State School 307 (Queensberry Street), later Melbourne College of Graphic Arts, 615 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne
Butler, Graeme18 Jan 1985
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Title:
State School 307 (Queensberry Street), later Melbourne College of Graphic Arts, 615 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne
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Date of work:
18 Jan 1985
Reference number:
BIF-NORTH 107929
Level of description:
Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
Type of materials:
Graphic materialsTextual material
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UnrestrictedOpen access.
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UnrestrictedPlease contact City of Melbourne Libraries about obtaining permission to reproduce images.
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GRAEME BUTLER 1983, CONSERVATION STUDY FOR THE CITY OF MELBOURNE OF NORTH AND WEST MELBOURNEGrading as at 1985 : APeriod: Mid Victorian (1882)Grantee/Reserve: Presbyterian Church Reserve 1876History- The original iron school on this site, or more likely on Elm Street, was erected by the Presbyterian Church, following their first 1856 Chetwynd Street school, as the North Melbourne Grammar School. In 1877, the Education Department acquired a part of the church reserve and this new building, which was planned to accommodate 640 children, was completed by Robert Wright, in 1882: the cost was £5400.From 1894 until 1907, this school was used as an annexe of the Errol Street State School (North Melbourne Primary School), serving as a teacher training establishment. [Vision and Realisation Vol 3 p 29-30] Later aspects of the school’s history included use as a Sustenance Branch by the Department of Labor, then by the Melbourne Technical College for defence training and by 1950 as the Melbourne Printing Trades School.Alterations were carried out by W Bolger in 1921-22, connected with a kindergarten pavilion erected nearby and by J Taylor in 1923-24 when the stepped floors were removed from classrooms, toilets added and a caretaker's cottage erected in the south-west corner of the site, fronting Elm Street.Description- Education Department architect, Henry Bastow, designed this two-storey, Venetian Gothic styled red brick and stucco school building with a transverse gabled, vented and slated roof with twin projecting gabled plan-bays either side of a gabled central entrance and bell tower of three levels.Unlike most other schools, the geometric tracery of the major Gothic-arched windows (one per projecting plan bay) has survived, whilst open arcades (upper level) presumably opening onto passages, have been glazed in. Diaper pattern black brickwork is used within bays of the tower, isolated by string moulds, whilst foliated medieval capitals are used throughout. Finialed orbs formerly occupied each gable apex and a basalt plinth surrounds the building. A trefoil piercing in the bell tower and tripartite lancets in the bay gables ventilate the roof.Integrity - Upper gallery arcades have been glazed in and all glazing appears to have been replaced with multi-pane hopper windows; orbs and iron finials are gone from the dormer vents and gable apexes; alterations have occurred to the main doorway; the timber picket fence replaced and plumbing and signs attached to the facade'Streetscape - An isolated building but relates to the materials, siting and detailing of the nearby tramways engine house (qv) and Presbyterian Church (qv).Significance - Architecturally, comparison, via the gabled bell tower may be made with 55210 Eaglehawk, (1884-6), S5 1895 Collingwood (1877) and via the parapet-gabled E-plan to SS 1501 Yarraville (1889). Author, L. Burchell, has concluded that of all schools he has examined, this example and six others are worthy of preservation.This unusually near original school building exemplifies best one of the Medieval stylistic and form patterns of the 19th century education department architecture and is placed on an elevated site : of state-wide importance. Historically, it was the third state school built in the area ; as well as providing service through time for a variety of local community needs : of local importance.Recommendations - Replace finials and orbs; rebuild picket fence; replace illuminated sign with externally illuminated sign lettered as guidelines; generally restore external fabric.References:(RB= Rate book; D= Melbourne or Victoria Directory; V. & R= Vision & Realization; Burchell= L Burchell, 1980. 'Victorian Schools')1. V. & R. Vol 3, p. 29-302. Drawings , Contracts 1921 - 2/ 372; 1923-4/ 1733. Burchell, pps 142-3 , 147, photo p.1954. op. cit. p.172
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1624612
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 107929 | 1 PDF : 949 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |