Presgrave Building, 273-279 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Total copies: 1
Title:
Presgrave Building, 273-279 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 105922
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:
RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2022:__________________________________________________Period: Inter-WarNotable features include: wrought iron lettering, facade and arcade entryDATE: 1935-6, 1937 added floor;ASSOCIATIONS: Howey Estate;DESIGNER: Marcus R Barlow.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM__________________________________________________VICTORIAN HERITAGE INVENTORYhttps://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/96481877 - three buildings, 3 storey, 2 x 1 storey & yards & sheds.1888 - same; Printer, Lampmaker, Bootmaker.1905 - 1 storey building & 2 x 2 storey building__________________________________________________The Block Precinct Precinct (36)Graded C3 included in Heritage Overlay area as contributory`Within this precinct may be found not only the heart of Victorian Melbourne's most fashionable retail area but also the beginnings of its "Chicago end" along Swanston Street. "Doing the Block", a term coined to describe the popular pastime amongst Melbourne's middle classes of promenading outside the plush retail and accessory stores, reached its height in the boom years of the 1880s. The tradition of arcaded shopping was borrowed from nearby Royal Arcade and became a marked feature of this precinct. Block Arcade (1891-93), Centreway Arcade (1913), Block Court (1930), Manchester Unity Arcade (1932), and the Century Arcade (1938-40), as well as the more recent Sportsgirl arcade, testify to the continued popularity of this form. The precinct contains a great number of significant and architecturally impressive buildings dating from the boom years of the nineteenth century through to the period immediately prior to the 1939-45 war. The Elizabeth Street end is dominated by the smaller buildings of the earlier period whereas along Swanston Street may be found the Manchester Unity Building, the Capitol Theatre and the Century Arcade, all based on precedents found in Chicago at the time, and all pushed to the maximum height limit of 132 feet that existed in Melbourne until the building of the CRA building in 1962.'__________________________________________________CONTEXT (WITH GJM HERITAGE) 2020, HODDLE GRID HERITAGE REVIEWPresgrave Building, 273-279 Little Collins Street, 1938 (Significant in HO502 The Block Precinct)A six-storey cement rendered office building with shops at street level and foyer. Designed by Marcus Barlow in the Moderne style and built in 1938. The upper floors were refurbished and converted to hotel accommodation in 2000.__________________________________________________NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)see https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11943428?searchTerm=%22Manchester%20Unity%22%20Swanston%20St%20Barlow#for Howey Estate history.The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Thu 16 Jan 1936 Page 16 LINKED WITH MELBOURNE'S EARLY HISTORY.https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11873677?searchTerm=%22Presgrave%20Building%22 image of HoweyTo be present at the opening of the Presgrave Building of the Howey Estate, Little Collins street, Captain J. E. P. Howey, accompanied by his wife and daughter, came from London. They entertained the tenants of the estate after the opening of the new building yesterday..History of Howey familySee https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205249200?searchTerm=%22Presgrave%20Building%22.The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954) Wed 13 Oct 1937 Page 15CITY BUILDING EXTENSION. HOWEY ESTATE PROPOSAL.New Floor for Presgrave Building. Work Is to commence next week upon the erection of an additional floor in Presgrave-building, at the rear of Howey-court, In Little Collins-street. Erected In 1935. Presgrave building is part of the Howey Estate, and at present has four floors. The representatives of Captain Howey m Australia, Messrs. Raynes Dickson. Kiddle and Brlggs solicitors, completed arrangements yesterday with Mr. Frank Findlay, a tenant of the building, who has a squash racquets court on the roof and a gymnasium, to have the new floor constructed. This will be occupied by a new modern squash racquets court. Special attention will be paid to the lighting and ventilation, and a large gallery will be installed. Separate showers, dressing rooms and lounges for woman players will be a feature of the remodelling. It is estimated that the new floor (which will be served by two lifts) will be finished early in the new year
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Research and reports
Record number:
1253993
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 105922 | 1 JPEG : 526 KB ; A4 | Single Item (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |