The Olderfleet, 473-477 Collins Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Total copies: 1
Title:
The Olderfleet, 473-477 Collins Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 102102
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: VictorianConstruction date: 1890 (see below)Notable features: Stone, ceramic facingArchitect: William Pitt;Builder: C. Wadey, of 275 Fitzroy St, Fitzroy.ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER:.VICTORIA HERITAGE REGISTER H0037What is significant?The Olderfleet Building of five storeys including the basement, and the retained front section of the building comprising the facade to Collins Street, returning to a depth of approximately 12 metres.History summaryThe Olderfleet Building was built in 1889-90 for the notable businessman P K McCaughan. The architect was William Pitt and the builder G Wadley. It was constructed during the building boom of the 1880s, which transformed this part of the city from one of small warehouses in close proximity to the wharves, to one of commercial and mercantile activity. In the 1890s, tenants in the Olderfleet Building included the Melbourne Woolbrokers Association and others associated with agricultural industries. The original complex included the extant facade plus a large warehouse section that stretched back to Flinders Lane, accessed by a pitched laneway. The building underwent few changes until it was redeveloped in the 1980s. In the 1970s the Olderfleet was the focus of a campaign by the National Trust for its retention, and of a new community heritage action movement. The Trust negotiated with the developers to keep the front portion of the building, and the whole of the rear wing was demolished in1974. The site as a whole was redeveloped in the mid-1980s.Description summaryThe Olderfleet Building is composed of five storeys including a basement. The facade, which is the most significant part of the building, is designed in the Venetian Gothic style, a style that was introduced in Melbourne during the 1870s. The Olderfleet facade is arranged as three bays, with a central fleche and clock tower with pinnacle.. The majority of construction is red brick, with cement dressings. The shafts of the ground floor piers are grey granite, with the columns above being of red granite.Internally the building has been retained to a depth of approximately 12 metres. Timber trusses have been retained on the top floor, though these have been concealed behind modern finishes.How is it significant?The Olderfleet building is of architectural and historical significance to the State of Victoria.Why is it significant?The Olderfleet building is historically significant for its associations with late nineteenth century mercantile development in Melbourne, with a particular focus on accommodating the wool and other agricultural industries. The building symbolises the commercial and financial power of Melbourne during the late 1880s. [Criterion A]The Olderfleet building is historically significant as a prominent work of noted architect William Pitt. It is one of three Pitt buildings located closely together in the west end of Collins Street that contribute to the distinctive Gothic streetscape, the others being the Rialto building and the former Stock Exchange. [Criterion A]The Olderfleet building is also historically significant for its association with the burgeoning heritage movement of the 1970s, in particular the campaign by the National Trust. The Olderfleet was an early focus of the Trust, and the campaigns to save it and the Gothic streetscape of Collins Street in part led to the introduction of the Victorian heritage legislation. [Criterion A]The Olderfleet building is architecturally significant as a clear expression of the Venetian Gothic style. The style was favoured by owners and architects as a deliberate evocation of the commercial power and prestige of the mercantile city of Venice. The style sought to reinforce the aspirations and confidence of businesses during the economic boom period of the late 1880s. The secular Gothic revival style contrasted strongly with the more academic and purist non-secular Gothic styles employed in churches of all denominations. [Criterion D].PERROTT, LYON, TIMLOCK AND KESA 1976, C.B.D. STUDY, CITY OF MELBOURNE CONSERVATION STUDY AREA TWO:2.12 Streetscape No. 2Includes -The Olderfleet Building 1891Record Chambers 1888New Zealand Insurance Co. Building 1888Winfield Building 1891The Rialto 1890-1The Adelaide Steamship Co. Building 1905-6Robbs Buildings 1885This streetscape must be the most popularly appreciated collection of buildings in Melbourne, particularly those buildings extending from the Rialto to the Olderfleet Building. This latter group of buildings represent the most intact and striking examples, collectively, of the late 'Boom Period' of 1880-90, in Melbourne. The styles vary from freely adapted Venetian Gothic, Elizabethan to the Classic but the unifying elements are their mutual scale and the richness of their decoration. These facades of buildings are on the State Register.The inclusion of the Steamship Buildings, Phosphate House and Robbs Buildings in the streetscape creates two other stylistic brackets of building; the early Boom and the post Boom, 'Company Headquarters' phase.a) The Steamship Building, in its unpainted form, had many similarities to its uphill neighbours; the use of brick as a decorative material and the accompaniment of stone and cement dressings, plus its scale and loose stylistic affiliations (the use of Elizabethan elements) make it an integral part of the streetscape.Another factor is that of the ground level treatment; care has been taken to align the first storey cornice with that of the Rialto, given that this meant a lofty business chamber inside. Subsequent storey cornices align with the Rialto's, as does the punctuation of window openings at each level. In short, the Architect (D'Ebro) took some pains to achieve a similarity to the Rialto, in general massing, if not a similarity in the decorative enrichment.b) Phosphate House, however, is not such an immediate inclusion in the streetscape; there is a similarity of scale but the Gothic verticality of the facade marks a complete change from the Classic storey divisions and 'horizontal emphasis of the other buildings. These vertical ribs terminate, at least, at a horizontal 'cornice' which has been designed to correspond with that of the Steamship Building.However, at ground level, the consequence of the building being purely a headquarters of the 1930's is seen immediately. There is no show window or Business Chambers and indeed the line of the building's podium is thus much lower than its neighbour. b) The building is thus not an integral part of the Streetscape but it does contribute just a little more than just by its scale;- some gesture has been made via architectural detail, as described above, plus the obverse factor, i.e._ the bland foil it gives to the rich detail beside it. It is a well designed building and, as such, does not offend in any way. c) Robbs Building completes the Boom Period collection. This massive classical facade is a very suitable corner building. In scale, it relates across Collins Street, to Aberdeen House and across King Street, to the former New Zealand Load Building (now Security House). Its decoration and parapet line correspond to its late Boom associates, up the hill; the gap presently in between them could be filled by a set-back tower building without destruction of the common parapet line.The presence of this building and those on three corners mentioned constitute an Environmental Area; albeit this area is busy King Street..HERITAGE BRANCH, MINISTRY FOR PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT 1987 CITY OF MELBOURNE CENTRAL CITY NOTABLE BUILDINGS CITATIONSOnly the front sections of these buildings remain and they have been incorporated into a single office development. The Olderfleet Building was constructed in 1889-90 for Patrick McCaughan to a design by William Pitt (as also the Rialto). It is a unique and extravagant example of Pitt's commercial gothic design. Record Chambers was built for the printers, McCarron Bird & Co in 1887 to a design by JAB Koch. The "Boom" classical design incorporated a vehicular entrance at the ground floor (which remains) for deliveries. The South Australian Insurance Building was constructed as the company's offices in 1888 to a design by Oakden Addison and Kemp and is another example of commercial gothic architecture of the Boom period. This group (including the adjacent Winfield and Rialto) of Boom period warehouses and offices is unique in Australia in expressing the wealth of Melbourne's commercial development in the late 19th century..NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/196976230The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954)Thursday 2 October 1890 - Page 6THE OLDERFLEET.The somewhat extensive office accommodation of Melbourne has just received an import ant addition by the completion of a largo building in Collins-Street, to which has been given the name of "The Olderfleet" The building, which has been erected by Mr P R M’Caughan (PK M'Caughan) , contains very extensive offices and storage rooms, two basements, running from Collins-street through to Flinders-lane, being provided below the ground floor, which is fire proof. Both basements and a large portion have been taken by the Harbor Trust commissioners. There are over 30 offices on each floor, all receiving light from areas specially provided ; and each office is handsomely and completely fitted up and will be connected with the Telephone Exchange. . Ample lavatory accommodation is also provided, and staircases and lifts are situated at each end of the corridor. Owing to the character of architecture adopted, which appears to be a combination of early English and Venetian Gothic styles, the shops and offices facing Collins-street are extremely well lighted. The archway through which the entrance hall is reached is a good specimen of the arch moulding used during what is known as the transitionary period of the Middle Ages. The facade is ornamented with clusters of slender red and grey granite columns, and these, in harmony with the treatment of the windows, give to building a light and pleasant appearance. Tuck pointing has been effectively used in the whole front. The edifice is surmounted by a clock tower, which reaches a height of 118 feet, and is richly decorated, in the same stylo as the facade.The architect of the Olderfleet was Mr. Wm. Pitt, of Collins-street, and the contractor was Mr. C. Wadey. The time occupied in its erection was slightly over 12 months..National Trust of Australia (Vic)Olderfleet Building - Facade. The flamboyance of the facade, yet carefully controlled design, is a particularly evocative statement of late 1880s boom style commercial building in the City of Melbourne.Classified: 04/03/1971Group Classification: Comprising Olderfleet Building, Record Chambers, South Australian Insurance Building, Winfield House and Rialto Building, Steamships Building.
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Record number:
1194849
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 102102 | 1 PDF : 1,353 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |