Newspaper House, 247-249 Collins Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Total copies: 1
Title:
Newspaper House, 247-249 Collins Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 102082
Level of description:
Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
Type of materials:
Graphic materialsTextual material
Part of:
Series: Central City (BIF-CITY)
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UnrestrictedOpen access.
Use restrictions:
UnrestrictedPlease contact City of Melbourne Libraries about obtaining permission to reproduce images.
General notes:
ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER:Style: ModernePeriod: Inter-WarConstruction date: 1932-1933Notable features:1. Mural (Napier Waller).2. Stone facing, modelling.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceHistory(Refer 241-245 Collins Street)Rocke and Company's 1884 warehouse, like its eastern neighbour, was thoroughly renovated for a new use and owner. Quick to see a publicity gambit, the Herald and Weekly Times Ltd. announced in 1932 a 50 guineas prize plus a score of consolation prizes for successful designers of a new face for Rocke's old Renaissance revival warehouse. Eighty designs from the State's best architects were offered and Stephenson and Meldrum's was the winner. Builders, Rispin Brothers, had commenced by September 1932, barely months after a start was made on the city's first Moderne design at Yule House (qv). Meanwhile Stephenson and Meldrum were to progress into Modern with their Mercy Hospital.Spokesman for the judges, Leighton Irwin, commended the design on its combination of `modern spirit' with `traditional lines...characteristic of the type of activity it is to house...', citing functionalism as a pre- requisite. Contrary to the public's demand for colour on new city commercial facades, Irwin was ambivalent about the decorative nature of the proposed mural, preferring that if it could not be converted to a window, it should at least become part of the building (and its function) as bas- relief in the sand stone facade. Nevertheless, Napier Waller's neo-classic mural design proceeded, as did similar murals on the RVIA's Moderne styled medal winner of 1934, the Buckley and Nunn Men's Store, Bourke Street.Predictably the building housed newspaper offices, typing services and complementary businesses. These included the Herald and Weekly Times Ltd's city office, The Bulletin, The Sydney Sun, Australian Women's Mirror , Adelaide's News Ltd., and the prominent commercial architects, H.W. and F.B. Tompkins. Tompkins had designed the massive complex, occupied by the Herald and Weekly Times Ltd as their work centre in Flinders Street (qv), during the 1920s.DescriptionThis Moderne design parallels with many to follow in its symmetrical `picture frame' composition which strives for as much 3-dimensional expression as a joined city facade would allow. Buckley and Nunn's Men's Store (1933) and Kodak House (1935) were a parallel two. A development of the previous trabeated facades of the classical revival, the `picture frame' held typically a continuous vertical window element divided by spandrels. At Newspaper House, these are expressed as boldly horizontal Moderne balconettes which continue the sculptured geometry already stated at the parapet.External IntegrityGenerally externally original.StreetscapeRelates in scale and siting to adjoining buildings on east.SignificanceThe second commercial Moderne design built in Melbourne city (and possibly Victoria); for a long period associated with the Herald and Weekly Times group and other national publications; the result of a competition which included most of Victoria's architectural profession..Victorian Heritage Register (mural) H0447Statement of SignificanceWhat is significant?The Newspaper House Mosaic was designed by Napier Waller in 1932. Waller was the leading neo-classical mural painter of the period. The mosaic was commissioned as part of a new facade for the original 1884 building. The new facade was designed by architects Stephenson & Meldrum for the Herald and Weekly Times Limited, who had recently acquired building. The theme of the mosaic was suggested by Mr. Theodore Fink, a director of the company, with the text, 'I'll put a girdle round about the earth'. The mural is read from left to right and in the classical style celebrates technological advances in the progress of mankind. It is located at first floor level and is affixed to slate panels fixed to the brickwork with copper dowels. It is in three sections divided by two windows. There are only two other mosaics by Napier Waller, who studied, lived and worked in Melbourne - one in Temple Court, Collins Street and the other at Monash House, William Street.How is it significant?The Newspaper House mosaic is of aesthetic significance to the State of Victoria.Why is it significant?The Newspaper House mosaic is aesthetically significant as a rare example of the use of wall mosaic for decorative purposes on the facade of a Melbourne building. The fusion of art and architecture to this extent is rarely apparent in a commercial building in Victoria. It is a superb example of Napier Waller's calm classical style.National Trust of Australia (Vic)File Number B4094Level of Significance: StateStatement of SignificanceBuilding Statement of Significance: Remodelled in 1932-33 to the designs of noted architects Stephenson and Meldrum as a result of a state-wide competition organised by the Herald and Weekly Times Ltd., the facade of Newspaper House with its emphatically horizontal Moderne balconettes and stylized geometric decoration is of state significance as being the second commercial Moderne design built in central Melbourne and possibly Victoria. Of added significance is the classically inspired mosaic mural "I'll put a girdle round about the earth" by Napier Waller appropriate to the function of this building and its long-time owners and tenants the Herald Weekly Times Group.Mural Statement of Significance: This wall mosaic, by Napier Waller (1894 -1972), was commissioned in 1932 as part of a new facade for Newspaper House, designed by Messrs Stephenson & Meldrum, Architects, for the Herald and Weekly Times Limited, the owners of the building. This is a rare example of the use of wall mosaic for decorative purposes on the facade of a Melbourne building. The theme of the mosaic was suggested by Mr. Theodore Fink, a director of the Herald and Weekly Times Limited, with the text, "I'll put a girdle round about the earth." In this city there are only two other mosaics by Napier Waller, who studied, loved and worked in Melbourne - one in Temple Court, Collins Street and the other at Monash House, William Street..GRAEME BUTLER 1982-3, ROYAL AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS (VIC) 20TH CENTURY ARCHITECTURE SURVEY and 20th CENTURY BUILDINGS REGISTER.NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)See Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954)Saturday 24 June 1933 - Page 36- illustThe Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954)Thursday 4 April 1935 - Page 8`When St. James Old Cathedral had to make way for business premises it was carefully rebuilt near the Flagstaff Gardens, where early settlers gathered to hear shipping news. Last week Archbishop Head unveiled a window in the Cathedral, a gift from pioneer families in honor of pioneer women. The design represents St. Hilda, Abbess of Whitby. and is the work of Christian Waller, who is. herself, a pioneer woman here in the work of stained glass. She has her own kiln and takes a great joy in her work. Her husband is the well-known artist. Napier Waller, and she somehow finds time, while fulfilling her own destiny, to aid her husband when a rush of work makes it necessary as when she added thousands of pieces of mosaic to the great design which decorates Newspaper House, Collins street.
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Research and reports
Record number:
1192818
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 102082 | 1 PDF : 2,078 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |