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State Savings Bank, 31-33 Bourke Street, Melbourne

Butler, Graeme01/01/1985

Scope and contents

Typically for D'Ebro, the elevation is an Elizabethan revival, with high gabled parapet, bartizans with pepper-pot tops and rectilinear fenestration.

Record details

Title:

State Savings Bank, 31-33 Bourke Street, Melbourne

Creator:

Butler, Graeme (Name details)

Date of work:

01/01/1985

Reference number:

BIF-CITY 101107

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 BY GRAEME BUTLER:Period: EdwardianGraeme Butler 1985 Melbourne Central Activities District Conservation StudyStatement of SignificanceHistoryFrom its construction date (1906), this building has been a State Savings Bank (later State Bank) and residence. Built for the State Savings Bank Commissioners by William Machin, to the design of Charles D'Ebro, it was D'Ebro's second recorded design for the bank and one of four known (Northcote 1905, Caulfield East 1912, Oakleigh 1913). E. Harridge was an early caretaker at the premises and evidently the manager chose to live elsewhere. As with the other shops in the block, no change of the height or materials occurred with the erection of the new bank. Its location was on the site of a boot shop and picture framer but next to a post office, as at least one mark of an official precinct. Later, the bank was to use upper levels of theadjoining post office as an extension to their own office space.DescriptionTypically for D'Ebro, the elevation is an Elizabethan revival, with high gabled parapet, bartizans with pepper-pot tops and rectilinear fenestration. It is restrained by comparison with 23-29 Bourke Street, but similar in general character to D'Ebro's notable Gollin Building in Bourke Street West.External IntegrityThe ground-level has been rebuilt, the bricks painted and a cantilever verandah erected.StreetscapeContributes to a commercial streetscape inspired by the Medieval period of architecture.SignificanceAltered at ground-level, but a successful upper-level design which contributes to a similarly styled streetscape. As a public building, it has been known and frequented by comparatively more of the population than other similarly located commercial premises (internal expression now limited) and provides a minor precinct with the former post office to the west.FURTHER REFERENCESLewis, M- Australian Architecture Index73902 Arhitect: D'Ebro, C Owner: State Savings Bank Commissioners Melbourne VIC Banks Machin, W - 5 Airlie Ave Armadale 1906 08 6 153- MCC registration no 153 [Burchett Index]. Fee 3.10.0banking premises Bourke - 31/33 -NewspapersBendigo Advertiser (Vic.: 1855 - 1918) Fri 19 Mar 1909 Page 5SAVINGS BANK ROBBERY.To-day Mr. Walter Astley, teller at the Bourke-street branch of the Savings Bank, attended at the City Court and had a warrant issued for the arrest of "a man unknown" on a charge of stealing £2,3 of the moneys of the Savings Bank Commissioners. Mr. Astley was shown a photograph of a criminal at the Detective Office, and stated that it very much resembled the man he saw in the bank yesterday lying across the counter helping himself to the money in the till. The robbery occurred about the time that the St. Patrick procession was passing the "bank, but it was not reported at the Detective Office until after 5 o'clock in the evening. "When the thief ran away he dropped his hat, arid Constable Salts picked it up. It is expected that the thief will shortly be arrested, as a good description of him has been given by Sir. Astley to the detectives.

Names:

City of Melbourne

Topics:

Central Activities District Conservation Study 1985Conservation studiesFederation/Edwardian styleBanks

Places:

Melbourne (Vic.)

Form/Genre:

Building Identification Forms (BIFs)

Record types:

Research and reports

Record number:

1179836