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The Herald Weekly Times, 32-74 Flinders Street & 2-28 Exhibition Street, Melbourne

Butler, Graeme1985

Record details

Title:

Creator:

Butler, Graeme (Name details)

Date of work:

1985

Reference number:

BIF-CITY 111071

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:

RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2024:__________________________________________________DATE: 1923-29;ASSOCIATIONS: Herald & Weekly Times Ltd;DESIGNER: Tompkins, H W & F B;BUILDER: Langford,Clements (1922)Period: Inter-War____________________VICTORIA HERITAGE REGISTER H1147Statement of SignificanceLast Updated: 06/05/1999What is significant?The Herald and Weekly Times Building was constructed in stages between 1921 and 1928 to the designs of notable architects HW & FB Tompkins. The main building dominates the corner of Flinders and Exhibition Streets. The building is a five storey, concrete encased steel frame structure with a commercial, neo-classical facade of giant order Ionic pilasters on both major facades. Notable interior elements [extant at the time of registration but since removed with Heritage Victoria approval] include panelling and vacuum tube in the foyer area, the marble and terrazzo-lined front stairwell, the foyer, doors and panelled offices along the Flinders Street side. Notable external details include the bracketed lights at the base of each pier. The building was the home of the Herald, the Sun News-Pictorial, and the Herald-Sun. Other specialist publications have included the Sporting Globe, Home Beautiful and Who's Who. Victoria's leading country newspaper, the Weekly Times, was also based here. The Herald-Sun is a descendent of Victoria's oldest newspaper, the Port-Phillip Patriot, first published in 1840. In 1930 the steel radio tower was added for the radio station 3DB which broadcast from the building.How is it significant?The Herald and Weekly Times Building is of historical and architectural significance to the State of Victoria.Why is it significant?The Herald Building is historically significant for housing the publication of the Herald, the Sun News-Pictorial, and the Herald-Sun, which together have been the most popular Victorian newspapers since the 1920s. The building is also associated with the editorship and chairmanship of Sir Keith Murdoch, the most important newspaper figure in Australia in the inter-war period.The Herald Building is architecturally significant for its monumentality and neo classical styling, which combined with the roof-top neon signs and the twin radio towers, conveys an image of the power and dominance of the print media in the first half of the twentieth century. It is an early example of the commercial neo classical Beaux-Arts influenced idiom in Victoria._____________________________GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites CITY OF MELBOURNE BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS 3664,6536,7459,9313,10913___________________________VICTORIA HERITAGE DATABASENATIONAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA (VIC)Statement of SignificanceLast Updated: 28/05/2008The Herald Building is significant at a State level for both its architecural distinction and its strong association with some of Victoria's most important newspapers.Constructed in stages between 1921 and 1928 all to the designs of notable architects HW & FB Tompkins, the main building dominates the corner of Flinders and Exhibition Streets, and is a readily identifiable landmark in the Central Activities District. It is an unusually large, solid, three-dimensional, neo-classical composition, dominated by giant order Ionic piers on both major facades.It is an early example of this commercial neo-Classical/Beaux-Arts influenced idiom, preceded only by the Spencer Street Mail Exchange (1913) and the Colosseum (department store, Chapel Street, 1914) and followed by other notable examples such as the Nicholas Building (1926) and the Port Authority Building (1929).Notable interior elements include panelling and vacuum tube in the foyer area, the marble and terazzo-lined front stairwell, the foyer, doors and panelled offices along the Flinders Street side.The bracketed lights at the base of each pier are particularly unusual and significant. These, combined with the roof-top neon signs, the twin radio towers, and the solid block-like building, still convey an image of the power and dominance of the print media in an earlier age.The Herald Building is also significant for housing the publication of the Herald, the Sun News-Pictorial, and the Herald-Sun, which together have been the most popular newspapers since at least the 1920s. Other specialist publications have included the Sporting Globe, Home Beautiful and Who's Who. Victoria's leading country newspaper, the Weekly Times, is also based here. The Herald-Sun is a descendent of Victoria's oldest newspaper, the Port-Phillip Patriot, first published in 1840.The building is also associated with the editorship and directorship of (Sir) Keith Murdoch. Murdoch was the most important newspaper figure in Australia in the inter-war period, until his death in 1953. He controlled or had interest in numerous newspapers and radio stations across Australia, forging the first national media "empire". His politics were conservative (rather than liberal) and this view was reflected in the media he controlled. His notoriety largely stemmed from criticism and fear from the left side of politics of his possible influence, though despite his best efforts, his influence appears to have been minimal.Classified: 05/09/1994Revised: 01/04/1996___________________________Victorian Heritage Inventory D7822-1957Site Description5th land sale, Block 8, part of Allotments 1, 2, 3, 4; P Campbell, G Porter.1880 - sheds, garden, vacant ground.1888 - vacant.1905 - part vacant; 3 x 2 storey buildings; Printer, Box maker, Church, Deaf & Dumb Institute.Significance:The Herald and Weekly Times building is a five storey, concrete encased steel frame structure with a commercial, neo-classical facade featuring giant order Ionic pilasters. It was constructed in three stages from 1921 to 1928, to designs by the architectural firm of HW & FB Tompkins. The first stage of the building was constructed in 1921-23 by the contractors Clements Langford. In 1925-26 the building was extended and between 1927-28 it was further extended by the addition of five bays along the Flinders Street elevation. The contractors for the latter expansion were Thompson and Chalmers.The Herald and Weekly Times building is of historical, social and architectural significance to the state of Victoria.The Herald and Weekly Times building is important for reasons of its symbolic, cultural and social associations. The building saw the production of the most popular newspapers in Victoria, including the Herald, the Sun News-Pictorial, the Sporting Globe and the Weekly Times. The monumental scale of the building symbolises the enormous cultural influence that these newspapers enjoyed in the public imagination. The additions to the building, particularly those undertaken during the 1920s, demonstrate the rapid expansion of the Herald and Weekly Times which by 1927 possessed the largest newspaper plant in Australia. The important landmark status of the building is enhanced by its prominent site, the radio towers and the extensive signage. The 1930s radio towers have been an urban landmark for over 60 years and reflect the expansion of the Herald and Weekly Times Ltd into other news media, becoming Australia's first national media chain.The building is of considerable historical importance for its association from 1923 to 1993 with the most popular newspapers published in Victoria, the Herald, the Sun News-Pictorial, and from 1990 the Herald Sun which, as a direct descendant of the Port Phillip Herald of 1840, is Melbourne's longest running newspaper. The building also has significant historical associations with Sir Keith Murdoch who has been described by Geoffrey Serle in the Australian Dictionary of Biography as "an able journalist, a brilliant editor in his youth and a remarkable entrepreneur and organizer of his industry". Between 1921 and 1952 through the Herald and other Herald and Weekly Times publications, Murdoch exerted considerable influence over Australian cultural and political life and under him the company was arguably the most influential newspaper house of twentieth century Australia. The Herald and Weekly Times building is architecturally important as a rare and essentially intact example of a building type. This building and the Argus building are Victoria's only extant early twentieth century major newspaper publishing buildings and they remain as a reminder that a central city location was once essential for the production of a newspaper. The building is of architectural interest as a representative example of the work of the architectural firm HW & FB Tompkins whose other works include the Commercial Travellers' Association building (1913), the Myer Emporium (1913) and the London Stores (1925). The imposing neo-classical expression of the building reflects the commercial, social and political aspirations of the newspaper organisation._____________________VICTORIA HERITAGE REGISTERDate Started 1921;Date Finished 1928;Storeys 5;DescPRINTING OFFICE; 1921-3 builder was Clement Langford; 1927-8 builder was Thompson Chalmers. The Herald and Weekly Times Building was constructed in stages between 1921 and 1928 to the designs of notable architects HW & FB Tompkins. The main building dominates the corner of Flinders and Exhibition Streets. The building is a five storey, concrete encased steel frame structure with a commercial, neo-classical facade of giant order Ionic pilasters on both major facades. Notable interior elements include panelling and vacuum tube in the foyer area, the marble and terazzo-lined front stairwell, the foyer, doors and panelled offices along the Flinders Street side. Notable external details include the bracketed lights at the base of each pier. The building was the home of the Herald, the Sun News-Pictorial, and the Herald-Sun. Other specialist publications have included the Sporting Globe, Home Beautiful and Who's Who. Victoria's leading country newspaper, the Weekly Times, was also based here. The Herald-Sun is a descendent of Victoria's oldest newspaper, the Port-Phillip Patriot, first published in 1840. In 1930 the steel radio tower was added for the radio station 3DB which broadcast from the building.___________________________NEWSPAPERS:1922https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/246667533"HERALD" BUILDING SOLDThe proprietors of The Herald and Weekly Times Ltd., who were owners of the property bought yeserday by the State Government, recently disposed of the adjoining building, which they occupy in Flinders street. Possession will be given the purchasers, Victorian Newspapers Ltd., when "The Herald" has been housed in the new premises which have been erected at the corner of Collins place and Flinders street..1923https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/223857926NEW HOME OF "HERALD" AND "WEEKLY TIMES" HANDSOME AND COMMODIOUS BUILDINGOn Monday the "Herald" was is- sued from its new building at the corner of Flinders street and Collins place. The event is an important one in the history of the paper, and we trust that it will not be without its significance in the story of Melbourne's progress. The building, with its spacious accommodation for editorial, commercial and mechanical staffs, its great new plant, and its arrangements for the speediest possible despatch of publications, represents a very definite ambition on which directorate and staff have labored for several years. . This ambition has been to provide "The Herald," "The Weekly Times" and allied journals, with such a home, ample in size and perfect in mechanism, that at least insofar as the material aspects of the journals are concerned, they would have every opportunity to render maximum ser- vice to the public. We believe that as the people of Melbourne, and visitors from the country become familiarised with the great building, the immense printing presses, and the batteries of type-set- ting, stereotyping and picture-making machines, they will agree that the ideal has been not unworthily executed. It has certainly been earnestly sought. There has been no stint of effort and the hope that our services to the community may be destined to improve and to grow has been with the workers throughout. The building embodies the best experience expressed in the modern newspaper plants of the United States and Great Britain, and many adaptations and improvements devised and executed by the superintendents and their assistants. Full opportunity was given by the Directors (Hon. Theodore Fink, chairman; Hon. W. L. Baillieu, Mr James Moloney, Mr S. Fripp, Mr Fred H. Wilson, and Major-General R. E. Williams) to the servants of the company to produce a composite structure, one designed from basement to roof for the single purpose of news- paper production. The result is that the building should not be viewed as so much housing for machinery and furniture, but as one harmonious instrument, all parts of which co- operate to an end. In internal arrangement and mechanism, all sections are interlocked; there is unity of design throughout. Foresight and Capacity The directors desire to refer to the great services of a group of men whose foresight, capacity and zeal contributed greatly to the initiation and completion of the premises. To Mr A. G. Wise must be given the credit of urging the necessity of providing for the growth of "The Herald," "The Weekly Times," and our other journals, and of launching the project for the purchase of the site and the new erection. Mr Wise, as General Manager, made several visits to America and Europe on be half of the company, closely studying the most efficient newspaper buildings and equipment, to the end that the greatest efficiency should be secured. At his suggestion, the company's works manager, Sir Robert Nicholson, and the company's architect, Mr H. W. Tompkins (of Messrs H. W. and F. B. Tompkins) also went abroad. Mr Wise has exercised close supervision of the work of construction, and the lay-out of office and staff accommodation. All this has involved constant and difficult thought and labor. The directors desire also, in the most prominent way, to give credit to Mi' Robert Nicholson, who has worked incessantly, and with rare ability, on the great task of securing and installing the machinery and its intricate network of minor but vital accessories. Mr Nicholson stands amongst the foremost newspaper mechanical engineers of the world, and this is not his first experience in installing plants. It is however, the work of which he is proudest. He has regarded the construction as a great opportunity, such as any engineer would be delighted to get, and the completed building represents to him the consummation of a very long, arduous, but delightful task. Of Mr Nicholsons capacity it is only necessary to quote the testimony of the great printing firm of D. C. Thomson and Company,.1932 illust.https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/223854495.1929see https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/16598743.1932https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/222908805VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURAL COMPETITIONHerald and Weekly Times BuildingThe Melbourne Herald and Weekly Times is conducting an architectural competition for the remodelling of the front of its new city office, and has appointed the President of Royal Victorian Institute of Architects, Leighton Irwin, Architect H. W. Tompkins, and the Managing Director of the Company, Mr. K. Murdoch, a£ assessors in the Competition. The first prize will be 50 guineas, whilst there will be five prizes of 20 guineas each for the designs placed next in order. Entry for the competition closes on June 13 next. Conditions of the competition with photographs and measured drawings are available from the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects, 50 Collins Place, Melbourne.

Names:

City of MelbourneThe Herald (Melbourne, Vic.: 1840-1990)H W & F B Tompkins, 1893-?

Topics:

Central Activities District Conservation Study 1985Conservation studiesInterwar periodOffices1920-1929

Places:

Melbourne (Vic.)

Form/Genre:

Building Identification Forms (BIFs)

Record types:

Research and reports

Record number:

1266776