Remove from your active Pick list Save for later

G.J. Coles Store, 299-307 Bourke Street, Melbourne

Butler, Graeme01/01/1985

Scope and contents

The first major Neo- Gothic commercial design in Victoria, a distinctive and near intact early terracotta facade and possessing intact and notable interiors.

Record details

Title:

G.J. Coles Store, 299-307 Bourke Street, Melbourne

Creator:

Butler, Graeme (Name details)

Date of work:

01/01/1985

Reference number:

BIF-CITY 101141

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:Style: Neo-GothicPeriod: Inter-WarConstruction Dates" 1928, 1938, 1939 - 1940Notable features: Terracotta facing. Cafeteria and ground level plaster ornaments and fittingsGRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceHistoryAt 1900 this site accommodated Miss Angel a confectioner, Thomas Clarkson a watchmaker, restaurateur James Rubira and E.W. Cole's famous book arcade. As one Cole family business waned another Coles enterprise thrived in its place. G J Coles had already commenced in Bourke Street, at number 327-329 (Deva House,1925) when E.W. Cole's book arcade closed three years later.G.J. Coles and Company's favourite architect, Harry A. Norris, aided by contractor, E.A. Watts, replaced two-thirds of these tenants with the six- storey eastern wing which commenced late in 1928 with a budget of over 132,000 pounds. A three storey western extension began in 1938 and the Little Collins Street facade a year later. Together they were to cost over 72,000 pounds. Cockram & Sons were the builders.Building magazine found the ornate terracotta facade `a.. particularly attractive and decorative shade of mauve...' terming the building style `...modern commercial Gothic'. The Aztec art of the cafeteria's tiled dadoes also impressed this contemporary writer.Not content with the aesthetic accolades he received, the architect also claimed technical triumphs. His design of the `subveyor' conveyor-belt dish-washing system was Melbourne's first. For the physically fit Coles had also provided, on the top floor, what they thought to be Australia's finest privately owned gymnasium. It was also a new idea of staff working environment affecting staff productivity. Norris had toured the west coast of America for his ideas, particularly southern California which he declared to be the `home of cafeterias'.DescriptionThis design preceded others, like the Manchester Unity and Shell Corner buildings (1932) in their use of a stylised or neo-Gothic style. It is likely, Norris received his inspiration from America from schemes such as Raymond Hood's Chicago Tribune Building (1923-5) but it was the so-called European Art Deco or decorative and eclectic architecture, espoused at the Paris 1925 exposition, which had excited American designers.It was Gothic in the perpendicular sense, with terracotta- clad ribbing defining window strips and spandrels dividing each strip into window openings. These were pseudo- structural elements, as well as window dividers. Bartizan-like projections which oversailed the parapet underscored the Gothic buttress references and metal-framed windows achieved the lightness of modern tracery.Stylised ornament at the parapet and podium spandrels departed from direct Gothic references, opting for the geometricised designs synonymous with `Art Deco'. One design weakness, however, is the 1938 extension which destroys the original design's symmetry and highlights the contrast between the ribbed facade and the deeply-set arches which support it. It is probable that a further extension, to the east, was envisaged to alleviate this problem, in the sequential manner of the Myer development.Internally, the streamlined fibrous plaster ceilings and wall facings of the main retail floor are probably from 1938-9 whilst the chevron friezes and panelling on the cafeteria ceiling appear from the first stage. The mosaic floors, tiled dadoes, with their references to Mexican and Aztec art, and prism-like light fittings also survive from this stage.External IntegrityShopfronts and the street canopy appear new (c1938) but do not affect, too adversely, the surviving 1928 design.StreetscapeIsolated but it relates to its company predecessor, Deva House, the former Diamond House, Myer Store, the PublicBenefit Bootery and, across Bourke Street, Buckley and Nunn's Men's Store.SignificanceThe first major Neo- Gothic commercial design in Victoria, a distinctive and near intact early terracotta facade and possessing intact and notable interiors.FUTHER REFERENCESNEWSPAPERS:The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954) Thu 10 Jan 1929 Page 12NEW CITY STORE.Eight-Story Building for Bourke- street. A notable addition to Melbourne's architectural features will be a new eight-story store to be erected on the site of Cole's Book-arcade, Bourke-street, which was some time ago sold to Messrs. G. J. Coles and Co. The building will have a front- age of 40 feet 6 inches to Bourke-street and a depth of 314 feet to Little Collins street. Six floors will be erected at first provision to be made for the addition at a later date of the additional two floors to bring the building up to the maximum height permitted, 132 feet. The building will have a front of pleasing design, and will be finished in terra cotta. Particular attention has been paid to the ventilation system, and approximately £10,000 will be spent on this one item alone. A complete change of air throughout the whole building will be made every six minutes. Among the modern conveniences which will be provided will be an up-to- date cafeteria, occupying the whole of the first floor; a gymnasium for the use of the staff, an efficient heating system, and dining rooms for the staff. It is expected that Messrs. Coles and Co. will be able to take possession of the ground floor in September next. It is estimated that the building will cost £200 000. The architect is Mr. H. A. Norris, Swanston-street.

Names:

City of Melbourne

Topics: