Gothic Chambers (City Proprietary Company building), 418-420 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Designed by the eminent architect, Charles D'Ebro in his favoured Venetian Gothic manner, Gothic Chambers was one of the small number of large commercial designs to go Gothic instead of following the prevailing Italian Renaissance derivatives favoured for most city businesses. The building included a Bourke Street shop and three warehouses, with upper-level offices. The long occupation of saddler Alex Morrison on the ground floor recalls the massive and historic Kirks horse bazaar (established by James Bowie Kirk, late 1840s) that was once located next door and had set the occupancy patterns for the area since the gold rush.
Title:
Gothic Chambers (City Proprietary Company building), 418-420 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 101184
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:
Style: Gothic RevivalPeriod: VictorianConstruction date: 1890-1891.ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER:.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceHistoryRate books described this as the `Gothic Building' in early entries, also citing its six levels and office use. Itwas designed by arch-contemporary Gothicist, Charles D'Ebro (Wool Exchange, Collins Street) and owned by the City Proprietary Company, Ltd. The builder was H.W. McMullen and the permit description (1890) `shop and three warehouses.' The `shop' was kept by Alex Morrison, saddler, for many years to come, but was eventually shared in the late 1890s by the Everard Brothers (420), tea merchants, Little & Co. tailors and Robert Suffern, wine agent (420). Tenancies had blossomed in the next decade under the official title of Gothic Chambers (418A). Alfred Seidel, litho printers and the workshops of J.A. Newton & Co. Pty. Ltd. accompanied Morrison's saddlery. By 1920, L.W. Garrington and Greaves & Jefferies, manufacturers, had replaced the previous tenants on the second floor. Twenty years on, Murphy Luke & Co. solicitors, forged an unusual alliance with the ever-present saddler on the ground floor.DescriptionVenetian Gothic, like the Metropolitan Tramways Building, the Olderfleet (1891), the Rialto (1890), the Stock Exchange (1891) and (to a lesser extent) the Wool Exchange (1891), it was one of the small number of large commercial designs to go Gothic, instead of following the prevailing Italian Renaissance derivatives favoured for serious businesses. Terry & Oakden's Gothic banks had been an exception in the mid to late Victorian period but the emerging Medieval preoccupation in the 1890s was cut off abruptly by the financial crash of 1893.An exposed gabled roof (instead of hipped), a gabled parapet (instead of corniced parapet), face brickwork (instead of stucco) and pointed arches (instead of rectangular window openings) were the main contrasting elements in the design. Eclectic detail followed, with the parapet corbel table and arcade, the label moulds over windows and the Romanesque inspired frieze within the iron balustrade and on post moulding, all supporting the image shift away from the classical. It was, however, apparently done on a budget and compares more with the nearby Tramways Building (1890) than the richly detailed Olderfleet.External IntegrityShopfronts and canopy new, details altered.StreetscapeIn a mixed commercial streetscape with fenestration and eclectic detail as the visual link.SignificanceA competent if restrained design in a minority commercial style, which retains some notable detailing and finishes..GRAEME BUTLER & ASSOCIATES 2011, CENTRAL CITY (HODDLE GRID) HERITAGE REVIEWStatement of SignificanceWhat is significant?Designed by the eminent architect, Charles D'Ebro in his favoured Venetian Gothic manner, Gothic Chambers was one of the small number of large commercial designs to go Gothic instead of following the prevailing Italian Renaissance derivatives favoured for most city businesses. The building included a Bourke Street shop and three warehouses, with upper-level offices. The long occupation of saddler Alex Morrison on the ground floor recalls the massive and historic Kirks horse bazaar (established by James Bowie Kirk, late 1840s) that was once located next door and had set the occupancy patterns for the area since the gold rush.Other key examples of the style included the Metropolitan Tramways Building, the Olderfleet (1891), the Rialto (1890), the Stock Exchange (1891) and (to a lesser extent) the Wool Exchange (1891). Gothic Chambers was, however, constructed to a budget and compares more favourably with the nearby Tramways Building (1880) than the richly detailed and highly significant Olderfleet Building. Terry & Oakden's Gothic banks had been an exception in the mid to late Victorian period but the emerging Medieval or Queen Anne revival preoccupation in the 1890s was cut off abruptly by the financial crash of 1893.An exposed gabled roof (instead of hipped), a gabled parapet (instead of corniced parapet), face brickwork (instead of stucco) and pointed arches (instead of rectangular window openings) were the main contrasting elements in the Gothic Chambers design compared to the more typical classical revival street facades. Eclectic detail followed, with the parapet corbel table and arcade, the label-moulds over windows and the Romanesque inspired frieze within the iron balustrade (with iron sun flowers) and impost moulding, all supporting the stylistic shift away from classical revival architecture. The letters `CPC' (City Proprietary Company) are entwined on moulded cement shield at the top of an ecclesiastical window. A cantilever canopy has been added and new shopfronts but the framing ornamented pilasters at ground level remain.At the rear in Kirks Lane, the building presents a sheer red brick façade with surviving timber loading doors and a hoisting gantry at the top. Some of the openings have been sheeted over or bricked in but this elevation is surprisingly well-preserved.How is it significant?Gothic Chambers is significant historically and aesthetically to the Melbourne Capital City ZoneWhy is it significant?Gothic Chambers is significant aesthetically as a competent if restrained design in a minority Victorian-era commercial Gothic style, which retains some notable detailing and finishes. Its designer, Charles D'Ebro produced a number of significant Gothic or medieval character designs during his career with Gothic Chambers as one of the earliest.Historically it is one of the few well preserved late Victorian-era office buildings in the Capital City Zone to adopt a Gothic style for its façade and from the long association with saddler Alex Morrison on the ground floor recalls the massive and historic Kirks horse bazaar that was located next door....FURTHER REFERENCESKeith and John Reid, CBD Study Area 7 Historic Buildings Preservation Council, 1976: page 315 cites directories, built for Everard Tea Merchants, not recommended to Historic Buildings Register.MCC Building Permit Application (BA): 4333, 17/2/1890 -shop and 3 warehouses etc. City Property Company.Mahlstedt fire insurance plan seriesMahlstedt & Gee 1888: Block 13 future site west of Kirk's horse bazaarMahlstedt 1910-: Block 13: Gothic Chambers, 4 levels, next west to Kirk's horse bazaar: 4 and 3 storey warehouses at rear Kirks lane..National Trust of Australia (Vic),cites Central Activity District Heritage Shopfronts, CAD Shopfront Survey 2000: Graded B, cites this shopfront: Modern canopy, original metal columns, basalt plinth, modern timber windows and door (Graeme Butler note: since depleted further)Statement of SignificanceElements of the unusually large original nineteenth century window survive, with sympathetic 1970s timber detailing..eMelbourne:Andrew May, Bourke Street:`West of the post office, the street was renowned for the concentration of horse saleyards (such as Bear's and Kirk's Horse Bazaar), saddlers, whip factories, stock agents, carriage-builders and harness-makers. In the 1850s, the driving of stock in the street and the breaking in of horses gained this section the sobriquet 'Wild West'. The western section also hosted the offices and wool warehouses of Goldsbrough Mort and Dalgety, Selborne Chambers, the Bourke Street West Police Station, and St Augustine's Catholic Church. 'School of Historical StudiesDepartment of History, The University of MelbourneProduced by the School of Historical StudiesDepartment of History, The University of MelbournePublished July 2008.NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)`The Argus':Saturday 30 September 1911Ballieu Patterson and Sons Pty. Ltd., 375 Collins street.WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 4.At the Rooms, 375 Collins-street.At Twelve O'clock.MOST IMPORTANT TRUSTEES' REALISATION SALE,In the Estate of the Late ALFRED JOSEPH.Under Instructions from THE TRUSTEES, EXECUTORS, AND AGENCY CO. LTD, Melbourne,Messrs. Joseph Joseph and Charles Flemming, Trustees in the Estate of the late Alfred Joseph….(lots including the Keep Bros & Wood buildings, Shamrock Hotel, Bendigo, Gothic Buildings Melb)GOTHIC BUILDINGS.418-420 BOURKE-STREET,MELBOURNE.A Substantial Brick Building, containing on the ground floor two shops, occupied by Mr. A. Morrison, saddler, with three floors above tenanted by Mr. A. C. Siedel, printer, &c. and at the rear another Brick Building, of basement and four stories, occupied by Messrs. J. A. Newton and Co.THE LAND has a frontage of 26 FEET…to BOURKK-STREETby a depth varying- from (60ft, 7in. to 69ft 1in. back to a roadway altered the rear. The warehouse occupied by Messrs. Newton stands on land having 20ft. 1in. frontage to the said roadway by a depth of 44ft. 8in.The total rentals of the property are £376 per annum.'.Sands and McDougall and Wise directories of Melbourne and Victoria1893420 GOTHIC CHAMBERSVacant shopsFenlon, M. J., collar makerWise: 1897-8 Alex Morrison1900 Gothic Chambers; Alex Morrison, saddlerEverard Brothers, tea merchants.. 1st Floor Louis Kaufman, gen imptr & indenterHerman Gobersky, mfrs' agt & indenter1905Gothic Chambers; Alex Morrison, saddler… 3rd I Cohen artist art teacher etc1910Gothic Chambers; Alex Morrison, saddler418a 1st,2nd,3rd floor Alfred C.Seidel, lithographic printer418b J.A. Newton & Co. Pty Ltd1915Gothic Chambers; Alex Morrison, saddler Basement Victor Dullard, printer1st Floor The Parker Air Gas Co Pty Ltd; Peacock & Moore, furniture manufacturers2nd Floor Greaves & Jefferies, manufacturers; Z.W. Garrington & Sons, electrical engineers1920Gothic Chambers; Alex Morrison, saddler2nd Floor Greaves & Jefferies, manufacturers; Z.W. Garrington & Sons, electric engineers1924Gothic Chambers; Alex Morrison, saddler2nd Floor Edward Bridger, mfg electric engineerHy. Hyland, physical culture school1930Gothic Chambers; 418a F. Boyd, gymnasium418-20 Alex Morrison, saddler1935Gothic Chambers; 418a F. Boyd, gymnasium418-20 Alex Morrison, saddler1939Gothic Chambers; Alex Morrison, saddler1944 -45Gothic Chambers; Alex Morrison, saddler1950Gothic Chambers; Alex Morrison, saddler1955Gothic Chambers; Alex Morrison, saddler
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Research and reports
Record number:
1188938
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 101184 | 1 PDF : 686 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |