Cavanagh's or Tucker & Co's warehouse, 198-200 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Title:
Cavanagh's or Tucker & Co's warehouse, 198-200 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
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Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 105746 1
Level of description:
Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
Type of materials:
Graphic materialsTextual material
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Series: Central City (BIF-CITY)
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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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RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2022:__________________________________________________Period: EdwardianNotable features: 1. Capitals. 2. Strong link with 202 by same architectDATE: 1904-1905;ASSOCIATIONS: Cavanagh, Miss (Trust Fund);DESIGNER: Burke, J E;BUILDER: Sewell, F B.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceHistoryBuilt by F. B. Sewell for the Cavanagh Trust and to the design of J. E. Burke, this two storey warehouse and basement was commenced in 1904 and completed in the following year. Major tenants include the hardware importing firm, Robert Tucker & Co. who were there from the start into the 1930s. By 1940 it served as storage for the Orient Home Publishers and more recently as offices for Taxation Services of Australia, probably coinciding with a major renovation of the interior for offices.This change reflected the gradual shift from this once important hardware merchandising centre first to the city's northern and western boundaries and finally into more distant industrial centres like Footscray, Sunshine and Newport.DescriptionA free adaptation of the Romanesque revival, popular in Edwardian warehouse designs, with bold brick arches either side of a slim vertical motif comprising the entrance with its Queen Anne scrolled cement pediment. Three pylon forms at the parapet are each surmounted with a large cement ball, further accentuating the vigour of the forms used in the composition, together with the strong detailing of the Romanesque inspired cement foliated capitalsExternal IntegrityBricks and basalt painted, entrance doors replaced and one basement opening partly bricked in with new tiled finishes. Upper window partly sheeted over and fan installed. Reputedly internal conversion for office use has meant lowered false ceilings and some new partitioning, presumably all retractable for refurbishment as needed.StreetscapeCentre of a notable late 19th early 20th century warehouse group.SignificanceA distinctive and valuable Free Romanesque revival elevation made more so by its surrounding warehouse streetscape and the similar stylistic motifs used on 202 Little Lonsdale Street. Its original use and siting reflect the concentrations of hardware outlets in various parts of the city, this section being the most compete expression of the buildings associated with this form of merchandising..GRAEME BUTLER & ASSOCIATES 2011, CENTRAL CITY (HODDLE GRID) HERITAGE REVIEWStatement of SignificanceWhat is significant?Built by F B Sewell for the Cavanagh Trust and to the design of J E Burke, this two storey warehouse and basement was commenced in 1904 and completed in the following year. Major tenants include the hardware importing form, Robert Tucker & Co who were there from the start into the 1930s.By 1940 it served as storage for the Orient Home Publishers and more recently as offices for Taxation Services of Australia, probably coinciding with a major renovation of the interior for offices. This change reflected the gradual shift from this once important hardware merchandising centre first to the city's northern and western boundaries and finally into more distant industrial centres like Footscray, Sunshine and Newport.The building is a free adaptation of the Romanesque revival, popular in Melbourne Edwardian warehouse designs, with bold brick arches either side of the entrance. The symmetrical façade, realised largely in red brick, comprises a slim vertical entry element with a rendered and scrolled pediment. The entry is flanked by two bold brick arches set deep within red brick pilasters. Large rendered balls surmount the pilasters above the broad cornice, further accentuating the vigour of the forms used in the composition. A range of decorative devices including foliated collars to the pilasters at first floor level and vertical banding to the underside of the cornice introduce a level of complexity to the façade which would rarely reappear in commercial buildings of the twentieth century.The former warehouse contributes to an important early warehouse streetscape at 194-196 and 202 Little Lonsdale Street. The latter building is another designed by JE Burke. Nearby is the early Knox Church, Evans' row houses and the significant tobacco buildings in Drewery Lane.The building appears to have retained its early fabric virtually intact including original or early window joinery and decorative detail.How is it significant?Cavanagh's warehouse is significant historically and aesthetically to the Melbourne Capital City ZoneWhy is it significant?Cavanagh's warehouse is significant historically for its reflection over time of the gradual shift from this once important hardware merchandising centre first to the City's northern and western boundaries and finally into more distant industrial centres like Footscray, Sunshine and Newport. Architecturally this is as an excellent example of a free adaptation of the Romanesque revival, popular in Edwardian warehouse designs. Bold brick arches further accentuate the vigour of the forms used in the composition, together with the strong detailing of the Romanesque inspired cement foliated capitals. The building is a major streetscape element in this important commercial building group..Central City Heritage Study Review 1993: appendix 4:Prepared by Philip Goad, Miles Lewis, Alan Mayne, etc`Statement of Significance198-200 Little Lonsdale Street is of regional significance as an unusual small-scale example of the American Romanesque Revival style predominant in Melbourne warehouse design during the Federation period Completed by the end of 1904 its striking red brick two-storey warehouse with basement was constructed by F B Sewell and designed by the architect J Edmund Burke One of the few remaining buildings in a once substantially brick warehouse streetscape. this small building is an important example of the application of Art Nouveau inspired decoration to early twentieth century warehouses in Melbourne's lesser streets This role is strengthened by the building's strong visual relationship with the adjacent registered building, 202-204 Little Lonsdale Street.'`History & Description:Built on the site of the two narrow four room houses owned by the Cavanagh Trust, the two-storey brick warehouse with basement at 198-200 Little Lonsdale Street was designed by the architect J Edmund Burke. Tenders for the warehouse. commissioned by a Miss Cavanah [sic] closed on 30 June 1904 and the selected builder F B Sewell of Elsternwick appears to have commenced construction some two weeks later in the middle of July. 1An agency for the London-based hardware firm. Robert Tucker and Co. occupied the building from its completion some time late in 1904 until the 1930's Hardware firms and importers were prominent in the area up until the early 1940's but later tenants of this warehouse changed its use to that of a printers storehouse and then offices for Taxation Services of Australia More recent alterations have made the building. along with 202-204 Little Lonsdale Street, part of a bar and dance club adjacent to the Melbourne Central shopping centre, thus demonstrating the shift in emphasis of the area from hardware merchandising to commercial and leisure activities .2The vigorous composition of the façade of what was basically a small warehouse effectively demonstrates how the apparent size of a building can be manipulated to appear greater by the use of dramatically vertical elements The three bay façade is constructed of a dominant red brick on a basalt base and is accentuated by bands of cement render and articulated by tall brick piers with radius edges A flat protruding cornice overhangs the upper part of the façade and a simple cement rendered parapet above is emphasised by the continuation of the brick piers beyond the parapet line Each pier is surmounted by a large cement ball. The narrower central bay is filled to its full width by a window to the upper storey and a doorway to the street level entrance This entrance is dramatically articulated by a Queen Anne scrolled cement pediment supported on oversized decorative brackets The two adjoining bays are slightly wider and are mainly muffled with glazing and feature a bold arched head to each of the upper storey windows, and shallower arched heads to the basement windows The few areas of each of the three bays that are unglazed feature vermiculated centrepieces to cement rendered spandrel panels Vertical boarding is used to Inflll the brickwork panels above the upper level arches, and the piers feature bands of art nouveau derived foliation The upper part of the piers also exhibit narrow pilasters featuring strips of cement render and exposed brickwork, in the blood-and-bandages manner of the Queen Anne style. While the main structure of the façade is substantially intact and a former unsympathetic coat of paint has been removed to reveal the original brick and render appearance, the glazing to some of the windows have been replaced in addition, decorative curved wrought iron balustrades protecting the pavement level basement windows have been removed 3'Footnotes:`1 MCC Valuation Books. Gipps Ward. MCC Records - Notice of Intent to Build. No 4382. lodged 12 July 19042 Sands and McDougall Post Office Directories Graeme Butler. Central Activities District Conservation Study - Graeme Butler, 1984 Conservation Study Citations. 1991. p 1353 For an early photograph see Building June 1913 p 101 - 'Two Warehouses - Flinders Lane (sic)'.RAWORTH, B 2002. REVIEW OF HERITAGE OVERLAY LISTINGS IN THE CBDfor the City of MelbourneHistory and DescriptionThe building at 198-200 Little Lonsdale Street was commenced in 1904 and completed during the following year [Willingham] as a two storey warehouse plus basement [Butler]. It was designed by JE Burke and constructed by FB Sewell for the Cavanagh Trust. The first major tenants were, the importing firm, Robert Tucker & Co who occupied the building until the early 1930s. By 1940 it served as storage for the Orient Home publishers. More recently the building has been refurbished as offices and has subsequently been occupied by Taxation Services of Australia. The change in use is typical of many buildings in the area and reflects the gradual relocation of Melbourne's hardware merchandising centre from the City centre to its northern and western boundaries and eventually to more distant locations such as Footscray,Sunshine and Newport.The building is a free adaptation of the Romanesque Revival style popular in Edwardian warehouse designs. The symmetrical façade, realised largely in red brick, comprises a slim vertical entry element with Queen Anne rendered scroll pediment. The entry is flanked by two bold brick arches set deep within red brick pilasters.Pylon devices crowned with a large rendered ball surmount the pilasters above the broad cornice. A range of decorative devices including foliated collars to the pilasters at first floor level and vertical banding to the underside of the cornice introduce a level of complexity to the façade which would rarely reappear in commercial buildings of the twentieth century. The building appears to have retained its early fabric virtually intact including original or early window joinery and decorative detail.The building is in excellent original condition. The former warehouse forms a part of an important early streetscape including other early warehouses at 194-196 and 202 Little Lonsdale Street. The latter building is another to designs by JE Burke.Statement of SignificanceThe former warehouse at 198-200 Little Lonsdale Street is of aesthetic and historical significance at a local level for its distinctive Free Romanesque Revival façade. It contributes to a significant streetscape believed to be among the most intact examples of an early warehouse district within Melbourne's CBD.Footnotes:Willingham, 1983, CAD Study, p 13.Butler, 1985, CAD Conservation Study, 194-196 Lt Lonsdale Street..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites HBPC CBD Area Study (source 83), p13 citation, notes loss of 204-6; CITY OF MELBOURNE BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS 9382;.VICTORIA HERITAGE REGISTERVictorian Heritage Register - Adjoining 202 Little Lonsdale Street is Victorian Heritage Register (Victorian Heritage Register)H0509.VICTORIA HERITAGE DATABASE198-200 LITTLE LONSDALE STREETLocation 198-200 LITTLE LONSDALE STREET MELBOURNE, Melbourne CityHeritage Inventory (HI) NumberH7822-1077Heritage Inventory Description1880 - building shown on site.1904-5 - 2 storey brick store with basement built by FB Sewell for the Cavanagh Trust. Tenants 1905-1930s: Robert Tucker & Co, Hardware Importers.Archaeological Potential: Potential areaHistoryHeritage Inventory History of Site: Date of first documented occupation, 1880.LEWIS, M- AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURE INDEX: Record(selected)John Edward Burke (sic?) surveyor and valuer, was articled to W. R. Butler and Ussher, then to R. G Gordon. Smith Cyclopedia of Victoria, iii, p 125;Awarded honourable mention in student design competition.Entry described. Australasian Builder and Contractor's News 11.8.1894 p 57, 18.8.1894 p 67Builder H. Henningsen secured the work of erecting an extensive motor garage at Hawthorn designed by J. Edmund Burke. Building 12.10.1911,p 21J. Edmund Burke & SchreiberTenders accepted - erection of large villa residence for L.M. Bagge, CanterburyBuilding Engineering and Mining Journal 31.3.1900 supplement 7Residence of Mr T T Sharpe, Surry Hills, VIC.Illus: Photo of the exterior. Building 12.5.1911, p 77(via Burke) Builder A.J. Laurie is erecting a four storey extension to Waring Bros. premises in Elizabeth Street. Building 12.8.1911,p 27Contract open for erection of brick Sunday School building at Auburn (VIC)Australasian Builder and Contractor's News 17.2.1894, piContract open for internal decoration of the Methodist Ladies College at Kew (VIC)Australasian Builder and Contractor's News 5.1.1895, pitenders accepted for erection of 3 storied business premises in Brunswick St FitzroyBuilding Engineering and Mining Journal 4.1.1902 supplement 5J. Edmund Burke & Schreiber 483 Collins Tenders wanted for erection of warehouse for Messrs. A. Hoadley & Co. South Melbourne. Building Engineering and Mining Journal 13.5.1899 supplement 4
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| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 105746 1 | 1 PDF : 659 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |