Craig, Williamson's Garage and Stores, 57-61 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
Archives
Total copies: 1
Title:
Craig, Williamson's Garage and Stores, 57-61 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 105913
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:
RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2022:__________________________________________________Period: EdwardianDATE: 1911-12, 1924;ASSOCIATIONS: Craig, Williamson Pty;DESIGNER: Gibbs & Finlay;BUILDER: Wright, James S.CONTEXT (WITH GJM HERITAGE) 2020, HODDLE GRID HERITAGE REVIEWWhat is significant?57-67 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, built in two major stages in 1912 and 1925 for Craig, Williamson Pty Ltd, is significant.Elements that contribute to the significance of the place include (but are not limited to):• The buildings’ original external form (incorporating buildings from 1912 and 1925), materials and detailing;• The 1925 three-storey building’s high level of integrity to its original design composed of a masonry pier and beam structure;• Earlier two-storey face brick masonry components (from c1880s and 1912) of the former Craig, Williamson Pty Ltd complex in McGrath and Club Lanes;• Pattern and size of original fenestration (Little Collins Street, McGrath Lane and Club Lane); and• Large square industrial steel-framed windows (Little Collins Street).More recent alterations, including the ground level shopfronts, replacement of glazing, infill to window openings and roof deck with glazed balustrade, are not significant.How it is significant?57-67 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, is of local historical and representative significance to the City of Melbourne.Why it is significant?The complex at 57-67 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, incorporating structures from c1880s, and built in 1912 and 1925 for drapery, clothing and furniture business Craig, Williamson Pty Ltd, demonstrates the growth in manufacturing that was part of the buoyant new economy in early twentieth century Melbourne following the economic depression of the 1890s and new federal tariffs introduced in the early 1900s. Craig, Williamson Pty Ltd, who were also major retailers with premises in Elizabeth Street from the 1890s, as well as in Bendigo and Ballarat, consolidated their manufacturing and storage at 57-67 Little Collins Street in the city centre close to their retail operations. (Criterion A)The building is significant for its association with the Commonwealth Postmaster-General’s Department from 1932-88. Having acquired the building in 1927, in preparation for the future automation of Melbourne's telephone system, the first PMG Research Laboratories were established on the upper two floors. The premises are historically significant as the site of the Mayser or ‘atomic clock’ that supplied accurate timekeeping to all master clocks in Australia. (Criterion A)57-67 Little Collins Street is representative of an interwar industrial building and maintains its rhythm, scale and form from the 1925 period. This is evident along Little Collins Street where the masonry framework is inset with large metal-framed windows. The interwar characteristics are evident to the upper floors of the Little Collins Street elevation with restrained stucco mouldings over brickwork. Earlier parts of the building are also evident along McGrath and Club lanes where the red brick elevations form part of the urban landscape. (Criterion D)Primary sourceHoddle Grid Heritage Review (Context & GJM Heritage, 2020).GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM.VICTORIAN HERITAGE INVENTORY H7822-17715th land sale 1839, Block 9 part of Allotment 2, & Allotment 20 - purchased by George Porter.1850 & 1866 - building on site.1888 - several 2 storey buildings; 2 to Lt Collins St, 1 to Club Lane, 5 to McGrath Lane.1905 - several 2 storey buildings; Williamson & Thomas Furniture Factory.LEWIS, M- AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURE INDEX:Record 76933 Gibbs & Finlay; Craig, Williamson Pty Melbourne VIC Shops; alterations Wright, James S - 421 Collins St 1911 11 20 3024 -MCC registration no 3024 [Burchett Index]. Fee 4.12.0two shops and addition to premises Little Collins - 59/67 -(see 76884 Williams, Frederick; Craig, Williamson & Thomas Melbourne VIC Shops Renshaw & Tyrer - 425 King St 1888 02 24 3312, MCC registration no 3312 [Burchett Index]. Fee 8.8.0four 2-storey brick shops Little Collins east).CITY OF MELBOURNE BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONSIndex Cardhttps://www.ancestry.com.au/imageviewer/collections/60672/images/44777_349576-008081923-1924 May 6964 ₤3500 Alterations and additions to make show room and store1925 petrol pump….MAHLSTEDT FIRE INSURANCE PLAN SERIESSeries 1, Map 2191057 1 storey masonry, A W Walker owner59 1 storey masonry, H Steele owner(65 part adjoining Kellow works as archway)192557-59 part complex 3 storey masonry adjoining 3 storey masonry wing to McGrath Place -Craig Williamsons Garage and Stores pasted overabuts on south Craig Williamsons Stables and Store..__________________________________________________CONTEXT (WITH GJM HERITAGE) 2020, HODDLE GRID HERITAGE REVIEWSITE HISTORYThe subject site is located on Crown Allotment 19, Block 9, City of Melbourne (Fels, Lavelle and Mider 1993). In 1888, several one and two-storey buildings, occupied by Craig, Williamson & Thomas's furniture factory, existed on the subject site at today's 57-67 Little Collins Street (Camperdown Chronicle 25 October 1888: 2; Mahlstedt Map Section 1, no 9, 1888). A section fronting Little Collins Street was vacant in 1888, but by 1895 four two-storey shops had been erected (MMBW Detail Plan no 1013, 1895).The current building at 57-67 Little Collins Street was constructed in two major stages in 1912 and 1925, for drapers, clothiers and house furnishers, Craig, Williamson Pty Ltd, which had been originally established in 1875 as Craig, Williamson & Thomas. Craig, Williamson Pty Ltd occupied the site from at least 1888, and also had premises in other locations in Melbourne, Ballarat and Bendigo, including a large retail store at 8-26 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne (Figure 1) (S&Mc 1890; Mahlstedt Map Section 1, no 9, 1888; Age 13 February 1899:1).Figure 1. Craig, Williamson’s Elizabeth Street store c1890. (Source: Craig, Williamson Draper and Frank L Carr Jr c1890, SLV)In 1911, Craig, Williamson Pty Ltd applied for a building permit for two shops at 57-59 Little Collins Street as well as additions to its premises at the rear of 57-67 Little Collins Street. Builder James Wright undertook the work to a design by architects, H B Gibbs & Finlay (MCC registration no 3024, as cited in AAI, record no 76933; Herald 12 September 1912:3). The new Craig, Williamson’s complex, comprising a three-storey brick factory, store and garage, and single and two-storey stables, was completed by 1912, and the new premises given the address of 61 Little Collins Street (S&Mc 1912, 1913). A two-storey caretaker’s residence built in the c1880s in McGrath Lane was retained and incorporated with the new premises (Mahlstedt Map Section 1, no 2, 1905-06 & 1910).Amendments made to a 1910 fire survey plan show the subject site in c1912 with new structures comprising three-storey shops at 57-59 Little Collins Street and three-storey factory and storage, single and two-storey stabling facilities to the rear between Club Lane and McGrath Lane (Figure 2) (Mahlstedt Map Section 1, no 2, 1905-06 & 1910). The upper floors of the new factory were used for furniture manufacture and for the firm's storerooms. In 1915, six businesses operated from the shop buildings at 57-67 Little Collins Street, including the stables of Craig, Williamson; these included a picture framer (no 57); dryers and cleaners (no 59); a caterer (no 63); a sign writer (no 65) and a stained-glass artist (no 67) (S&Mc 1915).By 1925, a new building was erected at the front of the premises at 57-67 Little Collins Street. In November 1924, a permit application for ‘alterations and additions to motor showroom and store’ was lodged, at an estimated cost of £3500. By 1925, the c1890s row of two-storey shops at 61-67 Little Collins Street was replaced with a three-storey structure, which was incorporated into the three-storey warehouse at the rear. No longer needing provision for stabling, the 1925 addition incorporated a new motor garage, but it is unlikely that the new premises comprised a motor showroom as specified in the permit application. Craig, Williamson Pty Ltd continued trading predominantly as a furniture manufacturer and clothier (Age 26 April 1926:15). The shops at 57 and 59 Little Collins Street were retained and continuously leased to J Cornes dryers and cleaners, who had earlier occupied 59 Little Collins Street (S&Mc 1915, 1925-1927)Amendments to a 1925 fire survey plan shows the 1925 addition at 61-57 Little Collins Street labelled as ‘Craig Williamson, Garage & Stores’ (Figure 3) (Mahlstedt Map Section 1, no 2, 1925). The City of Melbourne rate books of 1925-26 recorded a substantial increase in net annual value of the site, with the building description changed from ‘brick shops, factory and store’ to ‘brick factory and store’ (RB 1925, 1926).Figure 2. Showing the subject site c1912, outlined in red. The area marked green shows the area constructed by 1912, and the area marked yellow shows the pre-existing buildings from the late nineteenth century. (Source: Mahlstedt Map no 2, 1910).Figure 3. Showing the subject site c1925-26, outlined in red. The area marked green shows the three-storey structure that replaced the c1890s shops. (Source: Mahlstedt Map no 2, 1925).In 1926 the business Craig, Williamson Pty Ltd came under the ownership of the Sydney retailer Marcus Clark (Victoria) Ltd (Herald 4 May 1926:7; Spearritt 1981). After the sale, the business continued operating as Craig, Williamson Pty Ltd. Its furniture factory and bulk store operated from the subject site until 1928 (Age 26 April 1926:11; S&Mc 1927, 1929).In 1927, the Commonwealth Postmaster-General’s Department acquired the building to house extensions in preparation for the future automation of Melbourne's telephone system. It was to be known as the Melbourne Central East Exchange. New foundations, designed to provide increased strength, and a fourth storey were planned, as was the complete remodelling of the interior of the building (Age Tuesday 25 January 1927:8). The proposed addition of a fourth storey was not carried out, and in 1928, the Department of Works and Railways offered its premises at 57-67 Little Collins Street for lease. The tender stated that the 'substantially-built three-storey brick building' continued to be occupied by Craig, Williamson Pty Ltd as a garage and store (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 26 April 1928:656).By 1929, Craig, Williamson Pty Ltd vacated the premises, and the shops at 57-59 Little Collins Street were occupied by S G Wilson’s motor service (S&Mc 1929). By 1931, S G Wilson relocated to the main part of the building and became known as 59-67 Little Collins Street, with the shop at 57 Little Collins Street being vacant (S&Mc 1930, 1931).In 1932, tenders were called by the federal Department of the Interior for alterations to the City East Telephone Exchange Building at 57-67 Little Collins Street, and in 1934 the ground and first floors of 61-67 Little Collins Street, together with two lock-up shops at the corner of Club Lane and Little Collins Street, were advertised for lease (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 23 June 1932:832; 9 August 1934:1372). In 1935, the Postmaster-General's (PMG) Research Laboratories and the Victorian Post Institute Club occupied 59 Little Collins Street (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 20 June 1935:877). The remainder of the building was leased to the following tenants in that year: H McConnell, electrical engineer (also at 59); 'Lucy Ann' cake shop at 61; and Wilsons Motor Service Pty Ltd at 63-67 (S&Mc 1935).Figure 4. This instrument, popularly called the ‘atomic clock’, was responsible for keeping accurate time throughout Australia, and was located at the subject site as part of the PMG Research Laboratories. (Source: Age 25 May 1961:24)In 1942, the upper floors of the building at 59-61 Little Collins Street were occupied by the PMG Research Laboratories, and the ground floor was vacant (S&Mc 1942). The PMG Research Laboratories occupied the whole building by 1950 (S&Mc 1950). The Research Laboratories were noted as ‘the heart’ of time in Australia. The Laboratories contained a Mayser clock, often referred to as an ‘atomic clock’, which was renowned for its accuracy, and supplied time to the master clocks in the capital cities of Australia (Age 25 May 1961: 24). The public were able to call and check the clock, and radio stations, companies and government departments had direct lines to the clock (Age 25 May 1961: 24). Aircraft and other transport took their time from stations which were also connected to the clock (Age 25 May 1961: 24).The site was offered for sale under instructions from Telecom Australia in December of 1988, indicating that Telecom had retained the building following the split of the PMG into Telecom and Australia Post in 1976 (Age 15 December 1988: 27; Telstra 2019).In 1998, the site was offered as a development opportunity by the Melbourne Club, which had the title to the property; the rear of its Collins Street premises adjoins the site (Age 28 November 1998: 47). The Melbourne Club sought for the existing building to either be renovated or demolished and rebuilt, for investment purposes, and stated that it had no intention of occupying the building (Age 28 November 1998: 47).This site currently contains one business, two shops and three food and drink outlets (CoMMaps)..REFERENCESAge, as cited.Argus, as cited.Bendigo Advertiser, as cited.Camperdown Chronicle, as cited.Commonwealth of Australia 2017, Find and Connect, https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/guide/vic/E000322, accessed 10 May 2018.Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, as cited.Context Pty Ltd 2012, Thematic History: A History of the City of Melbourne’s Urban Environment, prepared for the City of Melbourne.Context Pty Ltd 2017, ‘Canterbury Heritage Gap Assessment’ for the City of BoroondaraCity of Melbourne Interactive Maps (CoMMaps) 2019, http:/ /map s.melbourne.vic.gov.au/, accessed 5 August 2019.City of Yarra, Amendment C157, Context Pty Ltd assessment of 196,198, 200-220 Burnley Street Cremorne‘Craig, Williamson Draper and Frank F Carr Jr’ c1890, printed page, State Library of Victoria (SLV) Imaging 19th Century Victoria Digitising Project H29944, accessed online August 2019.Daily Telegraph, as cited.Dingle, Tony 2008, ‘Manufacturing’ in eMelbourne, School of Historical and Philosophical Studies, University of Melbourne, http://www.emelbourne.net.au, accessed 13 April 2018.Fels, M, Lavelle S, and Mider D 1993, ‘Archaeological Management Plan’, prepared for the City of Melbourne.Halla, K J c1960-69, ‘Little Collins Street, Melbourne, Vic., State Library of Victoria (SLV) Halla collection of negatives, Views of East Melbourne, Fitzroy, Melbourne & North Melbourne, accessed online 2 May 2018.Halla, K J c1960-69, ‘Exhibition Street East, Melbourne, Vic.', Halla collection of negatives. Views of East Melbourne, Fitzroy, Melbourne & North Melbourne, State Library of Victoria (SLV), accessed online 2 May 2018.Harvey, John Henry 1905, ‘Flinders Street Station, Melbourne 1905', State Library of Victoria (SLV) J H Harvey collection, accessed online 2 May 2018.Herald, as cited.Hone, J Ann 1974, 'McIlwraith, John (1828–1902)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography, published first in hardcopy 1974, accessed online 16 May 2018.Lewis, Miles (with Philip Goad and Alan Mayne) 1994, Melbourne: The city’s history and development, City of Melbourne, Melbourne.Mahlstedt and Gee 1888, Standard plans of the city of Melbourne, Mahlstedt and Gee, Melbourne.Mahlstedt, G 1910, Index to City of Melbourne detail fire survey, Mahlstedt, Melbourne.Mahlstedt's Pty Ltd 1925, City of Melbourne detail fire survey. Section 1, Mahlstedt Pty Ltd, Melbourne.Marsden, Susan 2000, Urban Heritage: the rise and postwar development of Australia’s capital city centres, Australian Council of National Trusts and Australian Heritage Commission, Canberra.Maslen, Joan 1996, 'Everett, Minnie Rebecca (1874–1956)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography, published first in hardcopy 1996, accessed online 21 May 2018.Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works (MMBW) Detail Plans, as cited, State Library of Victoria.Building Permit 3323 for 114-122 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, dated 3 May 1921 (MBAI).Melbourne Planning Scheme (MPS), 'Melbourne and its Heritage Precincts', reference document to Clause 22.06 Heritage Precincts Policy of the Melbourne Planning Scheme, https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/heritage-precincts-history-significance.pdf, accessed 2 May 2018.Peel, Mark 2008, 'Charity Organisation Society' in eMelbourne, School of Historical and PhilosophicalSands and McDougall, Melbourne and Suburban Directories (S&Mc), as cited.Scott, Dorothy, and Swain, Shurlee 2002, Confronting Cruelty: Historical Perspectives on Child Protection in Australia, Melbourne University Press, Carlton.Spearritt, Peter 1981, ‘Sir Reginald Marcus Clark’. , Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, originally published 1981, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography, accessed online August 2019.Sunday Times, as cited.Swain, Shurlee 2008, 'Appeals' in eMelbourne, School of Historical and Philosophical Studies,Telstra 2019, Past, https://www.telstra.com.au, accessed online 5 August 2019.Weekly Times, as cited.
Related material link:
Names:
Topics:
Places:
Form/Genre:
Record types:
Research and reports
Record number:
1253783
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 105913 | 1 JPEG : 547 KB ; A4 | Single Item (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |