1995.The Collins Street display windows, designed by Charles D'Ebro, and built in 1908, are of special significance as possibly the first built, and certainly one of the earliest and most extensive remaining examples of 'arcade' style display windows in Victoria, their early character is disguised by the 1956 panelling over the upper leadlighting, and the pink marble floor installed in 1982."Arcaded" windows, where extensive amounts of display space is provided by creating glass fronted passageways within the building, first developed in about 1905, and standard in the interwar years, were partly prompted by restriction of shopping hours, and increased leisure time, resulting in window-shopping as a popular past-time. With the gradual expansion of shopping hours and the decline of window display generally, such windows are now extremely rare. The Georges windows have therefore become strongly associated with the exclusive and traditional character of the store.The arched brick dividing walls and the Corinthian cast-iron columns dating from 1884 are notable features of the interior, as is the moderne style curving main stair, installed in 1939, and designed by David Eggleston..VICTORIA HERITAGE REGISTERHermes 2034SOURCE: DRAFT REPORT TO MINISTER. 1983 'GEORGES', 162-168 COLLINS STREETTHE FIRST PART OF 'GEORGES', 162-168 COLLINS STREET WAS CONSTRUCTED AS A STORE FOR THE EQUITABLE CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD IN 1883. THE ARCHITECTS FOR THAT BUILDING BEING GRAINGER AND D'EBRO.THIS FIRM, BY THEN BANKRUPT WAS PURCHASED BY BJ FINK IN 1887 AND HE COMMISSIONED ARCHITECT DAVID ASKEW TO EXTEND THE STORE THROUGH TO LITTLE COLLINS STREET. FINK ALSO PURCHASED THE FIRM OF GEORGE AND GEORGE AND RELOCATED THEM INTO THIS NEWLY ENLARGED STORE.THE CURRENT COLLINS STREET APPEARANCE OF THE BUILDING WAS EFFECTED BY GROUND FLOOR ALTERATIONS COMPLETED IN THE YEARS 1928 AND 1929. THE BUILDING IS A BRICK STRUCTURE WITH A RENDERED FACADE AND FIVE FLOORS OF RETAILING SPACE.THIS BUILDING IS OF IMPORTANCE FOR ITS LONG SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC HISTORY AND ITS IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF MELBOURNE AS A RETAILING CENTRE. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT FOR ITS ASSOCIATION WITH BJ FINK, CONSIDERED TO BE ONE OF THE "MOST DASHING SPECULATORS" OF MELBOURNE'S BOOM PERIOD.THE BUILDING ITSELF WAS DESIGNED IN A DIGNIFIED STYLE, APPROPRIATE TO THE CLASS OF CLIENTELE ATTRACTED TO THE STORE. THE UPPER FLOOR FACADE CLEARLY DEMOSTRATES THE WORK OF AN IMPORTANT MELBOURNE ARCHITECT, CHARLES D'EBRO AND AS SUCH IS A RARE SURVIVING EXAMPLE OF HIS WORK. THE BUILDING CONTINUES TO BE USED BY "GEORGES" AS A RETAIL STORE AND WHILST HAVING UNDERGONE ALTERATIONS AND RENOVATIONS THROUGHOUT ITS LIFE REMAINS IN GOOD CONDITION..NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957)Saturday 2 June 1883 - Page 11https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/8525548EQUITABLE COOPERATIVE SOCIETY'S NEW PREMISES.The foundation stone of the new premises which are being built for the Equitable Co operative Society in Collins street will be laid this afternoon by the president of the society, the Chief Secretary, Mr Berry, at half past 2The following is a description of the building which baa been furnished to us -This block of buildings is being erected solely for carrying on the business of the Equitable Co operative Society, and is situate on a commanding site between Collins street east and Little Collins Street, the main facade fronting Collins street eastThe building will be four storeys a in height, with a basement under the whole urea The fabric of the building is being carried out in Hoffmann bricks, with bluestone piers and columns. The various floors will be curried on a construction of iron girders and cast iron columns. The designers have adopted the Italian renaissance style for the architectural treatmentWhen completed the building will also have a façade to Little Collins Street, being 310ft deep by 66ft in width for the present, however, a temporary arcade will be constructed from the rear of the building to Little Collins street Access to the various floors will be obtained by means of two stone staircases at the end of the entrance arcade, and a timber staircase Ott wide in the main storerooms Three lifts will also be provided for the use of customers and for goodsAccommodation will be formed for grocery, drapery, dressmaking, millinery, hosiery, boots outfitting fancy wares, stationery b inking, and the multifarious brunches of the society s operations ln addition there will be suites of general offices and managers and secretary s offices. Strong rooms will be provided in various parts of the building The main lavatories will be at the top of the staircases In the main entrance access to the two shops on the Collins street frontage will be obtained through glazed screensPassing along the decorated and tiled arcade, which be 11ft wide, it will be possible from a cross corridor at the and to obtain access to any of the upper floors by ascending either of the stone staircases already mentioned. Passing through wide screen doorway s, the ground floor main store will be reached, which will be a lofty and well lighted room, 122ft by 52ftAbove this store there will be three others, similar in size and treatment These storerooms will be lighted from the sides, the upper floor receiving additional light by means of central upright skylights facing south The three large rooms (60ft by 41ft 6in ) over the Collins street shops will be divided to suit the requirements of the societyAccess to the basement will be obtained from Collins Street into a large apartment (60ft by 41ft 6in), lighted by pavement lights placed on a level with the street footpath, und by windows under the shop fronts Behind this apartment will be strong rooms, &c , and the main basement store, a room 123ft long by 64ft in width, covering the whole area of the land Instead of being enclosed by walls at the aides strong concrete retaining arches abutting against the heavy piers of the main wall will he constructed By this means the basement will be lighted from the 4ft 6in areas, through raking lights. Fixed louvres filling up the spandrels of the arches to main walls will provide ample ventilationThe question of the ventilation of the whole of the promises has received the most careful attention, the offices and storerooms being ventilated by flues formed in the walls for bringing in the fresh and for carrying away the vitiated air. The lavatories, &.c , will be provided with louvre ventilation. It is proposed to heat the rooms by means of open stoves when necessary.The building is being erected by the contractor, Mr. David Mitchell, of Richmond (who has taken the contract for £21,670) under the direction and supervision of Messrs. Grainger end D'Ebro, architects, of 22 Collins street east..Table Talk (Melbourne, Vic. : 1885 - 1939)Friday 25 September 1891 - Page 8https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/147285839Messrs. George and George's New Premises.THE completion the new portion of the premises of Messrs. George and George, Limited, which extends their warehouse from Collins-street to Little Collins street, and the improvements to the main frontage, formed the occasion of a large gathering of business men to celebrate the occasion on Monday, September 21. After inspecting the premises, admiring the architecture and appreciating the varied stock displayed the company were invited to drink the toast of success to the enterprise. Mr. J. M. Bruce proposed Success to the firm of Messrs. George and George, Limited. He thought the extensions marked an advancement in the business capacities of the city.Enterprise of this kind was calculated to inspire confidence in those who had given themselves up to grumbling and a belief that the city of Melbourne was about "done." Messrs. George and George had shown their confidence in the stability of the city and people might go through London without finding many finer establishments. Those who had inspected the emporium must feel that everything had been done to meet the requirements of the public, and he trusted the firm would achieve the success which they were now in a position to command. Mr. B. J. Fink, chairman of the company, acknowledged the toast. He might claim that the promises were colossal, and they were the best answer that could be given to the pessimism and croakings of the last few years as to the indebtedness of the colony. It was the best reply to the assertion that the prosperity of Melbourne was artificial and over-rated when people were found ready to invest in bricks and mortar. Messrs. George and George were determined to make their business the Whiteley's or Bon Marché of Australia, and would not rest satisfied until they had achieved the premier position. Mr. Henry Butler (Sargood, Butler and Nichol) proposed the healths of the managing directors, Messrs. A. H. George and John Marshall, and J. G. Haggart, the secretary and head of the accountants' department. Mr. George, in responding, referred to the time when they started in business in small premises in Collins-street, and the prosperity that led them to extend their dealings to other branches of the trade. Mr. Marshall spoke of his early connection with Messrs, George, and the steadfast way in which they had all stuck to their business.Mr. Haggart also acknowledged the toast, Mr. Fink then proposed the toast of the architect, Mr. D'Ebro, and the contractors, Messrs. McDonnell and McIntosh. Mr. D'Ebro referred to the difficulties of getting the plans ready so quickly, and complimented the contractors on the excellence and smartness of their work.Both contractors responded in a few words, and the visitors then dispersed. The building having been extended through to Little Collins-street, is now of a total depth of 310 feet by 66 feet wide, and five floors in height, which adds to the old building 39,250 square feet of floor space, making in all a total of 84,860 square feet, which is nearly 2 acres. Passenger lifts have been provided in all parts of the building, connecting the various floors. Access is also obtained to each floor by wide staircases, and an iron outside safety staircase runs the whole height of the building, giving egress from the workrooms on the top floor in case of fire. The old and new portions of the building are shut off by fireproof doors, which are closed at night. The comfort of customers has not been over- looked, as a handsome tea-room has been fitted up on the first floor, with ladies' retiring-rooms, gentlemen's lavatories and a telephone-room. At the Little Collins street end a magnificent shop front has been put in, having an area of 756 square foot of glass, and a commanding central entrance while at the Collins-street end a complete transformation has been made, the vestibule having been removed, turning the front portion into one vast shop, the main wall of the building being carried by lofty elliptic arches while show space to the front window has been more than doubled with an imposing central entrance..See https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/145709719 1892- Fink's creditors and exploits.`….He bought city properties right and left. George and George's premises in Collins-street, The " Block" in Collins-street, Steinfold's warehouse in Elizabeth-street, buildings in Little Collins-street, and warehouses in Post Office Place were built or acquired by him, besides numerous leaseholds. Many of these properties have been unloaded on to companies in which Mr. Fink was a prominent shareholder, and so the speculation went on until the inevitable shrinkage of rent values. As the shrinkage in- creased the banks took more and more security, until at last the time came when he could no longer meet his liabilities…’
Related material link:
Names:
Topics:
Places:
Form/Genre:
Record types:
Research and reports
Record number:
1197220
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 102152 | 1 PDF : 1,625 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |