Shops and Residences, later Café Europe, Star of Australia Wine Saloon and Drossou's Greek restaurant, and Fannys (1960-) 241 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Graeme Butler and Associates01/07/1989
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Title:
Shops and Residences, later Café Europe, Star of Australia Wine Saloon and Drossou's Greek restaurant, and Fannys (1960-) 241 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
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Date of work:
01/07/1989
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 105696
Level of description:
Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
Type of materials:
Graphic materialsTextual material
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Series: Central City (BIF-CITY)
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UnrestrictedOpen access.
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UnrestrictedPlease contact City of Melbourne Libraries about obtaining permission to reproduce images.
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RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2022:__________________________________________________Period: 1850-1875DATE: 1872, 1924 (reduced to 2 storeys and plan united);ASSOCIATIONS: Benjamin, Samuel & Lawrence 1872; Gloria Staley;DESIGNER: Blackett Forster & Craig 1924;BUILDER: Solomon, L & S.GRAEME BUTLER 1989, LITTLE BOURKE STREET PRECINCT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceShops and Residences241-245 Lonsdale StreetHistoryBuilt: 1872-Lawrence and Samuel Benjamin applied mid-1872 to build three shops in Lonsdale Street East., judged to be at least two-storey by the fee charged 2An 1880 panorama shows three two-storey buildings with street verandahs on this site but Mahlstedt's 1887 and c1906 plans show three-storeys, not two as exists.Meanwhile the adjoining site (239) was redeveloped in 1891 by Samuel Benjamin to match the existing three or the whole row was refaced. No changes in rate valuation or room numbers are registered from 1885 to 1895 and today's rear view supports this, given the old gabled roofline .4Throughout this period Armstrong & Gallagher (Iater John Gallagher) surgical instrument makers, occupied 241-243 or 243.Around 1905, William Sullivan introduced tearooms to 241, followed by a long series of wine shops (241-3) run by Antonio Pattari, Nicholas Dargentas and George Gavalas & Co. (1920s-50s). Extensive alterations were made in 1924 to what was described as a 'cafe' followed by new shopfronts. 5 Blackett Forster & Craig were the architects for work carried out around this time.In the 1950s Hatcher's Laundry depot at 245 followed C. Adams' restaurant and Arthur Rex’s oyster saloon. 7D. Drossou's restaurant in the mid 1950s meant further additions to 241-3. 8 The nationally acclaimed Fanny's Restaurant replaced Drossou's in the 1960s, heralding more extensive works in 1961. 9First Benjamin's estate, then his trust, owned the building until the late 1930s followed by Gipps Pty Ltd .Meanwhile, 239 Lonsdale Street had separated from the trio before 1925.11 The removal of the upper level may have occurred c1915-1920.12DescriptionTwo-storey but once possibly matching 239 (?),the building can be visualized in that form given the matching string moulds, but both 239 and 241-5 have bracketed parapet entablatures belying any demolition theory. Like 239, the facade is Italian Renaissance, inspired with stylised elongated brackets. Arched openings are placed within an arcade-like frame with moulded terra-cotta architraves, keystone and impost mouldings.External IntegrityBricks painted also ground-Ievel shopfront replaced and central first Ievel opening intrusively altered. Cast-iron added to upper windows and canopies added over entry.StreetscapePart of a small 19th century commercial streetscape.SignificanceArchitecturally interesting, given the early dale, but altered externally.Historically, it has a long association with restaurant, cafe and wine shop uses, reflecting in some of the occupants the wave of southern European immigrants of the 1920s-30s. However the expression of these themes is not clearly evident..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM.GRAEME BUTLER 1989, LITTLE BOURKE STREET PRECINCT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM,Statement of Significance cites2 BA 4833. 22/5/723 Jackson & Walker. HBPC report cover image;4 RB1895.692: RBI885. 742-35 BAs 6486,68566 MM8W DP84667 D1915-19558 D1910-1955; BA38462 £4200 spent9 D1961, D1972. BA 3462710 RB1950.392. RB1935, 47811 RBI925,50412 RB1950, 392 and RBI921 528-'two floors",. but RB1915.561 cites 10 rooms fitting the previous 3-storey description over 241-243.LEWIS, M- AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURE INDEX:Record 75680; Solomon, L & S Melbourne VIC Shops Solomon, L & S 1872 05 22 4833.MAHLSTEDT FIRE INSURANCE PLAN SERIES STATE LIBRARY OF VICTORIASection 1, Block 7188870-74 Lonsdale St (245-241)70 L Burtston, bootshop; 72 J Gallagher, surgical; 74 Instrument maker etc-3 storey masonry, each 12/6' frontage1910241-245 3 storey masonry, with verandahs; common rear yard;1925Star of Australia Wine Saloon, 241-5, 2 storey combined in one plan, stair in 243.VICTORIAN HERITAGE INVENTORYFels, M., Lavelle, S. & Mider, D., Melbourne Central Activities District: Archaeological Management Plan (8 volumes), OCC. RPT, 1993, Report Number: 102,1866 - building on site. Lawrence & Samuel Benjamin applied 1872 to build 3 shops. 1880 Panorama shows 2 storey row with street verandahs.1888 & 1905 maps show 3 storeys.CITY OF MELBOURNE BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONShttps://www.ancestry.com.au/imageviewer/collections/60672/images/44777_349575-005181916-new shopfronts etc1924 July 6486 ₤1500 alterations to café..NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)1919The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954)Tuesday 11 February 1919 - Page 8https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/242660834MILITARY CLOSE TWO HOTELS; EMBARGO PLACED ON WINE CAFETwo hotels and a wine cafe were closed by order of the military authorities today until further notice. They were the Melbourne Club Hotel, Little Bourke and Exhibition streets, Swanton Family Hotel, Little Bourke and Swanston streets; and the Star of Australia Wine Cafe, Lonsdale Street …. Toulouza's wine saloon, Lonsdale street, which was closed on Friday, re-opened this morning.See https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/155227770 influenza scare1925adverts.Feb 1925Melbourne's New CafeCAFE EUROPELounge — WinesA LA CARTE — TABLE D'HOTELUNCHEON and DINNERNO BASEMENTOnly Best Australian Wines stocked215-245 LONSDALE STREET 3 Doors East of Swanston Street.andCAFE EUROPE241 and 245 LONSDALE ST.(Opp. Melb. Hospital),3 Doors from Swanston-street.'BEST MIDDAY LUNCH IN CITY, 2/-.DINNER, 4/-.Hilary McNevin, The Age, June 2 , 2010Melbourne’s restaurant world is mourning the loss of Gloria Staley (nee De Salis), who died on May 11, 2010 aged 90. When Staley’s restaurant, Fanny’s, opened in Lonsdale Street in 1960, it was one of Melbourne’s most innovative and stylish, and she was considered a trailblazer.Staley would devise the seasonal menu for her chef to cook — something you would not see today. Fanny’s closed in 1993. Son-in-law Malcolm Spry said she was a creative, theatrical woman ‘‘who made dining glamorous’’.Of the restaurant’s name, he said she thought it was one people would remember. Staley’s influence continued at Glo Glo’s in Toorak and Chez Oz in Sydney. She is survived by three children and six grandchildren.`The Age': 5/6/2010The Staleys bought Drossou's, a popular two-storey Greek restaurant in Lonsdale Street, inheriting a rare Australian wine licence that permitted them to serve wine with or without a 'bona fide meal' before the introduction of Victoria's first restaurant licence.Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/trendsetter-in-finest-dining-experience-20100604-xkql.html#ixzz3xHXpLbRzThe Sydney Morning Herald - Nov 14, 1979Fannys joins Relais Gourmand one of 100 international restaurants, also Glo Glos Toorak
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| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 105696 | 1 JPEG : 284 KB ; A4 | Single Item (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |