Alston & Brown's warehouses, 16-22 McKillop Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Total copies: 1
Title:
Alston & Brown's warehouses, 16-22 McKillop Street, Melbourne
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Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 106374
Level of description:
Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
Type of materials:
Graphic materialsTextual material
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Series: Central City (BIF-CITY)
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UnrestrictedOpen access.
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UnrestrictedPlease contact City of Melbourne Libraries about obtaining permission to reproduce images.
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RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2022:__________________________________________________Period: VictorianDATE: 1889;ASSOCIATIONS: Alston & Brown;DESIGNER: Thomas Watts & Sons;BUILDER: Martin & Peacock.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceHistoryThe merchant firm, Alston & Brown, (managed by Thomas Alston, J.P. of Braemar, St. Kilda, and S. V. Payne) replaced wood and iron stables with these brick stores in 1888-9 to the design of Thomas Watts & Sons and constructed by builders, Martin & Peacock. Apparently built as a speculative venture, the stores' early occupants included the Oriel Printing Company (managed by Joseph Colthurst) and Marcus Ward & Company, wholesale stationers. Watts also designed the Sands & McDougall building, Spencer Street, around this time.Alston & Brown were all of general importers, silk mercers, drapers, hosiers, glovers, outfitters, tailors and furniture and carpet warehousemen, with their main warehouse in Collins Street West, but with subsidiary stores in Little Call ins Street West, and a branch at 27 Wallbrook Street, London. At the peak of the speculative property boom, Benjamin Fink purchased their Collins Street premises and refitted them as offices to the style of Rothschild Chambers.Later occupants included, in the 1920s, G. A. Green printers and stationers (16) (later in in their own building at the rear of Rostella) and Arbuckle Waddell Pty. Ltd., printers (20-2) for much of the early part of this century.DescriptionThis is a relatively unchanged facade, which has been patterned on the Italian Renaissance palazzo mode. Although somewhat simplistic in concept, given the exact repetition of the lower two floors on the upper levels (almost as if added later), the elevation is the epitome of a Late 19th Century warehouse design, with its inherent economics and consequent plainness. Fully and segmented arched openings are the main foci for the cement ornament, in the form of architraves, keystones and impost moulds, but some refinement is shown in the expression of each facade, within the pair, by regresses at the centre and corners of the elevations. Similarly windows are deeply set, with blank spandrels beneath, to enhance the effect of the moulding. The cornice is discreet and the second floor Level string mould unusually heavy, bisecting the elevation.External IntegritySigns and a canvas hood added; wall colours sympathetic.StreetscapeMatches in scale the rebuilt numbers 12 and 14 also opposite the important 15-19 McKillop Street warehouses, (1854-60), so contributing to a warehouse precinct which typifies both early and late Victorian approaches to this building type.SignificanceAn unusually well preserved, if typically conservative warehouse design which, despite its obvious simplicity, has subtle refinements in detail also part of a notable warehouse precinct..LOVELL CHEN 2016, GUILDFORD AND HARDWARE LANE HERITAGE STUDYWarehouse (HO725)18-22 McKillop Street, MELBOURNEGrading: SignificantPlace type: WarehouseDate(s): 1888-9Survey Date: April 2016Intactness: GoodStatement of SignificanceThe subject building (pair of warehouses) at 18-22 McKillop Street was constructed in 18889,over four floors with a semi-basement level. It has a rendered masonry façade to McKillopStreet, and face brick side elevations. The building takes the broad form of an Italian palazzowith a base surmounted by a straightforward façade, capped by a cornice or attic storey.Fenestration across the four levels is deep-set and comprises alternating simple segmentalarchedheads and arch-headed windows, with key stone mouldings. The base takes the formof a simple rendered plinth around basement windows. The two building components can beread via a narrow centrally located vertical recess to the façade. Window openings at groundfloor level have been altered although the elevated arrangement, to facilitate the loading ofcarts, remains legible.How is it Significant?The subject building (pair of warehouses) at 18-22 McKillop Street is of historical andaesthetic/architectural significance to the City of Melbourne.Why is it Significant?The subject building (pair of warehouses) at 18-22 McKillop Street is of local historicalsignificance. The building was constructed in 1889 for merchant firm, Alston & Payne, to adesign by Thomas Watts & Sons. It is part of an important collection of late nineteenth centurywarehouse and mercantile buildings in this area of the central city. In replacing the earlierwood and iron stables that previously occupied the site, the subject building is demonstrativeof the localised late nineteenth century growth in warehousing activity. Early occupants suchas the Oriel Printing Company and Marcus Ward wholesale stationers, followed by letterpressand offset printers, Arbuckle, Waddell and Fauckner, who occupied the building from the early1900s into the 1970s, is another important association with a local historical trend. Smallscaleprinters, publishers and stationers moved into the central city laneways and warehousesfrom the late nineteenth century, and continued well into the twentieth century. (Criterion A)The subject building is also of local aesthetic/architectural significance. It is a substantiallyexternally intact and competently executed example of a late 1880s warehouse in theItalianate style. While conservative in design, it has subtle refinements in its understatedornamentation. When the building was constructed, the Italianate mode was well understoodand had become the preferred mode for developers, speculators and builders. Commercialbuildings such as this typically took the form of simple masonry boxes with a largelystandardised applique of classical detail, which in the subject building is evidenced in thealternating simple segmental-arched headed and arch-headed windows; cornice level andattic storey; architraves, keystones and impost moulds; and deep-set fenestration. The typicalwarehouse function can also be read in the elevated arrangement of openings at ground floorlevel, which facilitated the loading of carts. (Criterion E).GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites source 80, p297__________________________________________________VICTORIAN HERITAGE INVENTORY H7822-11041866 map - building on street frontage.1880 Panorama appears to show 2 storey building on site.1905 - 2 storey building with stable at rear.__________________________________________________REID, KEITH & JOHN R, 1976, MELBOURNE CBD STUDY AREA 7 (source 80)No. 12 and 16-18 McKILLOP STREETBUILT:No. 12, possibly 1867-68Nos. 16-18, 1889.Due to a complete lack of numbering , and inconsistencies in rate books and Directories, there still exist doubts as to which property is being referred to and as 'No,. 12 is a matching building, it has been included in this assessment.DESCRIPTION:Four storey office warehouses. No. 12 originally may have been two storey.ALTERATIONS:Minor internal partitioningCONSTRUCTION &'MATERIALS:Brick (and .stone) with 'rendered facades , timber floors and hipped roofs. Single straight flight of timber stairs (Nos. 16-18) link high floor to floor spaces.CITYSCAPE RELATIONSHIP:An individual building of consequence which, together with No . 12 which- is of similar design, is an essential, component in creating a refined, low scale atmosphere in a small precinct. .RECOMMENDATIONImportant for retention..Pre 1866The east side of McKi110p Street consisted of wood and brick cottages and iron sheds.1867-68McCaw owner of two blocks each 10 x 16.45 metres, one now having a stone and brick store (later noted as two floors) and the other having stone store in course of erection.In 1898 these are identified as Nos. 12 and 14.1869-70Clarke listed as owner of properties north of McCaws to Bourke Street.1871-76McCaw and Co. owners of the two brick stores and Alston and Co. own properties, presumably Nos. and 18, which contain wood and iron stables ..1876-79McCaw' s properties now owned by the Bank of Victoria.1880-88McCaw' s properties Nos. 12 and 14 owned by Mrs. Adamson and Nos. 16 and 18 remain withAlston and Brown1889-90On Nos.. 16 and 18, Alston and Payne erect the present four storey brick stores ..1891On No. 12 Mrs. Adamson either extends or rebuilds to four stories, brick stores.1892-1900No. 12 owned by National Mutual Insurance and Nos. 16 - 18 remain owned by Alston and Payne..HISTORICAL ANALYSISNo particular historical value can be found in 16--18 McKillop Street, but the original owner, Matthew McCaw, of No. 14 appears to have been highly regarded. (5) He was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1817 and arrived in Victoria in 1842. He was an auctioneer in the Royal 'Horse Bazaar which he built in Bourke Street. His prime interest was in agriculture and he was instrumental in forming the Port Phillip Farmers' Society of Victoria. His death in 1876 "removed from our midst one who has done much for one main pillar of the Colony' s stability and greatness - the Agricultural Industry" (5)ARCHITECTURAL .ANALYSISBoth properties are extraordinary examples of severe neo Italian Renaissance styled facades. The simple symmetry of Nos. 16-18 in particular, has only become readily apparent with the demolition of the buildings opposite. A matching facade occurs on No. 14, and it is unfortunate that the similar facade which occupied No. 16 has been demolished and the newer facade interrupts what would have been a unique streetscape. It is not conclusive that No. 14 was rebuilt in 1891, but considered more likely than simply extended because of the rather plain detail of ground floor windows and horizontal coursing.RECOMMENDATIONThe historic interest of No.14 and the architectural value of Nos. 16-18 encourage the recommendation that retention of facades important.__________________________________________________LOVELL CHEN 2016, GUILDFORD AND HARDWARE LANE HERITAGE STUDYHistory1The brick and rendered warehouse pair at 18-22 McKillop Street were constructed in 1888-9 for merchant firm, Alston & Payne, replacing wood and iron stables that previously occupied the site. The pair was designed by architectural firm, Thomas Watts & Sons, and constructed by builders, Martin & Peacock.2 The 1890 rate book described them as brick stores with four floors, each valued at a NAV of £300.3 Apparently built as a speculative venture, the stores’ early occupants included the Oriel Printing Company (managed by Joseph Colthurst) and Marcus Ward & Company, wholesale stationers.Thomas Alston (of Braemar, St Kilda) and SV Payne were general importers, silk mercers, drapers, hosiers, glovers, outfitters, tailors and furniture and carpet warehousemen. The company’s main warehouse was located in Collins Street West, but they also had subsidiary stores in Little Collins Street West, and a branch at 27 Wallbrook Street in London.Letterpress and offset printers, Arbuckle & Waddell, later Arbuckle, Waddell and Fauckner, occupied the building from the early 1900s into the 1970s.4 The firm was founded in 1890 by James Arbuckle, who arrived in Melbourne from Glasgow in 1887.5The laneway warehouses in this area of the central city were increasingly popular with small-scale printers, publishers and stationers from the late nineteenth century, as well as associated businesses including stereotypers, linographers and bookbinders. Printers were located in both Niagara and Warburton lanes.6 This pattern continued through the first half of the twentieth century, with businesses associated with printing and publishing established in Goldie Place and Wright (Hardware), Niagara, Rankins and Warburton lanes, as well as McKillop Street as per the subject property.7Figure 3 Detail of Mahlstedt fire insurance plan, Map 14, 1888 showing the structures on the site prior to the construction of the brick warehouse pairSource: State Library of VictoriaFigure 4 Detail of MMBW plan no. 1011, 1894 showing the two brick warehouses at 20 and 22 McKillop StreetSource: State Library of VictoriaFigure 5 Detail of Mahlstedt fire insurance plan, Map 14, 1910 showing the two four storey warehousesSource: State Library of Victoria.ReferencesGraeme Butler & Associates, Melbourne Central Activity District (CAD) Conservation Study, prepared for the City of Melbourne, 1985.1 The following history is based on that included in the property citation in G Butler, Melbourne CAD Study, 1985, augmented by additional research and investigation.2 Miles Lewis Australian Architectural Index, notice of intention to build, MCC registration no. 3715, 13 December 1888, record no. 72963, accessed via http://www.mileslewis.net/australian-architectural.html, 26 May 2016.3 City of Melbourne rate books, Volume 29: 1890, Lonsdale Ward, rate nos. 428 & 429, VPRS 5708/P9, Public Record Office Victoria.4 Sands and McDougall directory, various.5 Age, 17 March 1937, p.12.6 Sands & McDougall, 1904.7 Sands & McDougall, 1924.8 The following description is substantially based on that included in the relevant property citations in G Butler, Melbourne CAD Study, 1985.9 Phillip Goad and Julie Willis, Encyclopedia of Australian Architecture, 2012, p 35610 David Saunders, Joseph Reed (1823-90), in Australian Dictionary of Biography, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/reed-joseph-445911 ‘H0359 – Bontharambo Homestead’, Victorian Heritage Register citation, accessed via http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/1181, 17 November 201512 Central City (Hoddle Grid) Heritage Review 2011, pg. 431, https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/c186-central-city-heritage-review-part-3.pdf13 Central City (Hoddle Grid) Heritage Review 2011, pg. 438, https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/c186-central-city-heritage-review-part-3.pdf14 Central City (Hoddle Grid) Heritage Review 2011, pg. 550, https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/c186-central-city-heritage-review-part-3.pdf
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1259526
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 106374 | 1 PDF : 685 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |