Schuhkraft & Co warehouse, later YMCA, and AHA House, 130-132 Flinders Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Total copies: 1
Title:
Schuhkraft & Co warehouse, later YMCA, and AHA House, 130-132 Flinders Street, Melbourne
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Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 104024
Level of description:
Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
Type of materials:
Graphic materialsTextual material
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Series: Central City (BIF-CITY)
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UnrestrictedOpen access.
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UnrestrictedPlease contact City of Melbourne Libraries about obtaining permission to reproduce images.
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RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2021:DATE: 1885-1886;ASSOCIATIONS: Schuhkraft & Co, Paperbag Manufacturer;DESIGNER: Ellerker, W H;BUILDER: Butler , Charles.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceHistoryWholesale stationers, paper merchants, printers, lithographers and paper bag makers, Suzannah Schuhkraft & Co engaged architect W H Ellerker to design this brick warehouse in 1885. The prolific builder, Charles Butler was the contractor. Butler also did alterations to Schuhkraft's old store, Flinders Street, for its new owners, Sargood Butler & Nichol, this time to Reed Henderson and Smart's direction.By c1910, the building had become the YMCA, watched over by secretary, William Gordon Sprigg, until the association moved to City Roadin 1925. It is likely that some alterations were done to prepare AHA Housefor its new use. However, in the World War Two era, the building was a vehicle for some of the newer products of the age, as the bulk store for Dunlop and offices for Latex Products, furniture makers.A spectacular and near intact contemporary design from Ellerker & Kilburnis the Queen Annestyled City of Melbourne Building, Elizabeth Street(1888). Other comparable works by Ellerker included Montgomerie's brewery, Jeffcott Street (1884), Victorian Permanent Fire Insurance Co offices Collins Street(1870) and, with Kilburn & Pitt, the important Federal Coffee Palaceand Victoria Finance Guarantee and Share Co., Bourke Street West: most of these have been demolished.DescriptionAn Italian High Renaissance revival warehouse design which appears to have been subtly altered during one of its conversions to new uses. Nevertheless it possesses the traditional graduation of opening size with increasing height of the façade, culminating with an arcade motif at the `attic' level. The fenestration is generally arched, the cement ornamentation segment-arched (pediments to the smooth-rusticated main pilasters) and each storey divided off with cement string moulds. At ground level, the large bordered glass panes infer alterations, presumably in the 1920s, as does the window joinery on the first two levels.External IntegrityRenovated in the 1920s at ground level but main pilaster divisions have been retained also window joinery on the upper levels appears altered, albeit sympathetically (photographic evidence needed). Signs added.StreetscapeA relatively early part of what is now a predominantly early 20th. century warehouse streetscape.SignificanceA sympathetically but only partly altered 19th. century warehouse with surviving successfully applied cement detail and ground level with a relatively high integrity also part of a late 19th. early 20th. Century streetscape..GRAEME BUTLER & ASSOCIATES 2011, CENTRAL CITY (HODDLE GRID) HERITAGE REVIEWStatement of SignificanceWhat is significant?Wholesale stationers, paper merchants, printers, lithographers and paper bag makers, Suzannah Schuhkraft & Co engaged architect W H Ellerker to design this brick warehouse in 1885. The prolific builder, Charles Butler was the contractor. The Herald & Weekly Times newspaper offices were to be located close by from the late 1890s as an aligned industry.In the Edwardian-era the Civil Service Co-operative Society of Victoria Ltd (managed by J Featherstone) had the building and by c1910, the building had become the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), watched over by secretary William Gordon Sprigg, until the association moved to City Road in 1925. The YMCA rose in Victoria during 1871, with strong religious emphasis in its workings with young offenders and opened Victoria’s first gymnasium 1878 at the YMCA’s Russell Street building. They helped establish the Salvation Army in Melbourne during the early 1880s.However the building returned to its warehouse role when acquired by Perdriau Rubber Co Ltd (car and bike tyre suppliers, formerly of 122 Flinders St) who commissioned architect Alec Eggleston in 1925 to convert it to a showroom and warehouse with drive-through access to the tyre changing department. To this end, the rear elevation was provided with folding driveway doors and ramp entry provided from Flinders Street on the east side of the building but little further change occurred to the street façade except for a new set of grand polished timber doors on the west side of the ground level and two large display windows adjoining.The Perdriau Rubber Company was established at Birkenhead Point, NSW, in 1904. In 1929 the Company merged with the Dunlop Rubber Company of Australia Ltd, forming the Dunlop Perdriau Co. Ltd. As a result of the merger the building was the bulk store for Dunlop and offices for Latex Products, furniture makers, in the World War Two era.A spectacular and near intact contemporary design from Ellerker & Kilburn (in association with others) is the Queen Anne styled City of Melbourne Building, Elizabeth Street (1888). Other comparable works by Ellerker included Montgomerie's brewery, Jeffcott Street (1884), Victorian Permanent Fire Insurance Co offices Collins Street (1870) and, with Kilburn & Pitt, the important Federal Coffee Palace and Victoria Finance Guarantee and Share Co., Bourke Street West: most of these have been demolished.Schuhkraft & Co warehouse is an Italian High Renaissance revival warehouse design which appears to have been subtly altered at ground floor during one of its conversions to new uses. The façade possesses a trabeation layer that includes stylised classical order super-posed piers or pilasters with increasing ornament with that of façade height. There is the traditional marking of each storey with a cement string mould and the graduation of window opening size, with increasing height, culminating with an arcade motif at the top or attic level. The fenestration is both arched and rectangular and the cement ornamentation includes segmentally-arched pediments applied to the smooth-rusticated main pilasters framing the façade. At ground level the large bordered glass panes infer alterations, presumably in the 1920's.However, the street elevation is a skilful combination or trabeation and arcuation, showing relatively greater sophistication than many classical revival elevations in the Capital City Zone. The street elevation relates to adjoining buildings to the west.How is it significant?Schuhkraft & Co warehouse, later AHA House, is significant historically and aesthetically to the Melbourne Capital City ZoneWhy is it significant?Schuhkraft & Co warehouse, later AHA House, is significant historically as a well-preserved late Victorian-era factory-warehouse and aesthetically for the successful combination of façade trabeation and arcuation with distinctive applied cement detail in the Italian Renaissance revival manner by a well known architect, W.H. Ellerker...City of Melbourne i-Heritage:Central Activities District Conservation Study - Graeme Butler, 1984 (MCC i-Heritage: Central Activities District Conservation Study 19/01/1987 ) Notable features include elaborate/high standard design of cement rendered surface.New glazing, upper (c1920) (sympathetic - reinstate original design). Sign type 'AHA', shopfronts reglazed, new doors (inappropriate - reinstate original design or sympathetic alternative)..CITY OF MELBOURNE BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONSBuilding Permit Application 20/5/1885, 1525 `warehouse etc.' provides builder, architect, ownerBuilding Permit Application 16/7/1925 7626 ₤5000 Perdriau Rubber Co Ltd.Mahlstedt fire insurance plan seriesMahlstedt & Gee 1888: shown with Schuhkraft as occupier.Mahlstedt (MUA) c1910-1923: plan 6: shows as 4 storey `Civil Service Cooperative Store' with entrances at either end of the façade and two window openings between. It had 2 lifts at the north end, facing Higson Lane..AUSTRALIAN DICTIONARY OF BIOGRAPHYPerdriauG. P. Walsh, 'Perdriau, Henry (1845 - 1935)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 11, Melbourne University Press, 1988, pp 200-201. cites: W. F. Morrison, The Aldine Centennial History of New South Wales, vol 2 (Syd, 1888); Cyclopedia of N.S.W. (Syd, 1907); R. J. Perdriau, Elusive Freedoms (priv print, Mass, USA, 1966); Votes and Proceedings (Legislative Assembly, New South Wales), 1897, 4; Government Gazette (New South Wales), 1904, 1, p 1877; Leichhardt Historical Journal, no 15, 1986, p 53; Sydney Morning Herald, 23 Mar 1920, 21 Mar 1923, 2 Jan, 22 Oct, 21 Dec 1931, 18 Nov 1935. More on the resources.NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)`The Argus':Thursday 5 March 1896THE LIFT ACCIDENT.DEATH OF GEORGE STOKES,The young man George Stokes, who sustained fracture of the skull by falling down the well of the lift at Schuhkraft's Paperbag Manufactory, Flinders street, on Monday, died in the Melbourne Hospital yesterday afternoon'`The Argus':Friday 4 October 1912`MOUSE IN A BAKER'S LOAF.BAKERY CONVICTED AND FINED.MELBOURNE, October 3.In the District Court today the inspector of the Board of Public Health proceeded against the Civil Service Co- operative Society of Victoria, Flinders street, on the charge that on or about May 135, at Yarra Bend, it sold, for the purpose of human consumption, bread which was unwholesome.'`The Argus':Friday 30 April 1926New address for Perdriau Tyres at 130 flinders st.VICTORIA HERITAGE DATABASE(Fred Schuhkraft House 52-54 Serpells RoadLocation 52-54 Serpells Road TEMPLESTOWE, Manningham CityHeritage Overlay Number HO153 ).LEWIS, M- AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURE INDEX:Competitive entry in design competition for Commercial Bank, Melbourne, illustrated.Illus. Elevation American Romanesque style - 'opening of a new style of architecture in this Colony'.Building Engineering and Mining Journal 26.4.1890, p 147Tenders invited for additional storey to I.O.O.F. Hall, Victoria Street.Argus 16.10.1876, p 3Ellerker & Kilburn Awarded silver medal for first prize architectural designs & drawings in connection with Melbourne Centennial Exhibition. Building Engineering and Mining Journal 2.11.1889, p 372Tenders wanted for new brewery, West Melbourne. (of King and Jephcott Sts., West Melbourne for Mr R. K. Montgomery.) Argus 7.1.1884, p 3Tender wanted for new Horticultural Hall, Melbourne.Argus 10.5.1883, p 3 (Victoria and its Metropolis ii, 516)W.H. Ellerker's works include the Carlton Hall, erected by Munro in 3 weeks so that he (Munro) could give election speeches in it. Victoria and its Metropolis ii, 516Tenders wanted for erection of Protestant Hall, Exhibition St., Melbourne. (qv)Argus 15.11.1881, p 3(`is now under construction. Designed in style most suited to hot climate, Italian. Lower windows are circular headed, relieved by pilasters between and insticated (sic) basement. Upper floor windows are square pediment headed, with trusses and enriched panels. They are divided by. Corinthian pilasters, the whole surmounted by large modillioned cornice and balustrade. At the corner of the 2 streets ,is a 70 foot high tower with a mansard roof, and square platform enriched by cast iron railing. Brief description of internal layout. Argus 31.1.1882, p 5; Foundation stone laid to new Protestant Hall on the site of the old hall at the corner of Stephen & Lt. Collins Sts. Argus 7.11.1882, p 4)Designed Federal Coffee Palace in association with William Pit.Victoria and its Metropolis, Il, 576Design of the Victorian Permanent Building Society's new offices, Collins St. East.Illus. perspective. Illustrated Australian News 10.7.1869 p 148with William Pitt, architects of 'Oxford Chambers' for the Victorian Finance Guarantee & Share Co., Bourke St. West, opposite Synagogue, 1888-9 (BEM, Vol. 3, 14:12.1889 p 486 (illus at rear)Ellerker & Kilburn awarded first prize for Stock Exchange.Victoria and its Metropolis il, 516Ellerker and Kilburn; and Smith and Johnson joint architects.Calling of tenders - erection of large block of buildings - cnr.Elizabeth and Little Collins Sts. for City of Melb. Building Society.Australasian Builder and Contractor's News 25.6.1887new state school at Carlton, No. 1252 in Lee Street, erected by Mr James Gillon of Fitzroy for about £5,200..Fraudhttp://www.qls.com.au/content/lwp/wcm/resources/file/eb6ee74c95221c8/family-law-27apr01.pdfThe meaning of fraud at Common law was settled by the House of Lords in Derry v. Peek (1889) 14 App Case 337 approved by the High Court of Australia in cases such as Civil Service Cooperative Society of Victoria Ltd. v. Blyth (1914) 17 CLR 601 at 609 per Barton J. and by the Full Court of the Family Court in Green v. Kuriatek (1982) FLC91-259. Fraud is established when it is proved that a false representation has been made..DIRECTORIES OF VICTORIA, MELBOURNE-SANDS AND KENNY, SANDS & MCDOUGALL, WISE POST OFFICE DIRECTORIESWise 1888-9 S Schuhkraft & Co wholesale stationers, paper merchants, printers, lithographs, paper bag makers, 91 Flinders St east.1893 132 Schuhkrafft, S.,& Co, paper bag mkrs, paper merchs1904-D1905: 130-132 Civil Service Co-operative Society of Victoria Ltd—Featherstone, J., manager;Burke, T. M., secretary 134-136 Fraser & Mountain, brass1910, D1915, D1920-1924 YMCA1930 no listing1935 Dunlop Perdriau bulk store1939 Dunlop Perdriau bulk store , Latex Products store1950 Dunlop Semtex Pty Ltd floor coverings..City of Melbourne Rate BookLatrobe Ward1888, 287 (91, 93) Schuhkraft & Co owner-occupier brick warehouse 32x84' ₤500 NAVRB1886, 305 (91, 93) Schuhkraft & Co owner-occupier brick warehouse 32x84' ₤400 NAV1885, 314 (91) owner Mrs Schuhkraft, brick house 6 rooms, 16x84' ₤80(93) brick house, 6 rooms, 16x84' ₤80.
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1210454
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 104024 | 1 PDF : 632 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |