Malcolm Reid & Co. Ltd., part Empire Theatre, 151-163 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme01/01/1985
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The property was formerly the Empire Theatre and was purchased and renovated by the company in 1936.
Title:
Malcolm Reid & Co. Ltd., part Empire Theatre, 151-163 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
01/01/1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 101122
Level of description:
Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
Type of materials:
Graphic materials
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:
ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER:Style: ModernePeriod: Inter-WarMajor reconstruction: 1938-1939Notable Features: Terracotta facing to 151 is notable. Two buildings are visually relatedDESIGNERS: Oakley & ParkesNewspapers:`The Argus': (see pdf);The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Tue 11 Oct 1938 Page 8Extensive alterations and additions are being made by Malcolm Reid and Co Ltd to its building at 151-155 Bourke street to convert it into a modern furniture store. The property was formerly the Empire Theatre and was purchased by the company about two years ago. The total floor space of the store is being increased to 20 000 square feet by extending the ground floor basement and first floor over the full depth of the site and by adding a new second and third floor over the whole area The present front of the building will be demolished and the new facade will be faced with architectural terra cotta above the cantilever verandah. Provision is being made for floodlighting the building at night. The architects are Oakley and Parkes Bourke Street and the builder is Clements Langford Pty Ltd.Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 2016`Malcolm Donald Reid was born in Adelaide to John Harper Reid (c. 1829 – 25 September 1891) and Bridget Reid, née Carragher ( –1882) who married in 1852. John arrived in SA c. 1849, possibly aboard Competitor, October 1848. Bridget may have been one of two servants (with sister Ellen who married Edward Fowler in 1852) who are thought to have arrived on Mary Clarke in July 1849. He has been reported as receiving his education at Martin Allen's Port Adelaide Academy,[1] but this may be a confusion with McLaughlin's school of the same name in Dale Street.[2] His first job was as a clerk with D. & J. Fowler, then with a local builder, which gave him an insight into the timber business. When the discovery of silver at Broken Hill became known, Reid lost no time in establishing a timber business there, counting on the vast requirement for shoring timbers such a mine would require, as well as the sheds, businesses and houses that would soon be built. He later opened a furniture shop, presumably to cater for the influx of the young married couples settling in the town.He established a timber business on St. Vincent Street, Port Adelaide late in 1882, which with James Thomas Russell became Russell, Reid & Dickson. This company was dissolved in 1887 and Henry Emes taken on as partner, Emes retiring in December 1890.In 1892 he took over the premises previously operated by C. Segar at 148 Rundle Street as a furniture showroom, specialising in better-quality English and Australian-made furniture. The shop was later described as "next door to Foy & Gibson's".The business was reformed as Malcolm Reid & Co. Ltd. in 1911.They opened a store in Bourke Street, Melbourne in 1936.[3]Their store in King William Street was taken over in 1947 by a new home furnishing company, Reid's Ltd, of which Malcolm Reid & Co. Ltd. owned all ordinary shares. In 1950 a one-for-one issue of bonus shares was made to Malcolm Reid & Co. Ltd., realizing a substantial book profit.[4] In 1951 a new company, Malcolm Reid and Co. (Vic.) Pty. Ltd., was floated, and purchased the Victorian assets from Malcolm Reid & Co. Ltd.[5]'
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Record types:
Research and reports
Record number:
1179917
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 101122 | 1 PDF : 376 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |