Temperance and General Mutual Life Assurance Society Ltd, 141-153 Collins Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
Archives
Total copies: 1
Title:
Temperance and General Mutual Life Assurance Society Ltd, 141-153 Collins Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 102073 1
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:
ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER:.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceHistoryAustralian Temperance and General Mutual Life Society Ltd. commenced in 1876, springing from 40 years of Friendly Societies involved in temperance. Life assurance was introduced by the Independent Order of Rechabites in 1867; an assurance branch being created in 1870 for the colony of Victoria. Six years later, the branch secretary, Henry Rudd, reported that policy progress had been poor and that a separate and accountable assurance body was needed to inspire and, thus, assure the general community. The T & G commenced under `the eminently capable J. Toon...' Chairman of Directors, holding a mere 132 policies. Its first assurance agent, Frederick Mandeville of Belfast, was dispatched throughout Melbourne and surrounding districts to gather policies from both the temperant and intemperant, eventually on an international basis. A life of any description was then worth about 180 pounds.Offices in Australia's and New Zealand's capitals were made and remade, particularly in the period following World War One. The site for this building, the national head-office, was acquired in 1921 to replace premises at the Swanston and Little Collins Street corner. The completion of stage one meant their removal to the new headquarters in 1929. The firm's architects for all of their major buildings were Anketell and Kingsley Henderson; the builders, MacLeod Brothers, had also already built the Brisbane and Adelaide branch offices. Its architecture was described as `free modern Renaissance' and in the future readily identifiable with the Company's image yet to be established interstate.In 1929, the muralist, Napier Waller, created a tableau vivant for the entrance, sketched from company chairman, Robert Lambert, a Ms. Baracchi from Waller's Fairy Hills neighbourhood, Roy Willett and Marjorie Houghton. Originally housed in the entry hall of the first stage this has been relocated to that of the second. The building thus consisted of the north- eastern third of the existing Collins Street facade. It was to cost a low 267,000 pounds due to the advancing world depression; possessing nine floors and and two basements. Finely axed Harcourt granite clad the podium level and ARC brand cement, painted in two biscuit tints the upper. Marbles from Victoria's Buchan and New South Wales' Caleula, decorated the Collins and Russell Street entrances and the whole hung on a concrete encased steel frame.Overcrowding at head-office re-started the building program in June 1938, this time under contractor G.A. Winwood, and extended the offices west to replicate the existing building on the other side of a new and more impressive tower bay. The existing towers, already landmarks of ten years standing were supplanted by the highest occupiable structure (220 feet in altitude) in Melbourne city: Australia's first tube-shaped lift allowed access to views it commanded over Collins Street. The offices more than doubled in size to be one of Melbourne's largest. The tower and facade were floodlit and one of Melbourne's landmarks had been created.Now demolished, the stylish Russell Collins cafe once nestled under the western wing of the giant structure.The final stage started thirty years after the first and achieved for the first time frontages to three city streets. E.A. Watts tendered 485,591 pounds for the work in 1959, commencing under the then much depleted architectural firm of Anketell and K. Henderson. Part of the accommodation created was leased out, mainly to dentists: inspiring the affectionate pseudonym of the Tooth and Gum (T&G) Building.DescriptionNot dissimilar to the Royal Liver Friendly Society's Liver Building, Liverpool (1908- 11) the T & G also uses motifs employed locally by the prolific H.W. & F.B. Tompkins in buildings such as the Commercial Travellers Association and Centreway Arcade (1913). These buildings all possess an attic storey, set above balconettes and supported on deep consoles: all could be termed ppneo-Baroque whilst the Liver Building has been labelled by historian, Alistair Service as Neo-Mannerist.The replication of the 1928 design's stepped tower across the nation appears to have determined that the eminence of 1938 be similar. The result places the 1938 building proper some 25 years past the style's advent in Melbourne and the tower (which shows neo-Grec tendencies), some ten years away from its contemporaries.Nevertheless there is no other commercial building in Melbourne, built prior to 1950, which possesses the same large scale and only the Manchester Unity approaches its landmark qualities. The building belies its staged construction and has achieved an impressive size from 30 years of building.External IntegrityGenerally, externally original except for added air units and part replacement of the shopfronts.StreetscapeA major corner building of which the flood-lit tower has been visible from most points south and east of the city for nearly 50 years. Although in general contrast to the churches opposite, the tower motif is a gesture to their spires. It also commences a group of individually notable 20th century buildings, adjoining.Significance(refer National Trust of Australia (Vic) , later citation)One of Melbourne's first large volume office buildings, the offices of the Temperance and General Life Assurance Society were cosntructed in three stages: 1928-29, 1939 and 1959. The architects were A&K Henderson. It was described as "Melbourne's most beautiful building" in a competition run by the Herald in 1930 and remains as a visible demonstration of the strength of Australian commerce in the inter-war -period..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites RAIA 20th Century Architecture Register;.HERITAGE BRANCH, MINISTRY FOR PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT 1987 CITY OF MELBOURNE CENTRAL CITY NOTABLE BUILDINGS CITATIONSSTATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCEOne of Melbourne's first large volume office buildings, the offices of the Temperance and General Life Assurance Society were cosntructed in three stages: 1928-29, 1939 and 1959. The architects were A&K Henderson. It was described as "Melbourne's most beautiful building" in a competition run by the Herald in 1930 and remains as a visible demonstration of the strength of Australian commerce in the inter-war -period..FLICKRGraeme Butlerhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/7849945@N02/26627958464/.City of Melbourne Planning SchemeHeritage Overlay 577, 141-153 Collins Street, Melbourne - paint control only..VICTORIA HERITAGE DATABASENational Trust of Australia (Vic)https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/64665Statement of SignificanceOne of Melbourne's first large volume office buildings. The offices of the Temperance and General Life Assurance Society were constructed in three stages: 1928 - 29, 1939 and 1959. The architects were A & K Henderson. It was described as "Melbourne's most beautiful building" in a competition run by the Herald in 1930 and remains a visible demonstration of the strength of Australian commerce in the inter-war period.Classified: 09/07/1987.NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957)Thursday 8 April 1926 - Page 9- perspectivehttps://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/3744214REAL ESTATE AND BUILDING.TWO 180ft. TOWERS.NEW T. AND G. STRUCTURE.Collins and Russell Streets Corner.Two towers rising 180 feet from the pavement will surmount the non Jcmpciince anil General building now in course of construction on the south-west corner of Collins and Russell streets. As this structure is on the crest of Collins Street Hill and will have 10 stories covering a site 60 ft by 250 ft and will loom large over the city, and will be one of those substantial architectural features of Melbourne.The facade to Russell Street being 250 ft in width will cover two-thirds of the block between Collins Street and Flinders Lane practically completing the block to the height limit as Chelford house on the lane Corner is a building of modern elevation. On the opposite side of the lane a new warehouse is now being erected on the site of the old Apollo Inn adding further to the dignity of the section. The architect for the new Temperance and General building Messrs. Anketell & K Henderson are also directing this work.Situated on steeply falling ground the temperance and general building will have to basements the lower containing these society’s records and housing the machinery. The pile of buildings will be unusually large it will be very well supplied with air and sunlight as it has two wide streets to draw upon and lanes at the side and rear. The design of the facade will be tastefully carried out in granite to the first floor level and in cream coloured cement stucco above. The external walls will be constructed of steel frame and brick work.A large part of the premises will be occupied by the Temperance and General Mutual Life Assurance Society but a large number of offices will be let to tenants and these will have water gas and sewerage services available in every room for the special convenience of the medical man and dentists. Heating will be obtained by means of a water system throughout the building.This enterprise is another example of a large business moving a little out of the centre of the city to obtain an ample site at a relatively low cost and reserving the maximum amount of money to be put into the actual building. The contractors are Messrs Macleod Brothers who have already done similar work for the society in other Australian citiesImage:Above Is a perspective drawing of the new premises of the Temperance and General MutuaLifefe Assurance Society Ltd. Tho building will stand on the south-west corner of Collins street and Russell street, next to Anzac House, anoppositete to Scots Church. The rchitectsts are Messrs. Anketell and K. Henderson.The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957)Wednesday 29 August 1928 - Page 5 imagehttps://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/3946807The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954) Wed 7 Nov 1928 Page 18 illust article on openinghttps://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/244090034includes:`Crowning the huge swing doors which admit from the entrance hall to the main insurance chamber. is an oil painting measuring ten feet by seven feet, by Napier Waller. The painting depicts Thrift — a quality among Australians that has had much to do with the success of this and other companies.'.1930Daily Mercury (Mackay, Qld. : 1906 - 1954) Tue 25 Nov 1930 Page 13https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/170239828First prize in- the beautiful building contest in Melbourne was given by public vote to -the Temperance and General Building at. the corner of Russsell and Collins, streets
Related material link:
Names:
Places:
Form/Genre:
Record types:
Research and reports
Record number:
1192692
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 102073 1 | 1 JPEG : 279 KB ; A4 | Single Item (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |