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Elizabeth Chambers, 25 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne

Butler, Graeme1985

Record details

Title:

Creator:

Butler, Graeme (Name details)

Date of work:

1985

Reference number:

BIF-CITY 103170

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: 1889ASSOCIATIONS: Barker, Mrs. Elizabeth Eliza wholesale and retail butcher; William Salway, architect; Martin & Peacock builders..ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER:.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of Significance.HistoryElizabeth E Barker's successful pursuit as a pork butcher was an uncommon one for her sex and for the period. She claimed a large clientele, serving pork patrons in Adelaide and Sydney and, since 1880, she had been appointed to the special post of pork purveyor to Her Majesty's representatives in the colony. She expanded her Elizabeth Street premises to four-storeys of shops and offices, in 1889-1890, aided by Elizabeth Street builders, Martin and Peacock, and the architectural skills of William Salway. Salway, it seems, had extended his commission from the new warehouseto the north (25) which he had designed for Mrs William Hordern in late 1888. Salway was also responsible for Dr Beaney's house (133-139 Collins Street), in the previous year, and the imposing Dr. Snowball's residence at the Victoria and Drummond Streets corner (1889) as well as many other commercial projects. Later occupiers included Wilson's India rubber Gutta Percha and Telegraph Works Co. Ltd. in the first 20 years of this century (the pork butcher business having moved to 25), a gramophone merchant in the 1930s and Law Somner, seedsmen in 1940.DescriptionDistinguished by its ornate stucco ornament, the facade rises through three levels of Italian Renaissance revival into a fourth crowned by a foliated Elizabethan gable. A pronounced cornice divides the two style sources but commonality of the profuse stucco detail unites the facade.External IntegrityA canopy and shopfront have been added.Streetscape:Adjoins an altered design by the same architect and relates to the neo- classic styling of Excelsior House on the south.SignificanceA skilfully and ornately ornamented classical revival façade, built during the property boom period of Melbourne's 19th century architecture also part of a streetscape..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites Keith and John Reid, CBD Study Area 7 Historic Buildings Preservation Council, 1976: p2011885 site owned by Mrs BarkerBuilt 1889 (2) owner-occupier Mrs Barker5 storey store with basement currently containing a ground floor shop with offices over.1896 rebuilt internally.Hyndman and Bates.Builder Mr. Parker (Refer Ray Tonkin).….Has value as an isolated building.Desirable for retention..LEWIS, M- AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURE INDEXRecord 75176 Salway, -; Barker, Mrs Melbourne VIC Office Buildings; Shops Martin & Peacock - 138 Elizabeth St 1889 05 14 3889 MCC registration no 3889 [Burchett Index]. Fee 7.0.0shops & offices.MCC i-Heritage:Central Activities District Conservation Study - Graeme Butler, 1984 Building Identification Form (BIF): see Graeme Butler rate search.NEWSPAPERS (TROVE).`The Argus': Saturday 31 July 1886THE CARLTON FEMALE REFUGE.By the departure of the bishop of Melbourne the committee had lost the valued services or Mrs Moorhouse, their president, and the vacancy had been filled by the appointment of Mrs Barker, who for 29 years had acted as a member of the committee Lady Loch, the patroness of the society, had paid a second visit to the home, and the committee were gratified to know that she was deeply interested in the welfare of the institution…').`The Argus' Monday 19 September 1887:`THE IMMIGRANTS' HOME.The weekly meeting of the committee of management of the Immigrants' Aid Society was held on Friday in the hospital division of the institution, St. Kilda road. Present Messrs, A. Woolley, H. Moore, J, Loutlan, W. Ievers, sen., and G. T. Johnson, who occupied the chair. The superintendent reported the state of the house to be as follows, vis:- Number remaining last week, 670 admitted since, 39 ; discharged, 33 ; died, 3 James Charlwood or Easenilen, Rd, native of Sydney ; James Henderson, 72, native of Edinburgh; and Thomas Nutley, 83, native of Wiltshire, England; still remaining inmates, 681. the average number of casual cases sheltered and supplied with supper and breakfast during the week was 177 males and 42 females. 170 dinners were granted to unemployed men during the week. The following donations were thankfully acknowledged :-Mrs. Barker, Elizabeth street, quantity pork pies,…'.Tuesday 14 February 1888 (see also Tuesday 18 September 1888, 16 April 1889, Monday 17 June 1889, Monday 22 July 1889 etc)`THE IMMIGRANTS' HOME….... Mrs. Barker, Elizabeth-Street, quantity of sausages.Friday 12 December 1890Notice of Elizabeth Eliza Barker estate .. by Trustees Executors agency.. purchase of good will and plant of business `so successfully carried on for the last 14 years by the late Mrs Barker..'.`The Argus' 19 Dec 1890:`Probate was granted to-day in respect of the will of Elizabeth Eliza Barker, of Elizabeth street, pork butcher. The property is valued at £22,755 realty, and £2093 personally.'.DIRECTORIES OF VICTORIA, MELBOURNE-SANDS AND KENNY, SANDS & MCDOUGALL1900 Elizabeth Chambers;Ground... John Mackenzie, pastry cook1st,2nd,3rd&4th.. Vacant1905- Elizabeth Chambers; 1st.. Langley & Co, importers & agents2nd.. Joseph King, paper ruler & bookbinderA.N. Scott, importer of music3rd&4th.. Carton Pierre Decorating Co…1910-1920 Elizabeth Chambers;India Rubber, Gutta Percha &Telegraph works Co LtdElizabeth Chambers;

Names:

City of Melbourne

Topics:

Central Activities District Conservation Study 1985Conservation studiesOffices1880-1889Mid-late Victorian period (1875-1900)

Places:

Melbourne (Vic.)

Form/Genre:

Building Identification Forms (BIFs)

Record types:

Research and reports

Record number:

1203957