Creffield Pty Ltd Building, 171-173 King Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Total copies: 1
Title:
Creffield Pty Ltd Building, 171-173 King Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 105300
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 2021-2:__________________________________________________Period: Inter-WarDATE: 1922;ASSOCIATIONS: James Creffield Pty Ltd;DESIGNER: Beswicke, John;BUILDER: Beswicke, John?..CONTEXT (WITH GJM HERITAGE) 2020, HODDLE GRID HERITAGE REVIEWStatement of SignificanceWhat is significant?171-173 King Street, Melbourne, a three-storey factory/warehouse building built in 1922.Elements that contribute to the significance of the place include (but are not limited to):• The original building form and scale;• The original fenestration, including brick pilasters, semicircular arches (King Street and Cosgrave Lane elevations), recessed spandrels, cornice, parapet and pattern of window openings; and• The original timber frame windows.Later alterations made to the street level façade, such as the aluminium framed shopfronts, are not significant.How it is significant?171-173 King Street, Melbourne is of local historic, representative and associative significance to the City of Melbourne.Why it is significant?The three-storey warehouse building at 171-173 King Street, Melbourne, constructed in 1922 for J Creffield Pty Ltd, map mounters, heliographers and printers, and occupied by that firm until c1985, is historically significant for representing key phase in Melbourne's manufacturing development: the 1920s recovery period (after the 1890s economic depression) when factory and warehouse premises were in increasing demand in the city to house the growing manufacturing industry. 171-173 King Street demonstrates the historical concentration of businesses connected to the printing, publishing and paper goods industry in the west of the city. (Criterion A)171-173 King Street is of representative significance, being a highly intact example of an early interwar period factory/warehouse building. Its restrained use of classical and Romanesque details and loadbearing brick construction demonstrate typical characteristics of the early interwar factory/warehouse building constructed in the period immediately before reinforced concrete became the preferred material for warehouse construction, replacing brick. Modestly-scaled factory/warehouses constructed during this period were typically built of loadbearing brick, with the restrained architectural detailing exhibiting classical influences. (Criterion D)The building is significant for its long association with J Creffield Pty Ltd (1923 to c1985), a prominent firm of map mounters, heliographers and printers, established in Melbourne 35 years earlier in 1888. J Creffield Pty Ltd held a number of government contracts and produced maps for the Allied forces during World War One, as well as maps and plans for educational purposes and for architects. (Criterion H)Primary sourceHoddle Grid Heritage Review (Context & GJM Heritage, 2020)__________________________________________________.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites source 85 Lawrie Wilson & Associates, 1977. Historic Buildings Preservation Council Report on CBD Block No 6 Dec 1977, page 165.Lawrie Wilson & Associates, 1977. Historic Buildings Preservation Council Report on CBD Block No 6 Dec 1977, page 1651. HISTORY.1920 Brick shop, 1922 Vacant land,1923 Creffield Pty. Ltd., brick warehouse, 3 floors(rate book).2. DESCRIPTION.A three storey brick and reinforced concrete building in a neo-Romanesque style. The attractiveness of the brick arches to the King Street facade is not matched by the clumsy 'treatment of the windows. The rear of the building to Fitzroy Lane is similarly styled, though more attractive in its simplicity.3. RECOMMENDATION.The retention of this building is not warranted ..CITY OF MELBOURNE BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONShttps://www.ancestry.com.au/imageviewer/collections/60672/images/44777_349574-005801922 Jan 3887 ₤2500 Erection of factory1958 illuminated lantern sign.….1992 fitout__________________________________________________CONTEXT (WITH GJM HERITAGE) 2020, HODDLE GRID HERITAGE REVIEWSummary:1866 Cox Building on street frontage1880 Panorama1888 Mahlstedt One & two-storey building, Lidstone, Plumber1905/6 Mahlstedt One & two-storey building, Lidstone, Plumber and Slin Lee, Laundry.· Historically significant as it demonstrates the concentration of businesses connected to the printing, publishing and papergoods industry in city west.· Significant as representative of an early interwar, modestly scaled factory/warehouse building, with restrained classical and Romanesque detailing.· Significant for its association with J Creffield Pty Ltd, a prominent firm of map mounters, heliographers and printers (1923-c1985).SITE HISTORYThe subject site is located on part of Crown Allotment 17, Block 8, offered for sale in 1839 (‘Plan of Melbourne' 1838). By 1888, a one- and two-storey building were located on the subject site, and occupied by a Mr Lidstone, plumber. In 1905, the same premises were occupied by Lidstone and Slin Lee; the latter operated a laundry from one of the buildings (Fels, Lavelle and Mider 1993, Inventory no 413).In 1920, T Gardiner and D J Pemberton & Co advertised a shop and brick building at 171 and 173 King Street, Melbourne for removal, after which a factory for J Creffield Pty Ltd was built in 1922 at a cost of £2,500 (Age 23 August 1920:2; MBAI 3887). Prior to this, J Creffield Pty Ltd, map mounters, heliographers and contractors to the federal and state governments, operated its business from premises at 493-495 Collins Street, Melbourne (Argus 24 August 1916:4). J Creffield Pty Ltd was operating from their new premises at 171 King Street by January of 1923 (Argus 4 January 1923:3). The subject building in 1925 can be seen in Figure 1.J Creffield Pty Ltd was the occupier of 171-173 King Street for over 60 years between 1923 and c1985 (see Figure 3 ) (Age 11 May 1985:112). J Creffield Pty Ltd commenced business as map mounters and lithographers in Melbourne in 1888 (CDP 2019). In 1919, the company occupied premises at 493 Collins Street (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 4 December 1919:1815). By 1987 the firm moved its operations to West Melbourne (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. Purchasing and Disposals 19 August 1987:1386).As map makers, the company held a number of government contracts from 1919 to 1987, including for the production of maps for the Allied forces during World War One (see Figure 3) (Argus 24 August 1916:4; CDP 2019; Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 4 December 1919:1815; Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. Purchasing and Disposals 19 August 1987:1386).The company was able to produce maps and plans from tracings, and sepia copies from original documents (Argus 23 April 1921:5). The company also produced maps and plans for education purposes, manufactured to adhere to contemporary school curricula (Argus 3 February 1934:4). J Creffield noted in a 1934 advertisement that the company’s maps were ‘specially recommended by educational authorities for use in all schools’ (Argus 3 February 1934:4). Architect plans were also produced by the firm.The ground floor of 171-173 King Street was occupied by the Commercial Bank of Australia for around 44 years between 1926 and c1970 (S&Mc 1926, 1940, 1970). The Commercial Bank of Australia was established in Melbourne in 1866, and by 1891, the Commercial Bank was the largest bank in the colony of Victoria (Cannon 1967:17). At the bank’s height in 1893, it occupied large offices at 30 Collins Street, boasted 35,000 customers and operated more than 100 branches throughout Australia (Cannon 1967:109). However, with the depression and banking scandals of the 1890s, the bank became increasingly unstable (Cannon 1967:114). After almost closing twice in ten years, it took over 30 years for the bank to regain financial security (Cannon 1967:114). The opening of the Commercial Bank of Australia branch at the subject site in 1926 coincides with this period of renewed security for the bank.Figure 1. The site as it appeared in 1925. (Source: Mahlsted Map Section 1, no 22, 1925)After Joseph Creffield died in 1953, his executors advertised the property at 171-173 King Street for sale. Described in a sale notice as a ‘substantial three-storey brick building’, in that year the ground floor was let to the Commercial Bank of Australia Ltd (addressed as 173 King Street) with J Creffield Pty Ltd occupying the top two floors (addressed as 171 King Street) (Argus 7 February 1953:21). This division of tenancies is indicated by the two openings to King Street as seen in Figure 1; 171 King Street was accessed by a staircase while 173 was accessed from street level (Mahlsted Map Section 1, no 22, 1925). The building sold for £14,000 in March 1953 (Age 4 March 1953:5).The Commercial Bank of Australia vacated the building c1970. In 1974 the subject building was occupied solely by J Creffield Pty Ltd (S&Mc 1970, 1974), indicating the proposed sale in 1953 either did not proceed or Creffield leased the building from the subsequent owner. The subject building was converted to offices in 1974 (CoMMaps).Four adjoining properties at 171-183 King Street were auctioned in 1982 and purchased by Melbourne Scope Holdings Pty Ltd, a member of the Malaysian-based Garden City group of companies (Age 28 April 1982:26; Age 23 March 1983:22).In addition to its occupation of the subject building, the firm operated a showroom in the near vicinity at 165 King Street between 1935 and c1970-74 (S&Mc 1935, 1970, 1974). The company still operates today as Creffield Digital Print, with its business primarily focused on digital printing technologies. The company operates out of West Melbourne, South Melbourne and Geelong (CDP 2019). The entire building at 171-173 King Street was advertised for lease in 1991 (Age 27 July 1991:69).In 1992, the ground level was refurbished and converted into a restaurant, at a cost of $25,000, and in 2003 the upper levels were converted to a commercial art gallery and studios (MBAI 70670; CoMMaps). The site currently houses one shop and one food outlet (CoMMaps).Figure 2. The subject site as it appeared in 1984. ‘J Creffield’ can be seen in gold lettering across the front window, indicating the firm’s presence. (Source: Butler 1984 copyright)Figure 3. A map of European countries during World War One produced by J Creffield Pty Ltd in 1915 (left) and a map showing Australian climatic zones also produced by J Creffield Pty Ltd, in the 1950s, during the operation in the subject building (right). (Source: CDP 2019; J Creffield Pty Ltd 1950s, ‘Australian climatic zones’, NLA copyright) ...REFERENCESAge, as cited.Argus, as cited.Butler, G 1984 ‘171 King Street, Melbourne’, photograph, City of Melbourne Library, accessed online 16 May 2019.Cannon, M 1967, The Land Boomers, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne.City of Melbourne Maps (CoMMaps) 2018, http://maps.melbourne.vic.gov.au/, accessed 16 May 2019.Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, as cited.Context Pty Ltd 2012, ‘Thematic History: A History of the City of Melbourne’s Urban Environment’, prepared for the City of Melbourne.Creffield Digital Print (CDP) 2019, Why Us, https://creffielddigitalprint.com.au, accessed online 16 May 2019.Dingle, Tony 2008, ‘Manufacturing’, eMelbourne, School of Historical and Philosophical Studies, The University of Melbourne, http://www.emelbourne.net.au, accessed 13 April 2019.Fels, M, Lavelle S, and Mider D 1993, ‘Archaeological Management Plan’, prepared for the City of Melbourne.Mahlstedt’s Pty Ltd 1925 City of Melbourne detail fire survey. Section 1, Mahlstedt Pty Ltd, Melbourne.Marsden, Susan 2000, Urban Heritage: the rise and postwar development of Australia’s capital city centres, Australian Council of National Trusts and Australian Heritage Commission, Canberra.Melbourne Planning Scheme (MPS), 'Melbourne and its Heritage Precincts', reference document to Clause 22.06 Heritage Precincts Policy of the Melbourne Planning Scheme, https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/heritage-precincts-history-significance.pdf, accessed 2 August 2018.Merrett, DT 2008, ‘Banking and Finance’, eMelbourne, School of Historical and Philosophical Studies, The University of Melbourne, http://www.emelbourne.net.au/, accessed online 20 May 2019.‘Plan of town of Melbourne, 1837 A.D: first land sales held in Melbourne on 1st June & 1st November 1837’ 1838, H E Badman, Melbourne.RBA Architects 2013, City North Heritage Review, prepared for the City of Melbourne.Sands & McDougall, Melbourne and Suburban Directories (S&Mc), as cited.Savill, Barbara 1987, First land owners in Melbourne, Royal Historical Society of Victoria, http://www.historyvictoria.org.au, accessed 16 May 2019.Tsutsumi, J and O’Connor, K 2006, ‘Time series analysis of the skyline and employment changes in the CBD of Melbourne’ in Applied GIS vol 2, no 2.__________________________________________________.NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)1953https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206122636Under . Instructions from THE TRUSTEES EXECUTORS ANDAGENCY COMPANY LIMITED, 401 Collins-street, Melbourne. .Estate of the Late Joseph Creffield.. deceased.171-173 KING-STREET, City (Centrally situated, close toBourke-street.)SUBSTANTIAL THREE-STORY BRICK BUILDING.Comprising Ground Floor. Let on Monthly Tenancy, to . the Commercial Bank of Australia Ltd., andTwo Upper Floors, Let on Monthly Tenancy to J, Creffield Pty. 'Ltd.Total Rental, £486 Per Annum.Land: 22 It. 8 In. x 80 ft. 2 In. to Crosgrove-lane. .Terms: One-fourth Deposit, Balance within 30 -Days…Auctioneer:JOHN 'BUCHAN A Co...43 Queen-street, MELBOURNE
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1211822
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 105300 | 1 JPEG : 230 KB ; A4 | Single Item (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |