Higson's Building, 125-127 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Total copies: 1
Title:
Higson's Building, 125-127 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 103926
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 2021:Period: EdwardianConstruction date: 1912-1913;ASSOCIATIONS: Higson, John & SonsDESIGNERS: Billing Peck & KemterIMAGE: https://flic.kr/p/2meMnM6.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceHistoryEstablished in 1885, John Higson and Sons made harness, collars, trunks, portmanteaux, travelling bags, taggings and all descriptions of leather goods, particularly saddles. They also provided tents and tarpaulins, whip thongs and laces, fishing lines and cricketing materials. In short, they serviced the pursuits of a vigorous outdoors existence. In return, they purchased beeswax, horsehair and skins, giving the `highest prices'. The highest acclamation they had received to-date was the Gold Medal, gained at a Geelong exhibition in 1888.This was their new warehouse, built to the design of Billing, Peck and Kemter who, with their own stock and station agent connections did their share for the pastoral population in the architectural field. Higsons remained as the major occupier for many years, sharing the building with the clothing manufacturers and milliners, more typical of the lane.DescriptionRomanesque revival (see Fontevrault Abbey ambulatory) in style, the elevation follows an established warehouse formula with its giant arcade, attic arcade level and foliated column capitals. Bayed and bellied windows and a distinctive segment arch trio at ground level combine with its overall high integrity to make this one of the most successful examples of the style, despite its relatively late date. Of note are the unusual brackets supporting the applied piers, at the sides of the elevations and the trellis pattern to the window spandrels.IntegrityGenerally externally original.StreetscapeAdjoins a building of similar scale, detail and fenestration pattern.SignificanceOf the tall-arched warehouse facades in Victoria, this is among the best preserved and successfully designed..GRAEME BUTLER & ASSOCIATES 2011, CENTRAL CITY (HODDLE GRID) HERITAGE REVIEWStatement of SignificanceWhat is significant?Established in 1885, John Higson and Sons made harness, collars, trunks, portmanteaux, travelling bags, taggings and all descriptions of leather goods, particularly saddles. They also provided tents and tarpaulins, whip thongs and laces, fishing lines and cricketing materials. In short, they serviced the pursuits of a vigorous outdoors existence. In return, they purchased beeswax, horsehair and skins, giving the `highest prices'. The highest acclamation they had received to- date was the Gold Medal, gained at a Geelong exhibition in 1888.This was their new warehouse, built to the design of Billing, Peck andKemter who, with their own stock and station agent connections (via Harry Peck) did their share for the pastoral population in the architectural field. Billing, Peck and Kemter designed this five-storey warehouse with basement in 1912 for the firm whose original premises were at 129-131 Flinders Lane. Higsons remained as the major occupier for many years, sharing the building with the clothing manufacturers and milliners, more typical of the lane, such as Alley Brothers.American Romanesque revival in style, the elevation follows an established warehouse formula with its giant arcade, attic arcade level and foliated column capitals. Bayed and bellied windows and a distinctive segment arch trio at ground level combine with its overall high integrity to make this one of the most successful examples of the style, despite its relatively late date. Of note are the unusual brackets supporting the applied piers, at the sides of the elevations and the trellis pattern to the window spandrels.Although a late example of this style introduced to Melbourne by the 1890s, this building incorporates the main stylistic elements in a strongly individual manner and is significantly intact externally.The Flinders Lane facade is divided into three bays and features a giant order arcade over four storeys with a unifying attic level above divided into a run of smaller arcading. A heavily toothed and moulded cement rendered cornice caps the top of the building. At ground level the entrance doorway is emphasised by a distinctive segment arch, and flanked on either side by windows also headed by segment arches The first and second floors of the facade feature two-storey high oriel windows to the side bays only, separated by trellis-patterned, cement rendered panels. The windows to the central bay are separated by plain cement rendered panels The third storey features arched windows highlighted by cement rendered mouldings The capitals to the main piers are foliated, and applied piers to either side of the Flinders Lane facade are supported just below first floor level by plain curved bracketsAlthough constructed on a relatively narrow site, the corner position enabled the architects to give the building greater prominence by extending the detailing of the principle facade to the first bay of the building's Higson Lane frontage. The facade thus wraps around the corner but unlike the Metcalfe Barnard warehouse at 147-149 Flinders Lane, on the corner of Russell Street. the rest of the side elevation is of plain unrendered brick with no decoration since it only faces a minor lane.How is it significant?Higson Building is significant historically and aesthetically to the Melbourne Capital City ZoneWhy is it significant?Higson Building is architecturally significant as among the best preserved and most successfully designed of the American-derived Romanesque Revival style tall-arched warehouse facades in Victoria.Significantly Intact externally the building contributes individually to the streetscape through its strongly modelled facade and the extension of the detailing of the main facade to one bay of the side elevation The Higson Building also contributes strongly to the general precinct, particularly in Flinders Lane where such factory warehouses are still prominent.Historically the building is closely associated with the Higson firm which pioneered this part of commercial Melbourne and won renown and prosperity in their field as well as the long association with the clothing trade which helped form the early history of Flinders Lane..Central City Heritage Study Review 1993: appendix 4:`Statement of SignificanceThe Higson Building 125-127 Flinders Lane was designed by Billing Peck and Kemter as a warehouse for J Higson & Sons and was constructed in 1912. The building is of regional significance as one of the best examples of American-derived Romanesque Revival style warehouses in Melbourne. Although a late example, this building incorporates the main elements of the style in a successfully individual manner. Significantly Intact externally the building contributes individually to the streetscape through its strongly modelled facade and the extension of the detailing of the main facade to one bay of the side elevation The Higson Building also contributes significantly to the general precinct, particularly in Flinders Lane where such warehouses were once prominent.'`History & Description:In 1912 the architectural firm Billing, Peck and Kemter designed this five-storey warehouse with basement at 125-127 Flinders Lane fw the firm J Higson and Sons, whose original premises were at 129-131 Flinders Lane Predominantly manufacturers of leather and sporting goods, J Higson & Sons moved across Higson Lane to the Higson Building, as their new premises was called, on the opposite corner of Flinders and Higson Lanes sometime late in 1912 They remained the major occupier for many years, sharing the building with various tenants from clothing and millinery trades 1Constructed of steel columns and girders and clad in red brick with cement render detailing. the front elevation to the warehouse was designed in the American-derived Romanesque Revival style Its appearance thus exhibited what was by now an established approach to the exterior design of warehouses in Melbourne and particularly in Flinders Lane Although a late example of this style. introduced to Melbourne by the early 1890s 2 this building incorporates the main stylistic elements in a strongly individual manner and is significantly intact externally 3The Flinders Lane facade is divided into three bays and features a giant order arcade over four storeys with a unifying attic level above divided into a run of smaller arcading. A heavily toothed and moulded cement rendered cornice caps the top of the building. At ground level the entrance doorway is emphasised by a distinctive segment arch, and flanked on either side by windows also headed by segment arches The first and second floors of the facade feature two-storey high oriel windows to the side bays only, separated by trellis-patterned, cement rendered panels. The windows to the central bay are separated by plain cement rendered panels The third storey features arched windows highlighted by cement rendered mouldings The capitals to the main piers are foliated, and applied piers to either side of the Flinders Lane facade are supported just below first floor level by plain curved bracketsAlthough constructed on a relatively narrow site, the corner position enabled the architects to give the building greater prominence by extending the detailing of the principle facade to the first bay of the building's Higson Lane frontage. The facade thus wraps around the corner but unlike the Metcalfe Barnard warehouse at 147-149 Flinders Lane, on the corner of Russell Street. the rest of the side elevation is of plain unrendered brick with no decoration since it only faces a minor lane.'Footnotes:`1. MCC Records Notice of Intent to Build No 3490 lodged 22 July 1912, MCC Valuation Books. Latrobe WardSands and McDougall Post office Directories (sic)2 Myra Dickman Orth. 'The Influence ot the 'American Romanesque in Australia'. in Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians March 1975 pp 3-183 Mahlstedt Plan 1924. No 6'..RAWORTH, B 2002. REVIEW OF HERITAGE OVERLAY LISTINGS IN THE CBDfor the City of MelbourneHistory and DescriptionIn 1912 the architectural firm Billing, Peck and Kemter designed this five-storey warehouse with basement at 125-127 Flinders Lane for the firm J. Higson and Sons, whose original premises were at 129-131 Flinders Lane. Predominantly manufacturers of leather and sporting goods, J. Higson & Sons moved across Higson Lane to the Higson Building, as their new premises was called, on the opposite corner of Flinders and Higson Lanes, sometime late in 1912. They remained the major occupiers for many years, sharing the building with various tenants from clothing and millinery trades.Constructed of steel columns and girders and clad in red brick with cement render detailing, the front elevation to the warehouse was designed in the American-derived Romanesque Revival style. Its appearance thus exhibited what was by now an established approach to the exterior design of warehouses in Melbourne and particularly in Flinders Lane. Although a relatively late example of this style, introduced to Melbourne by the early 1890s, this building incorporates the main stylistic elements in a strongly individual manner and is significantly intact externally2.The Flinders Lane facade is divided into three bays and features a giant order arcade over four storeys with a unifying attic level above divided into a run of smaller arcading. A heavily toothed and moulded cement rendered cornice caps the top of the building. At ground level the entrance doorway is emphasised by a distinctive segment arch, and flanked on either side by windows also headed by segment arches. The first and second floors of the facade feature two-storey high oriel windows to the side bays only, separated by trellis-patterned, cement rendered panels. The windows to the central bay are separated by plain cement rendered panels. The third storey features arched windows highlighted by cement rendered mouldings. The capitals to the main piers are foliated, and applied piers to either side of the Flinders Lane facade are supported just below first floor level by plain curved brackets.Although constructed on a relatively narrow site, the corner position enabled the architects to give the building greater prominence by extending the detailing of the principle facade to the first hay of the building's Higson Lane frontage. The facade thus wraps around the corner but unlike the Metcalfe Barnard warehouse at 147-149 Flinders Lane, on the corner of Russell Street, the rest of the side elevation is of plain unrendered brick with no decoration since it only faces a minor lane.Although some minor modifications to the ground floor windows have taken place, the building in generally intact to its original state and is in good condition.Statement of SignificanceThe Higson Building, 125-127 Flinders Lane was designed by Billing, Peck and Kemter as a warehouse for J Higson & Sons and was constructed in 1912. The building is of local significance as one of the best examples of American-derived Romanesque Revival style warehouses in Melbourne. A relatively late example, this building incorporates the main elements of the style in a successful and individual manner. Significantly intact externally, the building contributes individually to the streetscape through its strongly modelled facade and the extension of the detailing of the main facade to one bay of the side elevation. The Higson Building also contributes significantly to the general precinct, particularly in Flinders Lane where such warehouses were once prominent..LEWIS, M- AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURE INDEXBurchett Index: MCC Building Permit Application: 1912, 3470;SEE ALSO VPRO Building Permit Application 24/12/1914 5351 brick warehouse, Higson lane, for Herbert Higson. ₤3/3/-.NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)`The Argus':Saturday 8 February 1913For lease City Factory Floor, new premises, exceptional light..100 hands Higson buildings, 127 Flinders lane.Wednesday 24 October 1923`FIRE IN FLINDERS LANE.It was stated yesterday that a fire occurred on the second floor of a building in Flinders lane, owned und occupied by Messrs. J. Higson and Sons. The fire, which was noticed about 9 o'clock, was on the third floor, in the rooms of Messrs. Alley Bros., who are tenants of Messrs. J. Higson and Sons.'.DIRECTORIES OF VICTORIA, MELBOURNE-SANDS AND KENNY, SANDS & MCDOUGALL1920 Higson Building:ground Higson, J & Sons saddlery ironmonger maufact.1st Higson, J & Sons factory, Alley Bros. costume manufacts.2ns-3rd Alley Bros. costume manufacts4th Reeve FC & Co P/L blouse manufacts.1930Higson, J & Sons saddlery ironmonger maufact.AB Law & Son wholesale millinersKennedy, David tailors trimmingsKitchen, DL Clothing Co P/L manufact1944-5 Higson Building:Higson, J & Sons saddlery ironmonger maufact.Kitchen, DL Clothing Co P/L manufactClothing Manufacturers
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| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 103926 | 1 PDF : 848 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |