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Melbourne Theosophical Society Building, 181-187 Collins Street, Melbourne

Butler, Graeme1985

Record details

Title:

Creator:

Butler, Graeme (Name details)

Date of work:

1985

Reference number:

BIF-CITY 102077

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:

Style: Neo-EgyptianPeriod: Inter-WarConstruction date: 1936-1937Notable features: 1. Stone facing. 2. Style rare (see 190 Bourke Street)Architects: Marsh & Michaelson.ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER:.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceHistoryInternational in its religious and philosophical pursuits, the Theosophical Society was founded by Colonel H.S. Olcott and H.P. Blavatsky, in New York, 1875. Four years later headquarters moved to India, as it remains. Olcott set up the Australasian section and founded several lodges during a visit in 1891: the national centre is in Sydney. Universal brotherhood, the integration of both ancient and recent religious concepts and the investigation of man's latent but unexplained powers are the society's main concerns.The architects were Marsh and Michaelson, the builders A.R.P. Crow and Sons P/L and the estimated cost was 39,650 pounds. Construction commenced in 1936 and after completion the ground- floor shop was used by Berkowitz Fine Furnitures, among others. Of the 5 levels, the Society occupied the first floor and the balance was leased as small offices. Melbourne City Council acquired the building from the Society in 1973, intending to incorporate the site in the proposed city square.DescriptionMarsh and Michaelson's contemporary designs resembled this building, adopting a similar symmetrical Moderne style, with the obligatory tripartite facade composition (see former Hawthorn Library, Burwood Road). Here, the upper facade was of Hawksbury River sandstone and the podium, green Dromana granite in contrast to the more contemporary face brick of the Hawthorn example.In detail, however the design may also have belonged to the theosophers. Egyptian papyrus capitals and columns set in a pylon-like opening are accompanied by attic window ornament of a similar persuasion and the circled Star of David is symbolic of the society's creed as is the sandstone facing and bronze joinery symbolic of ancient structures and cultures. Despite this theory Marsh and Michaelson's contemporary ANA Building, Elizabeth Street (qv), was also a Neo-Egyptian design.The shopfronts, below the stepped canopy, are similarly framed with bronze which lends a sobering effect to the excesses of retailing.External IntegrityGenerally original externally, except for window details.StreetscapeWith its giant order tripartite facade and eclecticism this building relates closely to the more ornate Regent Theatre whilst a similar facade composition, siting and scale links it with the streetscape to the east.SignificanceThe building has a long association with the international Theosophical Society and the expression of its ownership remains on the facade, in an Egyptian revival sub-style which is rare in Melbourne, albeit implanted on a Moderne styled base (see also Bank of NSW, Bourke Street; National Museum, Russell and Little Lonsdale Streets; and the Camberwell Masonic Hall). It is in unusually original condition for the CAD, including intact shopfronts..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites:GRAEME BUTLER 1982-3, ROYAL AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS (VIC) 20TH CENTURY ARCHITECTURE SURVEY and 20th CENTURY BUILDINGS REGISTER - see citations 1984 (2017 Graeme Butler edition), https://issuu.com/graemebutler21/docs/20th_century_raia_citations_2017.NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)The Horsham Times (Vic. : 1882 - 1954) Fri 10 Jul 1936 Page 10https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/74608156STAWELLCity Building Facade in Stawell Stone.….site of Queens Hall, steel framed, society offices on first floor, remaining leased. To begin January 1937.The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954)Thursday 2 July 1936 - Page 13https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/244753615NEW BUILDING FOR COLLINS STREET WILL COST £40,000Plans have been prepared for the erection by the Melbourne Lodge of the Theosophical Society, of a. five-storey building at 181-183 Collins Street, near the Regent Theatre, on the present site of the Queen's Hall, at a cost of approximately £40,000.The building, which Is Intended as a monument to the Society in Melbourne, is to be a steel-framed structure, with a handsome pillared facade in Stawell stone. It will have a frontage of 52ft 4 in., by depth of 104ft 10in. to. a right-of- way at the back.Work on the new building is to start at the beginning of January. - The ground floor and top storey' will be- occupied by Incley's Pty. Ltd., pre sent tenants of .the shop portion of the existing building. The Society will have its rooms, offices and a large lecture hall on the first floor, and the remaining floors will be let. Caretaker's quarters will-be erected on the flat roof.-The entire building is to be air-conditioned,- and a modern lift service will be Installed. With the erection of the new building,' Queen's Hall, which was reconstructed for the Society many years ago, will be demolished. The site upon which the new building will stand was purchased for the Theosophical Society by a public company formed among its followers in 1916, and was later transferred directly to the Lodge, through the generosity of Individual members. Offers as high as £55,000 have been received for the property, but have been refused. The property Is now vested in the Society's trustees, the chairman of whom is Mr Samuel Studd, who was President when, largely at the Instigation, and .through the generosity, of the late Sir Henry . Hodges, who was a member of the Society, the purchase was made. The architects for the new building are Messrs Marsh and Michaelson, of 80 Swanston. Street,- City.

Names:

City of MelbourneMarsh & Michaelson

Topics:

Central Activities District Conservation Study 1985Conservation studiesInterwar period1930-1939Stone buildingsTheatres and cinemasShopsReligious groups

Places:

Melbourne (Vic.)

Form/Genre:

Building Identification Forms (BIFs)

Record types:

Research and reports

Record number:

1192760