The Auditorium, later Metro Theatre, 167-173 Collins Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
Archives
Total copies: 1
Title:
The Auditorium, later Metro Theatre, 167-173 Collins Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 102074
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:
Period: Edwardian (exterior)Construction date: 1911-1913, 1934Architect: Nahum Barnett, 1911; G.N. Hollinshead 1934.ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER:.GRAEME BUTLER 1982-3, ROYAL AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS (VIC) 20TH CENTURY ARCHITECTURE SURVEY and 20th CENTURY BUILDINGS REGISTER.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORMSource 42 John and Phyllis Murphy Pty. Ltd. Jock Murphy, Historic Buildings Study of Part of the C.B.D.,Melbourne, Oct. 1976, for the Historic Buildings Preservation Council. Mayfair Theatre `Building of Interest'.LEWIS, M- AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURE INDEXRecord 74686 Barnet, N; Presbyterian Church Trust Melbourne VIC Concert Halls; Office Buildings; Shops Langford, Clement - 275 Bridge Rd Richmond 1911 11 1 2985, MCC registration no 2985 [Burchett Index]. Fee 8.10.0 concert hall, shops and offices Collins - 163/173Record 42989 Barnet, Nahum VIC Theatres, 1911-13 designed "Taits Concert Hall", Collins St., now the Metro Theatre. Errey "Vic. Arch. Ornament" p 272.NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)Punch Thursday 22 May 1913 - Page 28https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/176034742The Auditorium, Messrs. J. and N. Tait's praiseworthy venture, is a handsome addition to the Collins-street buildings, the artistic entrance—through pale green tiled columns—leading into a lofty wide entrance hall panelled in Shropshire tiling in warm majolica tints. Above this beautiful tiling are placed coloured plaques of the heads of noted musical composers. This picturesque approach leads to a beautiful all white interior, with crimson upholstering as a note of colour. The quaint double dome - like ceiling to the stage is modelled on the lines of the horn of a gramophone, and the orchestra are on raised seats behind the singers. The foyer leading off the balcony is a very handsome interior, with well - equipped dressing rooms. It, is an ideal hall for an entertainment of any kind, and Mr. Nahum Barnet may well feel proud of his £40,000 of architecture.We understand the hall is well suited for amateur theatricals and bazaars, but is not suitable for dancing, as the floor is so well graded. Already a Hive of industries are encompassed within its walls. There is a lady photographer, who has done beautiful work in Sydney. Two young .Melbourne girls have opened an open-air massage school, where the patients can take a sun-bath during treatment, and physical exercises are taught on the roof. Also, the Arts and Crafts have taken large rooms to display their beautiful work. The lighting is brilliant, and the ventilation is perfect, without even the suggestion of a draught. The atmosphere is artificially warmed for the winter, and in the summer will be cooled by the same process..Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954) Sat 24 Mar 1917 Page 9 THE SOCIAL CIRCLEMayoress AppealsMrs Nahum Barnet, Acting Mayoress of St. Kilda, is appealing for gifts for kiosks on Our Sailors' Day..The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954)Friday 27 April 1934 - Page 3https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/243253441MODERN THEATRE FOR CITYMetro Opens TonightFOR HOSPITALOn the site of the old Auditorium the Metro Theatre will be opened officially tonight by the Lord Mayor (Cr. H. Gengoult Smith) at a gala charity performance under the auspices of the Lord Mayor’s Fund. The proceeds will go to the Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital.THERE will be nothing except the location of the theatre to remind visitors to the Metro of the old Auditorium. Just 10 weeks ago the wreckers got to work and gutted the theatre completely. Only the walls and roof remained and even those are hidden now by decorations. The two balconies and the iron columns supporting them have been removed and replaced by one upper floor. Even the floor of the stalls did not escape the wreckers and it was regarded so as to give every member of the audience an uninterrupted view of the stage.The walls of the entrance lobby are I covered with a ribbon Queensland walnut veneer from floor to ceiling. The terrazzo floor paving is patterned in black and cream and from three fiat domes in the lobby ceiling hang lanterns of the French Empire— Louis XVI. period. This style of decoration has been employed throughout the whole theatre, and the furniture has been specially designed to harmonise with the rest of the fittings The tones are biscuits, buffs, fawns, tans and browns with ornaments picked out in gold bronze. The valances and side drops are crimson and gold and the draw curtain is of a dull gold shade.The seating accommodation is less than half of the biggest city theatres. There will be 975 seats in the stalls and 500 in the balcony. In the front section of the balcony there are 180 lounge chairs, the arms, backs and seats of which are padded with sponge rubber to give extra comfort. The main stair from the entrance lobby terminates at the mezzanine foyer which leads to the promenade, a large and comfortable lounge, 60 feet long with thickly carpeted floors and furnished with large and comfortable lounges and chairs. The soft lighting and restrained j decorations add to the charm of the promenade.Huge DomeThe principal lighting source for the theatre is an. elliptical dome. 50 feet long and. 30 feet wide, set in the new ceiling which is 12 feet lower than the old ceilings two smaller domes are set underneath the balcony to light the rear stalls. They will give an even diffused glow without spoiling the screening.The heating and ventilating system will provide excellent conditions and will maintain the temperature in winter and summer at an even 70 degrees. The projection machines are claimed to be the latest in Melbourne. They are of the wide range type and bum high intensity carbons which will give « the best light for projection purposes. The flat angle of 16 deg.. and a small picture should give good blacks and whites on a screen which measures 22 by 16 feet. A sound test, carried out on Monday, revealed that there was not a single dead spot in the house and there was good audibility from all seats. The orchestra of 10 musicians will be led by Mr Cecil Bois, formerly solo pianist under Henri Verbrugghen in the New South Wales State orchestra. Mr Bois has toured Australia giving recitals and in the Metro Theatre his orchestra will concentrate on more classical music than is played in other city theatres. Among the many innovations at the Metro will be the absence of advertising matter from the screen. Although cinema advertising has now reached a high standard of entertainment value, it is the policy of Metro-Goldwyn-Myer who are responsible for the conversion of the theatre, to exclude all advertising matter from the Metro screen.Men Behind JobThe architect for the Metro Theatre is Mr Charles N. Hollinshed, of 167 Collins Street. While in New York Mr Hollinshed worked in the office of Mr Thomas Lamb, the architect of the leading Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer theatres in America, and the Metro therefore embodies the latest in theatre design. Mr Hollinshed is now co-operating with Mr Albion Walkley in the plans for rebuilding His Majesty's Theatre.The consulting engineer is Mr Clive S. Steele, who superintended the installation of the giant 54-ton girders used in the construction of the new head office for the Bank of New South Wales in Collins Street.The master builder is Mr Ernest A Watts, of Temple Court. 422 Collins Street.Where Melba SangSt. Enoch's Church once stood on the site of the Metro Theatre and the Presbyterian Church had its, offices there before it moved across Collins Street to the Assembly Hall.The Auditorium Theatre was built by the Presbyterian Church In 1913 as an investment and was Immediately leased to J. and N. Tait Dame Clara Butt and her husband, Mr. Kennerley Rumford, sang there when the theatre was first opened, and since then Dame Nellie Melba's peerless, voice has been, heard from its stage. Kreisler and Zimballst have demonstrated their mastery with the violin in the theatre and Friedman and Moiseiwitsch have thrilled listeners at piano- fore recitals in the Auditorium. - One link between the old and the new theatre is Mr Bert Cowan, the manager of the Metro. The first Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer film released in Melbourne was shown at the Auditorium Theatre to 1925. The film was "The White Sister, and Mr Bert Cowan was then the manager of the Auditorium..Order Out of ChaosThe demolition and rebuilding of the Metro Theatre In 10 weeks was achieved by the greatest measure of co-operation between the master builder (Mr E. A. Watts) and the sub-contractors., Normally the sub-contractors wait until the wreckers have completed their task; and other sub-contractors have paved the way for their particular job but on this occasion time was truly the essence of the contract.-. The sub-contractors all got busy from the- start, and, without getting to each other's road, managed to complete their section of the big job well inside the specified time. It is an achievement of which every single workman employed cm, the Metro Theatre job may well be proud..VICTORIAN HERITAGE INVENTORYThis place is included on the Victorian Heritage Inventory, for its potential to contain historical archaeological remains associated with the settlement and growth of early Melbourne. Under the terms of the Heritage Act 2017 there is protection for all historical archaeology sites and objects in the state.Third land sale 1838, Block 6, Allotment 13, Thomas Forster. 1850 - building. 1855 - Presbyterian Assembly Hall.1888 - Presbyterian church, YWCA and offices.1905 - Assembly Hall..Allom Lovell & Associates. Denton Corker Marshall (Firm) Mayfair Collins (Firm) 2000 ` Former auditorium building (171 Collins Street, Melbourne ) conservation analysis and management plan and comment on the heritage issues associated with the proposed redevelopmentFormer auditorium building (171 Collins Street, Melbourne ) conservation analysis and management plan and comment on the heritage issues associated with the proposed redevelopment' See other related reports about conversion..Urban.com.au web site 2021Peter Maltezos wrote on Tue, 06/08/2013https://www.urban.com.au/forum/former-auditorium-building
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Research and reports
Record number:
1192723
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 102074 | 1 PDF : 1,645 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |