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Unity Hall, Australian Railways Union building, 636-638 Bourke Street, Melbourne

Butler, Graeme1985

Record details

Title:

Creator:

Butler, Graeme (Name details)

Date of work:

1985

Reference number:

BIF-CITY 101169

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-BaroquePeriod: EdwardianConstruction date: 1916Notable features: 1. Stone façade ground level. 2. Leadlights.ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER:GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceHistoryIronically Unity Hall was built for the Australian Railways Union (Victorian branch) on the site of the 1860s Railway Hotel. A further parallel was that its architect's name, A.E.H. Carleton, had a definite similarity to that of the old hotel's owner, John Carlton. The builder was W.F. Holden of Northcote.Trade unionism had received an impetus on a national scale with the election of the Fisher Labor federal government (1910-13). National unions and national union issues were canvassed subsequently at an increasing rate. In the case of railways, the Victorian railway strike of 1903 addressed the anti-strike expectations of essential public services. When Unity Hall was built so too was the world's largest electrified suburban network under construction in Melbourne.Unity Hall was among the early substantial buildings designed for a single union. In following years it housed others such as the Australian Tramways Employees Union and the Food Preservers Union.DescriptionThree upper office levels and a hall and board room at ground level were the modest internal requirements of the union. However, the bold Neo-Baroque detailing of the facade, both in cement and rugged basalt construction at the ground level, is as much an expression of its working class origin as it is one phase of the style, differing from the eclectic Tomkins' Commercial Travellers Association design (1913), with a more plastic and exaggerated use of Baroque motifs. Like the Tomkins' Centreway Arcade design, Unity Hall commences with a dominant bracketed cornice moulding and progresses down through an arched attic-storey, over a deeply bracketed balcony and down two floors via a giant pilaster trabeation, to the ground or podium level. Exaggerated tripartite keystones are hallmarks of the style as are the deep consoles, swagged balustrading and the ox-bow arch over the entry. Related buildings such as the D.C. sub-stations and car sheds, associated with the Melbourne railway electrification and the Hawthorn - Auburn reconstructions all used an austere version of this style in degrees of detail, varying with the utility of the structure. The British Baroque revival and adaptation continued in parallel in buildings such as Norman Shaw's Piccadilly Hotel, London (1905 - 8) and the Stockport Town Hall (1904 - 8). An earlier design by Carleton at 285 - 7 La Trobe Street for H. Hearne and Co. (1912 - 13) shows the style in a far more subtle form as expressed by the parapet details and keystones.External IntegrityExternally near intact, except for an added shutter at the entrance.StreetscapeShares period detail, high integrity, siting and scale with the adjoining, mainly industrial buildings.SignificanceA boldly detailed and early design in the Neo-Baroque manner which is further distinguished by its stone ground level and its early date as purpose built for a national trade union..FURTHER REFERENCESGRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBIF cites Lawrie Wilson & Associates, 1977. Historic Buildings Preservation Council Report on CBD Block No 6 Dec 1977,p24;GRAEME BUTLER 1982-3, ROYAL AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS (VIC) 20TH CENTURY ARCHITECTURE SURVEY and 20th CENTURY BUILDINGS REGISTER see https://dynamic.architecture.com.au/i-cms_file?page=4048/VicRegister08xls.pdf, also RAIA 20th Century Architecture Register: citations 1984 (2017 Graeme Butler edition), https://issuu.com/graemebutler21/docs/20th_century_raia_citations_2017.VICTORIA HERITAGE DATABASENational Trust of Australia (Vic)What is significant?The building known as Unity Hall was the headquarters of the Australian Railways Union for over eighty years from 1916 - 1999. It contained union offices and a meeting hall. Designed by the architect A.E.H. Carleton, it is reputed to have been built with the assistance of voluntary labour. Located at the West end of Bourke Street, it is near to, and, has a close association with, the significant transport interchange of the Spencer Street Railway complex.Unity Hall is a narrow fronted, four storey building described as "Neo - Baroque" or small scale "Palazzo" in style. The facade of the building is in good and largely original condition with the exception of a heavy security shutter at the entrance and a broken projecting sign.The lettering on the facade on the ground floor level and upper storey balcony and the commemorative plaque are a significant connection to union activity in Australia.How is it Significant?Unity Hall, the former headquarters of the Australian Railways Union (Victorian Branch) and other unions, is of historical, social and architectural significance at a Regional level. It also forms part of an architecturally significant streetscape.Why is it Significant?Unity Hall was one of the earliest substantial buildings designed for a single union. It was a significant centre of the trade union movement and played an important role in the development and consolidation of the transport unions in Victoria. Meetings held within the hall were instrumental in achieving substantial improvements in the working conditions and wages of the railway workers and, subsequently, other related union members. Members were able to come to Unity Hall for both advice and assistance in lodging claims for injury or wrongful dismissal. During the 1950's classes in the English language were organised within the building to facilitate the assimilation of migrant workers.The historical value of the building is enhanced by its proximity to the major transport interchange of the Spencer Street Station and Railway Yards and other significant centres of communication such as the Mail Exchange building (1917). It is an integral part of the history of the Australian Railway Union (Victorian Branch) and the other unions who have operated from its offices.Architecturally the building contributes significantly to the varied and historical streetscape at the West end of Bourke Street. The facade of the building is also a notable example of a Baroque Revival style within the city.Classified: 19/06/2004.Victorian Heritage InventoryFels, M., Lavelle, S. & Mider, D., Melbourne Central Activities District: Archaeological Management Plan (8 volumes), OCC. RPT, 1993, Report Number: 102:1866 - building on site. 1880 - two-storey building. 1888 - two-storey building. 1905 - two-storey building, Railway Hotel..NEWSPAPERS (TROVE):Labor Call (Melbourne, Vic. : 1906 - 1953) Thu 28 Dec 1916 Page 8 Victorian Railways' UnionVictorian Railways' Union Official Opening of Unity Hall'To celebrate .the official opening of Unity Hall, the new headquarters of the Victorian Railways Union, a smoke night was held in the new building on Wednesday evening last. There was a large attendance of members and friends. The visitors included Messrs. F. Tudor and F. Anstey, M's.H.R., M. Blackburn and J. Lemmon, M's.L.A., W. Fraser (president T.H.C.), C. Bennett (P.L.C.), and representatives from many kindred organisations. …Mr. F. Hyett, in responding, paid a tribute to the contractors, Messrs. W. F. Holden and Sons; to the architect, Mr. A. Carleton, and -to Mr. Jack Holt, of the Carpenters' Union, for the manner in which they had carried out the work' in connection with the building. He also referred to the untiring efforts of Mr. J. Fogarty, the first president of the union, in bringing about the erection of the building. When the project was first thought of, there was little money, but a great deal of _,enthusiasm. Dealing with the question of wages boards for railwaymen, Mr. Hyett said the railway service had never been run as a benevolent institution or convalescent home. The men had had to fight every inch for the few privileges and concessions they had won. They had been putting forward the modest demand that the service should have something in the nature of an industrial tribunal. They had sought their ends by constitutional methods, but Parliament had again refused them. Men who suffered, grievances or an injustice had the right to demand their rights and to pursue that demand till they 9 got them. The right of the railwaymen was the right to refuse their labor under conditions that were objectionable. That issue was to be placed before the men for their decision. The question would be placed before the whole service. They were not going to allow anyone else to pick the time, but were going to pick it to suit their own requirements. While the cost of living had increased by about 30 per cent, in the last four or five years, the wages had practically remained stationary, except for a small addition to the minimum wage. The Government would give arbitration to the coal miners, and other organisations which militantly declared themselves, and refused to work till they got what they wanted, but they - would not give it to the railwaymen, because they were peaceful constitutionalists. They were going to act with the concerted support and consent of the Industrialists outside the railway service.

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City of Melbourne

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