Stillwell & Parry Pty Ltd workshop, 307-311 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Total copies: 1
Title:
Stillwell & Parry Pty Ltd workshop, 307-311 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 103206
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:
Style: Neo-GrecPeriod: Inter-War.ASSOCIATED RESEARCH INSERTED BY GRAEME BUTLER:.Melbourne Planning Scheme Amendment C271Grading: SignificantDate(s): 1927Survey Date: April 2016Statement of SignificanceWhat is Significant?The building at 307-311 Elizabeth Street was constructed in 1927, at the corner of Little Lonsdale Street. Prior to this, the property was occupied by two nineteenth century buildings, including a brassworking operation, and a watchmaker. These incorporated a brick shop and a brick shop and store, both owned by James O’Leary. The watchmaker continued into the early 1910s, accompanied by a leather manufacturer. The Sands & McDougall directory of 1910 also lists the rear building as being occupied by a pawnbroker, Joshua Langley. In 1919, motor cycle manufacturers, Stillwell & Parry moved onto the property. The partnership of Walter Stillwell and George Stillwell, which had operated from 378 Lonsdale Street, was dissolved in 1916, with Leslie Parry joining George Stillwell to form Stillwell & Parry. During this period, an increasing number of motor car and motor cycle related businesses began occupying premises in Elizabeth Street to the north of Little Bourke Street. In 1926, an application was made to the City of Melbourne for a permit to construct a motor showroom, to the value of £3,200. At this time, the property was owned by H & E Kinnear. The new showroom was for the use of Stillwell & Parry, and was designed by architect, Leslie M Perrott, who was an enthusiastic advocate for the use of concrete, having written the book, Concrete Homes, in 1925. The building was illustrated in the Argus in October 1926, which noted that ‘the elevation in concrete and brick adds a distinctive note to this rapidly advancing section of the city.’ The company installed a petrol pump at the premises In 1927 the property, still owned by Kinnear, was valued at a NAV of £1,000. Stillwell & Parry also managed a competitive motorcycle racing team, and remained at the Elizabeth Street premises until the company was dissolved in 1940. In 1944, the building was occupied as an army depot, and from the 1950s, by an electrical appliance retailer. Its use by defence services included as a ‘hospitality bureau’ for American service personnel in 1942, and as an office for the War Graves Service in 1946. While the association with George Stillwell is not confirmed, the Stillwell family generally were prominent in Australian motor racing and motor car circles through the twentieth century. The former Stillwell & Parry showrooms comprises a substantial, two-storey showroom with large areas of glazing to Elizabeth and Little Lonsdale streets. The building is distinguished by abstracted classical detailing in bas relief to its upper façade. The side elevation extends the classicised approach along Little Lonsdale Street before reverting to a more conventional warehouse form, incorporating plain face brick and steel-framed windows, towards its rear. Both street elevations have been overpainted in white although the contrasting textures of face brick and concrete remain legible. At the shopfront, original window joinery, notably, leadlight to highlight windows, has been removed, although the original arrangement is evident in an early illustration of the building. Nonetheless, low sills and open areas of modern glazing survive allowing the early appearance and use to be understood. The original form and materiality of the building also remains legible from the rear laneway where brickwork, concrete lintels and steel-framed windows survive unpainted and largely unaltered. Despite some changes and over-painting of key facades, the building remains substantially intact and legible to its original state.How is it Significant?The building at 307-311 Elizabeth Street, constructed in 1927, is of local historical and aesthetic/architectural significance.Why is it Significant?Historically, the building is associated with Stillwell & Parry, motor cycle manufacturers, who used the premises as their showroom. This association and use occurred in the period when an increasing number of motor car and motor cycle related businesses began occupying premises in this area of Elizabeth Street, a use which largely remains.Architecturally, the subject building is a large corner building which, although overpainted, legibly retains the contrasting textures of face brick and concrete as intended by its concrete enthusiast architect, Leslie M Perrott. Early descriptions complimented its elevations in concrete and brick. The building is otherwise substantially externally intact, and distinguished by its abstracted classical detailing in bas relief to the upper façade, and large ground floor showroom windows, albeit modified..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites source 81- Yuncken Freeman Architects P/L 1976.. Historic Buildings Preservation Council Melbourne CBD Study Area 5.CITY OF MELBOURNE BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONSMelbourne Building Application IndexElizabeth St - Flinders Sthttps://www.ancestry.com.au/imageviewer/collections/60672/images/44777_349573-0030819221917 May alts to caféetc1926 Aug 8807 ₤3200 erection of motor show roomOct installation of petrol pump and tank…Dec erection of electric light fittingSep erection of verandahetc.NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954)Saturday 31 July 1926 - Page 79European Motor Races A cable message received this week by the motor cycle firm of Stillwell and Parry, Elizabeth street, Melbourne, states that the 500 c.c. race in connection with the motor cycle Grand Prix of Europe was won by J. Simpson (A.J.S.) at an average speed of 67.98 miles an hour — a record….The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954)Monday 16 August 1926 - Page 12https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/243702223NEW MOTOR CYCLE PREMISES in the course of construction for Stillwell and Parry Pty. Ltd. are Elizabeth street premises which when completed should constitute one of the most up-to-date motor cycle showrooms in the city. The new building will have a frontage of 33ft. and a depth of 70ft. along Little Lonsdale street. The premises, which will be used exclusively in the interests of A.J.S. and Velocette machines, and motor accessories, will be in occupation before Christmas..DIRECTORIES OF VICTORIA, MELBOURNE-SANDS AND KENNY, SANDS & MCDOUGALL1925307 Bouris, Geo.. dining rooms309-11 Stillwell & Parry Pty Ltd. mtr cycle mfrsLt Lonsdale St1930307-11 Stillwell & Parry Pty Ltd, motor cycle imprtrs
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Research and reports
Record number:
1204554
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 103206 | 1 JPEG : 257 KB ; A4 | Single Item (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |