Hotham later North Melbourne Town Hall, Post Office, Courthouse and Offices, 513 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne
Butler, Graeme26 April 1985
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Total copies: 1
Title:
Hotham later North Melbourne Town Hall, Post Office, Courthouse and Offices, 513 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
26 April 1985
Reference number:
BIF-NORTH 103508
Level of description:
Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
Type of materials:
Graphic materialsTextual material
Part of:
Access restrictions:
UnrestrictedOpen access.
Use restrictions:
UnrestrictedPlease contact City of Melbourne Libraries about obtaining permission to reproduce images.
General notes:
Grading as at 1985 (A-E): APeriod : Mid Victorian (1876)Crown Grantee : Hotham Town Hall and Court House reserve 1870___________________________GRAEME BUTLER 1983, CONSERVATION STUDY FOR THE CITY OF MELBOURNE OF NORTH AND WEST MELBOURNE:History-Hotham became a separate municipality in September 1859 and the first council, and later Court of Petty Sessions (May 1860) were soon meeting in temporary premises, now 480 Queensberry Street. In 1862, the first Hotham Town Hall and Court House of red brick were built on the present site, the Court Houses, Mechanics Institute and Town Hall Reserve of 1860, at the north west corner of Errol and Arden Streets, having been revoked in 1861, This building may never have been intended to be permanent as in November 1874, a month before Hotham was proclaimed a town, details of a design competition for the Town Hall were announced. The design of George R Johnson of Collins Street West, was selected from 24 entries and D Parry won the contract with a quote of £9281. The old Town Hall was demolished and on 8th August 1875, the foundation stone was laid by the mayoress Mrs H A Clarke.In 1876, the building was completed for a total of £19,000 incorporating the court house and Post and Telegraph offices, and was opened with a commemorative ball. During 1877-1879, a pair of cast iron gates and a clock and bells designed by the Government astronomer R L J Ellery were added to the building. Later alterations included those to the Supper Room in the basement of the Town Hall (1910) and electrification in 1912. The court house was re-located to 87 Chetwynd Street in 1912, whilst the North Melbourne Council had already been absorbed in to the Melbourne City Council during 1905. [D Francis and J Alsop "The history of the Municipal Buildings of North Melbourne" History Thesis no 378 1967 Department of Architecture University of Melbourne]Description- A two-storey stuccoed brick and parapetted building with two bayed facades, a Tuscan order portico and façade trabeation consisting of the Tuscan and Corinthian orders, with a pedimented corner bay supporting a pedimented three level domed clock and bell tower : the form and ornament are derived from the Italian High Renaissance.The parapet is piered and balustraded and bayed with the façade bays below; the intervening pedimented corner bay being uneasily balanced with the balustrading of its matching bay on the south west corner, Gable pedimented fenestration is set between pilasters on the upper level, whilst arched openings occur at the lower. Emphasis is gained for the Post Office and Court House entrance by a lower level arcade, with superimposed trabeation, so also are balustraded balconettes used on the upper level; the portico, with use of the rusticated columns, drawing attention to the municipal entrance, with the crest on a raised entablature at the parapet.Integrity - Generally original except for some missing parapet urns.Streetscape- A major corner element on an elevated site and connected to the commercial streetscape of Errol Street by the Municipal BuildingsSignificance- Architecturally, second only to the Melbourne Town Hall, in the combination of size, successful and articulate architectural stylism and an early construction date, being the first Town Hall of many to be designed by Johnson in his characteristically ornate stuccoed style. Also a major part of the Errol Street commercial precinct and made more dominant by the relatively low level development surrounding it; of state wide importance.Historically; the third major Town Hall commenced in the metropolis (after Melbourne and Fitzroy) and the first completed to the current form, Of high regional significance.___________________________Also classified in the Victorian Heritage database and by the National Trust of Victoria.
Related material link:
Topics:
Conservation studiesNorth and West Melbourne Conservation StudyMid-late Victorian period (1875-1900)1870-1879North Melbourne Town Hall (North Melbourne, Vic.)Town hallsPost officesCourthousesParapetsPorticosPedimentsClocksClock towersBellsGatesBalustradesBalconiesWindowsCrests and emblemsColumnsArchesArcadesEntrances
Places:
Form/Genre:
Record types:
Images, maps and artefacts
Record number:
1623120
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 103508 | 1 PDF : 1.76 MB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |