Dunkling's Building later Dumas House, 294-296 Collins Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Total copies: 1
Title:
Dunkling's Building later Dumas House, 294-296 Collins Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 102139
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: Edwardian.ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER:.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceHistoryMid-1914, builder J. G. Hollow applied to the Melbourne City Council to build a `steel-frame warehouse' for WilliamDunkling, the manufacturing jeweller. The architect was Frank Stapley. On the six floors above Dunkling's, tenants varied from Steidle & Lux ladies' hairdressers (1st) to Monteath Photographic Studios (6th). Between these were Mrs. Elsie Barlow, artist, a Miss M. Dombrain's tearooms and a large selection of milliners and tailors. Next door were Hardy Brothers, the jewellers, creating a small pocket for the trade.The name remained into the 1960s, but Dunklings had shifted (with Hardy Brothers) to Bourke Street. Mabel Clay Pty. Ltd., ladies' drapers, took their place at ground with the Cafe Le Bon, a number of estate agents, and the Wimbledon Sports Stores, in addition to the old tenants like Steidle and Monteath Studios.William Dunkling started in Victoria during the early 1890s, with shops in Elizabeth and later Bourke Street. His success at this address and in the Moderne styled Bourke Street store eventually led to today's many retail branches.DescriptionA cemented, reinforced concrete building, which echoes in a more austere fashion the bayed windows of both neighbours, but rivals their generally more intricate ornament by a boldly executed parapet with gigantic brackets and associated parapet piers, above the cornice. Over this massive cornice, the penthouse level is almost concealed from the street view. Three oriel window bays, rise from second floor level and terminate on the broad cornice where garlands encircle each of the major supporting brackets. Below each bracket, an incised lyre motif extends as an elongated frieze, down to the first floor level.External IntegrityThe shopfront has been replaced but otherwise the elevation is near original.StreetscapeConforms to storey heights and window motifs of the adjoining Block Court and Altson's Building (also by Barnet), atElizabeth Street, providing a continuous streetscape element from the Block Arcade (282), through to Elizabeth Street.SignificanceAlthough a decade apart from one neighbouring building and a generation from the other, the stylistic vocabulary,fenestration form (bays) and patterns, wall finish and scale are shared, creating a successful streetscape.However, Dunkling's is further distinguished by the powerful modelling used at the parapet and upper facade, as a highly distinctive example of the prevailing Edwardian Baroque revival and is of interest as a minority excursion into this style by the notable architect, Nahum Barnet..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites source 78, 78A John & Phyllis Murphy Pty. Ltd. Architects. Historicbuildings study of part of the C.B.D. Melbourne. (part 1) 1976 Report to the Historic Buildings Preservation Councilcovering the area bounded by Little Collins, Flinders, Spring and Elizabeth Sts. States built 1915,3;Victoria Illustrated: 87; CITY OF MELBOURNE BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS 4980.LEWIS, M- AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURE INDEXRecord 74693, cite CITY OF MELBOURNE BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONSStapley, Frank; Dunkling, William Melbourne VIC Warehouses Hollow, J G - Bamfield St Sandringham 1914 06 10 4980,MCC registration no 4980 [Burchett Index]. Fee 6.0.0 steel-framed warehouse, Collins - 294/6 -.NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Thu 25 Sep 1913 Page 4https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/7233298LAND AND PROPERTY SALES.- sale of site to Dunkling..The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954) Mon 7 Dec 1914 Page 1 LIFT STRIKES MAN…While.- working at Dunkllng's Buildings.Punch (Melbourne, Vic. : 1900 - 1918; 1925) Thu 24 Dec 1914 Page 28 SOCIETY.The artistic public will be interested to know there is a new studio of some interest started at Dunkling's Buildings, 296 Collins-street. Portrait and miniature painting, photographic colouring and commercial advertising designing being' the work of Mabelle B. Edmonds Mur ray..Table Talk (Melbourne, Vic. : 1885 - 1939)Thursday 16 November 1916 - Page 10The Magpie Tea Rooms, fourth floor, Dunkling's Buildings, 296 Collins-street, are now open to the public, and the quaintly-decorated rooms' should prove popular for morning and afternoon tea and light luncheon, as the edibles life' freshly; made each day on the premises arid are daintily served at a moderate cost. As the name suggests, the decorations are carried out in black- and -white, with just a slight, introduction of pink as relief and the attendants are also frocked in black and white. Cleanliness, attention and comfort are assured, so those desiring light, refreshments or a home luncheon and who appreciate these qualifications could not do better than pay a. visit to the centrally-situated Magpie tea-room
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Research and reports
Record number:
1197128
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 102139 | 1 PDF : 1,172 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |