George & Georges Store, 193-199 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Title:
George & Georges Store, 193-199 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
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Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 102152 1
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Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
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Graphic materialsTextual material
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Series: Central City (BIF-CITY)
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UnrestrictedOpen access.
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ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER:Period: Late VictorianConstruction date: 1890-1Designer: Charles D'Ebro, for George and George, Limited.LEWIS, M- AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURE INDEXRecord 76898- cites CITY OF MELBOURNE BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS D'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 8.2.0additions and alterations, Little Collins - Equitable stores occc, George & George'sRecord 74561 Grainger & 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.NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)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 posi- tion. 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…’.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.
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| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 102152 1 | 1 JPEG : 897 KB ; A4 | Single Item (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |