Trustees Chambers, 401-403 Collins Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
Archives
Total copies: 1
Title:
Trustees Chambers, 401-403 Collins Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 102095
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: 1937Notable features: Stone facing.ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER:.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceHistoryCorporate trusteeship is said to have arrived in Australia from South Africa, introduced by Bank of New Zealand Manager, T.M. Stewart. Private parliamentary acts were passed to ensure the integrity of each new Victorian trustee company, the first being established in 1878.The Trustees Executors and Agency Company Ltd. was formed in the 1870s, being one of only seven created within the 100 years since. For this company, seasoned commercial Gothic stylists, Anketell and K. Henderson, designed a limit-height replacement for the old London Banking Chambers on this site in 1936-7. J.C. Taylor and Sons were the builders. Occupying ground and the next two levels, the company leased rooms to a variety of agents, insurance companies, share and insurance brokers, solicitors and barristers. These included Davies Campbell and Piesse, Russell Kennedy and Cook and Abbott Beckett Stillman and Gray, all solicitor firms; the Australian Meat Board, the prolific surveyor, E.L. Braid, and a smattering of Christian Scientists.Anketell and K. Henderson designed a similar but smaller head office in Queen Street for the similarly titled National Trustees Executors and Agency Co. of Australia Ltd., in 1939. Of the three large trustee companies whose offices had been rebuilt in the 1920-1930s, the Trustees Executors and Agency Company Lt. was the oldest. Of this design it was noted in Building magazine that the architects' intention was to blend the facade with the Gothic character of the streetscape.DescriptionA variation on the Gothic revival and neo-Gothic, represented so well either side, this facade is the plainest and hence approaching closest to the Modern era. Freestone upper floors on a base of polished granite is a formula used in 1932 by this firm at Shell Corner, William Street (qv). The fenestration is regular, set in vertical strips and separated by stone spandrels, providing Modern Gothic in the familiar tripartite composition. An asymmetrical tower rises over the western side of the parapet.External IntegrityGenerally externally original.StreetscapeMatching an important Gothic inspired streetscape in style, materials, scale and siting.SignificanceA conservative and late example of neo-Gothic commercial architecture but well preserved and subtly detailed by the important architectural firm of Anketell and K. Henderson also designed to be a part of a highly important streetscape. It was for over forty years the offices of one of Victoria's foremost trustee corporations..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites source 80 Keith & John R Reid, 1976, CBD STUDY AREA 7,p75;Victoria Illustrated: 80.NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Wed 9 Jun 1937 Page 12New Building in Collins StreetNew Building in Collins Street (illust.)The first of several new buildings to be erected in Collins street has been commenced on the site of the old London Bank of Australia Ltd., near Queen street. The building, which is for The Trustees, Executors, and Agency Co. Ltd., will contain 10 floors and basement. The sketch prepared from the architect's drawings by Mr. Harold Herbert gives an idea of the pleasing architectural style adopted. Up to the first floor level the building will be faced with Rob Roy polished granite: above Sydney sandstone will be used. Steel-frame construction, with reinforced concrete floors, will make the building fire-resisting throughout. The site has a frontage of 51ft. to Collins Street by a depth of 157ft. The architects are Messrs. A. and K. Henderson and Partners, Bank place, and the builder J. C. Taylor and Sons Pty. Ltd., of Geelong and Melbourne..The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954)Wednesday 17 March 1937 - Page 15https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/244650019BIG BUILDING MOVESCollins St. PlansTenders will be called shortly for the erection of three big new buildings to be erected in Collins Street, City, two of which will rise to the limit height pre scribed by the city building by laws. _Plans are now being prepared for the new Melbourne headquarters ' of the Mutual Life and Citizens' Assurance Co. Ltd., on the south-east corner of Collins and Elizabeth Streets. The existing old structure, known as White's Corner, will be demolished, and work on the new structure will commence in May. The site was purchased by the company in November last for £150.000. The other limit-height buildings to be erected for the Trustees, Executors and Agency Co.. on the site of the old London Bank, which was demolished some months ago. Architects for both new buildings are Messrs. A. and K. Henderson and Partners, of Bank Place.The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954)Wednesday 21 April 1937 - Page 19https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/244640487New Structures For Collins, Queen And Bourke StreetsTenders close on Friday with the architects, Messrs A. and K. Henderson and Partners, for the erection of a new limit height building on the site of the old London Bank, Collins Street, for the Trustees Executors and Agency Co. Pty. Ltd. this is one of several new structures to be put in hand shortly in Collins, Bourke and Queen Streets, involving expenditure of hundreds of thousands of pounds.THE trustees' building will be of steel frame and concrete construction, containing basement and ground floor, and nine upper floors. The facade will be given modern vertical treatment. It will have central heating and ventilation and a modern lift service. The company's offices, now situated at 412 Collins Street, directly opposite, will be transferred to the new building on completion, the main office being on the ground floor, and staff and executive offices above. The rest of the building will be available for tenants....HERITAGE BRANCH, MINISTRY FOR PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT 1987 CITY OF MELBOURNE CENTRAL CITY NOTABLE BUILDINGS CITATIONSA ten-storey office building constructed in 1937 for Trustees, Executors Agency Ltd and designed by the architects A&K Henderson. An interesting example of modern commercial gothic design, it is a significant member of the early 20th century financial houses constructed between Market and Queen Streets.
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1194764
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 102095 | 1 PDF : 1,162 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |