Askew House, 364-372 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Total copies: 1
Title:
Askew House, 364-372 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 105742
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.
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RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2022:__________________________________________________Style: ModernePeriod: Inter-WarDATE: 1937;ASSOCIATIONS: O & J Askew;DESIGNER: Twentyman and Askew;BUILDER: Hansen and Yuncken.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceAskew House364-372 Lonsdale Street1937-38HistoryThe old architectural firm, Twentyman & Askew designed this speculative office block for G & J Askew in 1936; the engineers were John A Laing and N H Mussen and the builders, Hansen & Yuncken. Wunderlich P/L made theterra-cotta facade in their Sunshine works.Early tenants included the Tattersalls Club and branch of the Bank of NewSouth Wales on the ground floor; Whitcombe & Tombs P/L publishers andbooksellers; John Sands P/L showroom and a bevy of hardware merchants(probably drawing trade from Mitchell House, next door) which includedMoor & Pizzey and Harold J Boer.DescriptionUtilitarian and almost Modern (rather than Moderne) in concept, Askew House displays none of the stylish pastiche of Mitchell House next door, and hence lacks the predictable combination of vertical stair-cum-lift element and horizontal spandrels to be found in many contemporary multi-storey commercial buildings; (Le., Jensen House, Swanston Street). Thedecorative streamline ribs on the spandrels are still there, but otherwisethe metal-framed windows, terra-cotta faced dividing piers and austereground-level entrance is a more functionalist solution than the much lauded'(and more stylish) Australia Hotel, Collins Street.External IntegrityGenerally original, except for added signs.StreetscapeComplements Mitchell House in finish, scale and style.SignificanceAlthough at first appearing to be austere and devoid of style, it is thesevery factors which label the building 'decidedly Functionalist (perhaps bydefault) and, as that, at a relatively early date it also performs acontributory role in a contemporary commercial streetscape..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites source 82, page 53.YUNCKEN FREEMAN ARCHITECTS P/L 1976.. HISTORIC BUILDINGS PRESERVATION COUNCIL MELBOURNE CBD STUDY AREA 5 (source 82)ASKEW HOUSE 364 -372 LONSDALE STREET1937 TWENTYMAN AND ASKEWHANSEN AND YUNCKENOFFICESREINFORCED CONCRETE, 6 STOREYSEXTERIOR ORIGINAL, SOME MINOR MODIFICATIONS TO GROUND FLOOR.SITE FORMERLY RESIDENTIALIMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO LONSDALE STREET, NORTH SIDE ELEVATION.Recommendation Registration not recommended.G. MITCHELL HOUSE/ST. FRANCIS' CHURCH STREETSCAPEThis streetscape is essentially a juxtaposition of two highly contrastingenvironmental areas focusing on the Lonsdale Street, Elizabeth St.junction. These are characterised respectively by Michell House andAskew House in Lonsdale St., and St. Francis' Church and two storeyterraced shops in Elizabeth St. Although this juxtaposition detractsfrom the visual integrity of each area, both represent important environmentaland architectural milestones in the historic development of thecity and are in a sense magnified by this very juxtaposition.a) Mitchell House/Askew House AreaThese two six storey buildings represent important, though hardly outstanding examples of the early modernist design movement of the late30's and remain largely in their original condition. Mitchell House, incorporates a glossary of architectural detailing, fixtures and lettering characteristic of the period, as well as being an early example of compositesteel-plated concrete frame construction although it reflects important influences it shows little conviction or sensitivity. Unlike St. Francis'Church and the older terraced shops north on Elizabeth Street. These buildings relate well and in welcome contrast to the scale of more intensivecommercial development south of Lonsdale Street, and represent a watershedof the main CBD retail commercial area. Mitchell House was consideredfor registration but as its retention would preclude the possibility ofmore appropriate development of this important corner in the future ithas not been recommended..CONTEXT (WITH GJM HERITAGE) 2020, HODDLE GRID HERITAGE REVIEWNominatedIdentified in a previous heritage review (Central Activities District Conservation Study, 1985, Central City Heritage Review, 1993)Date of construction: 1937Explanation for exclusion:Substantially altered.Low integrity.Low architectural quality.Theme is represented by other examples already on Heritage Overlay..NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)1937The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957)Friday 12 February 1937 - Page 11https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11968222£20,000 CONTRACT LET FOR NEW BUILDING IN CITYA contract has been let for the erection of a large building at No. 360 to 372 Lonsdale street, on the north side, near and west of Elizabeth street, at a cost of more than £20,000. The building will be of reinforced concrete, and will ultimately have six floors. The first section will be carried up to four floors. Although the building will have a frontage of 56ft. 10in. to Lonsdale street, it will appear longer, because the modern horizontal treatment has been adopted for the facade.Colour will be introduced into the front of the building by the use of terra-cotta facing. The upper floors have been designed for manufacturers and warehouse- men, and shops and showrooms will occupy the ground floor.Askew House, as the new building will be named, is being erected for Messrs. O. and J. Askew. It will replace one of the oldest blocks of buildings in the city. In the main portion of the property John Andrew opened a drapery store in 1852 on his arrival from London with a shipment of softgoods. He purchased the property in 1869, and it has been held by his family since he died.The architects for the work are Messrs. Twentyman and Askew, of Bourke street, and the builders are Hansen and Yuncken Pty. Ltd., of Little Collins street.The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Thu 19 Aug 1937 Page 12 New and Proposed … illust.https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11085783The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954)Friday 2 July 1937 - Page 1https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/244550460Record City Building In ProgressBuilding contracts for about £1 million are now being carried out within the city area — a record for many years. In addition to the Jobs now In hand, plans prepared for work on new buildings to begin during the new financial year, provide for near ly treble that amount, This covers only the bigger city contracts, and does not take into account factory expansion in industrial areas, or large blocks of flats in residential being spent. In spite of possible reaction due to the increase in the basic wage, an<f the rise in costs of building material, pre sent indications are that the 1929 building valuations, now taken as an index of normal trade activity, will be equalled, if not exceeded, during 1937-8. On commercial buildings in the city in progress or about to begin, more than £600,000 will be spent. The list embraces:—Mutual Life and-Citizen's building at White's corner,. Collins Street (approx.).. £150,000 Provident Life Assurance co., Queen Street £70,000 Trustees, Executors and Agency Co., Collins Street £60,000 Victoria House, Queen Street £45,000 Theosophical Society, Collins Street £40,000 Manton's new store, Little Bourke Street . £85,000 Askew House, Lonsdale Street £20,000 A. F.' Kent and Co., Flinders Lane .. £25,000 W. and G. Dean Pty. Ltd., Little Collins Street .. £45,000 Lane's Motors Extensions, Exhibition Street.. . — Davies, Coop and Co. Ltd., Cardigan Street . . £35,000 Peninsula House, Collins Street £12,000 Rose's new store, Bourke Street £11,000 Younghusband Ltd., King Street — Rue de la Paix, Collins Street — Bank of New South Wales, Collins Street (cr. Alfred Place) — — E. S. and A. Branch Bank, Spencer Street — Peacock Smith, Flinders Street —Educational WorksAbout £1.1/4 million has been allocated for hospital expansion during the year. Tenders are to be called next month for the new chemistry school at the University, and other big educational works will absorb many thousands of pounds.The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954)Tuesday 14 September 1937 - Page 13https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206726309Horizontal Lines.Work is almost completed on the new Askew House, 364-372 Lonsdale-street, and it is a decided acquisition to that part of the city. The building is of six stories, and is in a modern style that combines pleasing appearance with utility and efficient lighting. The five upper stories (which face southward) are completely fronted in glass, broken only by the wall lines and horizontal bands of cream cement and black tiling at the floor levels.The architects, Messrs. Twentyman and Askew, have planned a distinctive frontage, and the work is being carried out by Messrs. Hansen and Yuncken.
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1251660
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 105742 | 1 PDF : 827 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |