Tattersall's Building, 248-256 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Graeme Butler and Associates01/07/1989
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Total copies: 1
Title:
Tattersall's Building, 248-256 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
01/07/1989
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 109392
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:
RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2024:__________________________________________________DATE: 1922;ASSOCIATIONS: Nicholas, A;DESIGNER: Norris, Harry Ainter-war Period___________________________GRAEME BUTLER 1989, LITTLE BOURKE STREET PRECINCT CONSERVATION STUDY.Statement of SignificanceTattersall's Buildings now Curtin House248-256 Swanston Street HistoryBuilt: 1922Reputedly intended as another Nicholas commission for the architect, Harry A Norris, this was constructed instead as the Tattersall's Club -possibly shifting the Nicholas venture to the other end of Swanston Street as Nicholas House. Resembling Nicholas House externally, the Tattersall's Club's occupation of the first and second floors made this building decidedly different internally. The 'Selling Room' was on the first level with vestibule, lounge and bar, cloakrooms, secretary and committee rooms, and a ·Strangers' Room; presumably for entertaining club members' guests. Overdoor ornament and panelling were evident throughout.2 The second floor was games oriented with rooms for billiards, cards and the lounge and buffet bar were near at hand; balconies overlooked Swanston Street. Upper levels were more Spartan, being leased as offices and accessible from a single open cage lift encircled by stairs. Four shops occupied the ground level. 3 The Engineers were Hawkins & Bendixsen, the structure of reinforced concrete (as placed by the Steel Form Supply Co. P/L), window and door frames were of timber and the footpath sheltered by a suspended verandah. The Tattersall's Club eventually leased part of Askew House (q.v.), in the late 1930s, but when in these premises shared with other 'clubs' such as the Norwegian Club, Victory Athletic Club P/L, Melbourne Banjo Club and Victorian Poultry & Kennel Club also a number of labour associates like the Hairdressers' Employees Federation. Licensed Projectionists' Association, The Auto Cycle Union of Australia and the Master Hairdressers and Tobacconists' Association, Salter's, the tailor~ together with the National Bank occupied ground level. Despite the Club's absence the building name continued, as did Salter's' tailors and many of the old tenants. The Commercial Bank and the Savoy Cafe were now ground level tenants whilst upstairs, the League of Young Democrats Social Club had taken the second floor part of the old club suite, shared with Turton Smith & Cronin, accountants, on the first floor. The 5th floor held the film & theatre oriented groups, including the Circle newspaper and Melbourne Theatrical Agency and floors above and below housed music teachers, costumiers and press agents.DescriptionComposed after Renaissance prototypes, the facade builds on the usual rusticated base, extends via giant order pilasters to a continuous bracketed balconette and, beyond that, to an attic level capped by a heavy cornice. Above this is a stepped centrepiece which belies Renaissance precedents and instead hints al the Neo-Grec, also demonstrated at the Nicholas Building al the south end of Swanston Street. Original or early ground level finings include the T. S. Gill metal-framed and tiled shopfront at 254 Swanston Street, polished black granite and timber at the entry (252) and shopfront remnants at 250. The contract drawings show tiled shopfront pilasters and plinths with multi-paned leaded top lights and half· glazed, recessed timber windows with arched mullions and lower panelling.External IntegrityGenerally original, except for attached sky sign and some ground level shops (256 renovated in an obtrusive manner and 254. although near original, has obtrusive signage on a sbeeted-over toplight) and added fascia signsStreetscape Isolated, if judged by scale, but related in style to the use of Renaissance detail) to the shop row and former hotel adjoining on the south.SignificanceA formidable and near original revival façade which terminates a more conservative, low scale, but similarly styled commercial Streetscape on the south. The building also has a long association with leisure clubs, trade associations and unions.Contributes to precinct.NOTESI WD1884-992 BA 3635, 26/9/213 ibid4 ibid5 D1924-39___________________________GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites source 76, 76 Lewis, Nigel 1976 Historic and Architectural Survey of the Central City of MelbourneBourke Street, east, Area 8 of the survey commissioned by the Historic Buildings Preservation Council, Page 11___________________________Victorian Heritage Inventory H7822-13511866 - building on site. 1880 - large 3 storey (industrial) building. 1888 - several 2 storey buildings.1905 - large 5 storey building.___________________________NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)1922Club historyhttps://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/140783887/11903553___________________________
Related material link:
Streetscape, 248-266 Swanston Street, Melbourne (BIF-CITY 109392 1\\)248-256 Swanston Street, Melbourne (Butler14555\\)248-256 Swanston Street, Melbourne (Butler14558\\)248-256 Swanston Street, Melbourne (Butler14556\\)248-256 Swanston Street, Melbourne (Butler14559\\)248-256 Swanston Street, Melbourne (Butler14560\\)248-256 Swanston Street, Melbourne (Butler14557\\)
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Research and reports
Record number:
1272419
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 109392 | 1 PDF : 2,144 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |