Drayton House, 373-375 Little Bourke, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Total copies: 1
Title:
Drayton House, 373-375 Little Bourke, Melbourne
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Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 105847
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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RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2022:__________________________________________________Style: ModernePeriod: Inter-WarNotable features: Tiles facade, round window, massingDATE: 1938-1939;ASSOCIATIONS: Donne, John estate (Equity Trustees); Slazenger Pty Ltd; Tyrer. A.. & J.;DESIGNERS: King, RM & MH.GRAEME BUTLER & ASSOCIATES 2011, CENTRAL CITY (HODDLE GRID) HERITAGE REVIEWStatement of SignificanceWhat is significant?Architects RM & MH King designed this four-storey reinforced concrete building in 1937 for the Equity Trustees Ltd., acting for the John Donne estate.John Donne, a gentleman, had died a wealthy man at his home Walton Villa in Barkly St, St Kilda in 1912. His executor was the bookseller and stamp dealer Charles B Donne and his shop (John Donne & Sons) was at Little Collins St, later at 300 Little Bourke St. The names Drayton and Donne are linked in history to two well known poets, Michael Drayton (1563-1631) and John Donne (1572-1631). This site was mentioned among others in Donne's will as part of CA5/20 North Melbourne parish on the corner of Little Bourke and Racing Club Lane, with one storey shops and horse stalls at the rear, all valued at ₤2445.Building permit applications were made in February for `erection of a building' estimated to cost ₤8000 and in March for a shopfront and a cantilevering awning. A typical floor had a concrete encased stair at each end, one with a lift and lobby adjoining and the other with toilets; both stairs had slim steel flat balustrading. The floor system was hollow terracotta block work, as permanent formwork. The ground level shopfront had showcases either side of a central recessed entry, with fully glazed timber framed doors.Moderne in style, the building has horizontal metal-framed glazed strips (reglazed) abutting the stairway vertical feature at the lane. this element has three vertically aligned port holes and a centrally placed vertical glazing strip terminating on three 100mm concrete fins at the parapet. The spandrels between the glazing strips are now rendered in a ruled tile pattern with supporting concrete 100mm deep slabs under each and over the top window strip as a shallow hood. The building permit application drawings showed the spandrels finished with 9x9' terracotta tiles. The remaining building facing the lane is plainly treated.Works have been done in 1965 to the shopfront and entry, $500,000 spent on upgrading the façade tiles and foyer in the late 1980s along with a later shop fit out.. The shopfront and awning are new and glass bricks have been added to the foyer lane wall. Various painted and three-dimensional signs have been added.Like milestone Modern designs such as the earlier Yule House, also set in a narrow City Street, Drayton House is a minority style within the Capital City Zone. The Kings were known for their Moderne style design work during the inter-war period with many significant domestic commissions that survive but also some commercial City work including 370 Little Bourke St opposite. This is a refacing of a Victorian-era warehouse in a Modern style (altered) and adjoins the existing John Donne & Son retail outlet at 372 Little Bourke Street.How is it significant?Drayton House is significant aesthetically to the Melbourne Capital City Zone.Why is it significant?Drayton House is aesthetically significant as a well executed Moderne Style design on a modest scale and at a discrete site. The architects, RM & MH King, are well known for this architectural style and this is a good example of the commercial side of their work which is not well represented elsewhere..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: page 3034 storey shop and offices , early modern, reinforced concrete, Not recommended to Historic Buildings Register;.City of Melbourne i-Heritage:Central Activities District Conservation Study - Graeme Butler, 1984 Building Identification Form (BIF): Notable features include unpainted cement render; supported shop verandah; tiled façade and round windows. Alterations / Recommendations: Ground level details and finishes new (inappropriate - reinstate original design or sympathetic alternative)..CITY OF MELBOURNE BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONSBuilding Permit Application1938 Feb, 19142, ₤8000, Erection of building: owner, designerMarch 19229 shopfrontetc..VICTORIAN HERITAGE INVENTORY H7822-1460https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/93751839 - buildings on Lot 5 may be on this site. 1866 - building on site.1888 and 1905 - one-storey building..LEWIS, M- AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURE INDEX:Records forR.M. & M.H. King.Description of proposed 3 storey factory in Hardware Lane, City.Age 23.5.1939 in RVIA Press Cuttings 1939R.M. & M.H. King.Description of new factory building being constructed in Hardware St., Melbourne.Illus. Perspective. Age 15.8.1939 in RVIA Press Cuttings 1939R.M. & M.H. King, architects, forconversion of 'Windsor House' (built in 1889) to offices & factories at 208-212 Lt. Lonsdale St., between Swanston & Elizabeth Sts. Article. Age 16.1.1934 in Royal Victorian Institute of Architects press cuttings (State Library of Victoria collection:), 1933-4R.M. & M.H. King, architectsfor newly commenced renovations to Parer's Crystal Cafe, 200 Bourke St., Article.Age 4.4.1933 in RVIA Press Cuttings 1933-4R.M. & M.H. King, architectsR.M. & M.H. King, architects,for remodelling shops at 372 Post Office Place (Lt Bourke st).Age 30.5.1933 in RVIA Press Cuttings 1933-4.NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)`The Argus':Wednesday 27 September 1916Probate of John Donne estate (d 22 /9/1912) ₤76,737`The Equity Trustees Company Limited and Mrs. E. C. Donne are applying for pro bate of the will of Charles Bulwer Donne, deceased, so far as relates to the property vested in the said C. B. Donne as the sole executor of the will of his father, the late John Donne, who died on September 22, 1912. The assets in the estate of John Donne are now sworn at £76,737, consisting of, real estate £31,700, personal estate £44,222, plus income accrued to the date of death of the former executor £815. Subject to the payment of various annuities, the estate is divisible amongst the grandchildren of John Donne living at the time of the death of the survivor of his children.'1938FINISHERSSample Hands, for high class frocks. Also Apprentice, start at once,A. & J. TYRER.Drayton House, 375 Post Office-place (Between Elizabeth and Queen sts.).1954 Firehttps://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/23446014POLICE believe thieves started the £31,000 fire which burnt out a clothing factory on the top floor of Drayton House, in Little Bourke st., city, yesterday morning.…..Cyberessays web site:This essay will go on to look at two poets, Michael Drayton, a 16th century poet and John Donne, a 17th century poet and examine….STATE LIBRARY OF VICTORIAState Library of Victoria collection: biog index`The Early Australian Bookseller' 1980: 34 on John Donne 1830-1912.PUBLIC RECORDS OFFICE OF VICTORIA (PROV)Donne probate:Series number: VPRS 28Consignment number: P0003Unit number: 356.DIRECTORIES OF VICTORIA, MELBOURNE-SANDS AND KENNY, SANDS & MCDOUGALL1906 Donne, Charles B (Donne, John & Sons) stamp dealer, 364 Lt. Collins st, 22 Barkly st, St K.1942373-375 Tyrer, A.. & J., mantle mnfrs1944-5, 1955 lists occupiers includes Slazenger Pty Ltd
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| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 105847 | 1 JPEG : 393 KB ; A4 | Single Item (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |