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Adelaide Harbors Board building
The inscription implies the whole building was moved; in fact only the facade and the roof were preserved.
Built 1884 as offices for National Mutual Life Association, architects James Cumming & Edward Davies, taken over by government 1914 for SA Harbors Board. Originally on corner of Grote St, in Dec 1979 the facade was moved 34 metres north to make way for the SGIC Building. The roof was also saved. Now used for offices.
“The National Mutual Life Association of Australasia; are having handsome new offices erected on the west ride of Victoria-square, and directly opposite the new Government Offices, with a frontage of 50 feet by a depth of 94 feet The building is four stories in height, and is all adapted for offices with exception, of a small portion of the basement. . . The style of the building is Italian, having massive stylobate of Malmsbury bluestone, moulded and rusticated. Above this the whole of the front is carried out in freestone from Mossman's Bay Quarries; Sydney, the ground floor being in the lighter form of the Doric order, with three-quarter engaged columns and pilasters at the angles. The first floor is in the Corinthian order, the lower parts of the columns being enriched with carving in low relief. On this floor a handsome stone balcony is projected from the centre, over the main entrance. The second floor has the projections .carried up in piers, panelled and carved in low relief. A bold enriched cornice surmounting this returns round the several projections. Above the cornice is a balustrated parapet with large dormer in enriched pediment as a central feature. A French roof rises over this with a large square dome in the centre, covered with lead cut to fish-scale pattern, and surmounted by handsome cast-iron cresting and finials surrounding a look-out.” [Register 21 Mar 1884]
“The handsome buildings of the National Mutual Life Association, which have been in course of erection in Victoria-square during the past year, was opened by a banquet on Friday evening last. The total cost of the building is £13,500.” [Christian Colonist 30 May 1884]
“one of the most popular of the Victorian banks is about to open a branch in this city, and pending the acquisition of a suitable freehold site for building purposes has rented the front suite of offices in the costly building recently erected by the National Mutual Life Assurance Association in Victoria-square. The situation is a little off the beaten track of general traders,” [Express & Telegraph 31 May 1884]
“inadequate accommodation afforded to the Commonwealth electoral officials in the discharge of their duties. For several weeks an augmented staff have been obliged to work at high pressure in an overcrowded, ill lighted office at the Supreme Court buildings. When the new main rolls were compiled, some time ago, it was found necessary to rent an office in the National Mutual Buildings in Victoria-square.” [Advertiser 22 Mar 1910]
“a meeting of the Adelaide Esperanto Group at National Mutual Building, Victoria-square.” [Advertiser 4 May 1910]
“Mr. Oscar Taeuber, teacher of breathing, calisthenics, voice production, and singing, has removed to National Mutual Buildings, Victoria square.” [The Mail 24 Jan 1914]
“A fine edifice with a frontage to Victoria square bas been secured for Government purposes. This is the National Mutual life Building, which was erected 20 years ago on the western side of the square. The frontage extends over 50 ft and the depth is 90 ft. It has three floors and a basement, connected by a marble staircase. There are approximately 25 rooms and caretaker's apartments. The sum of £17,000 is to be paid for the building, which will be used to house the Harbors Board.” [Daily Herald 7 May 1914]
“the Harbors Board, who are to be quartered in this building, will require only a portion of the premises, and that other departments, at present cramped for room, will be transferred to it.. . . The large hall on the ground floor is now occupied by Mr. J. Timms, the well-known railway and tramway contractor, and his lease does not expire until May, 1915.” [Advertiser 4 Jun 1914]
“A tablet containing the names of 96 volunteers from the Harbors Department, was unveiled on Tuesday morning in the vestibule of the board's offices, Victoria square, by the Chief Secretary (Hon. J. G. Bice). . . the employes who went out to fight for liberty came from every branch of the service, and. represented many trades. . . The special distinctions won by the men were three commissions, one Military Cross, and two Military Medals. The tablet was entirely the work of the officers of the board, and was proof of their abilities in a peaceful direction. The carving was done by Mr. T. A. Shearing, a returned soldier.” [Express & Telegraph 25 May 1920]
“The last of the four remaining Moreton Bay fig trees in Victoria square was removed yesterday. The contractor (Mr. B. J. Wakefield) had his workmen on the job at 7 a.m. and the tree opposite the Post Office, known as the ‘Tree of Knowledge’ by the old timers who sat under it, was felled at about 8.45 a.m. When the clearing up has been completed the only tree left standing in the square will be the flame tree opposite the SA Harbors Board building.” [Advertiser 18 Jun 1946]
“Work has begun on the erection of temporary office premises for the Harbors Board on a Victoria square block formerly occupied by a monumental masonry firm. The Minister of Works (Mr. Mclntosh) said yesterday that accommodation in the Harbors Board building, which adjoined the block, had been inadequate for some time and the new premises would provide extra offices until a permanent building could be erected on the site.” [Advertiser 23 Jun 1949]
“The Harbors Board plans to erect a one-story building alongside its present building in Victoria square. The new building, which will be capable of extension at some later date, will be on the adjacent site now occupied by George Morgan, monumental mason works. Harbors Board general manager (Mr. Meyer) said today the land, which was owned by the Government, had been transferred to the board, which badly needed more office space.” [News 16 May 1949]
Adelaide Harbors Board building
The inscription implies the whole building was moved; in fact only the facade and the roof were preserved.
Built 1884 as offices for National Mutual Life Association, architects James Cumming & Edward Davies, taken over by government 1914 for SA Harbors Board. Originally on corner of Grote St, in Dec 1979 the facade was moved 34 metres north to make way for the SGIC Building. The roof was also saved. Now used for offices.
“The National Mutual Life Association of Australasia; are having handsome new offices erected on the west ride of Victoria-square, and directly opposite the new Government Offices, with a frontage of 50 feet by a depth of 94 feet The building is four stories in height, and is all adapted for offices with exception, of a small portion of the basement. . . The style of the building is Italian, having massive stylobate of Malmsbury bluestone, moulded and rusticated. Above this the whole of the front is carried out in freestone from Mossman's Bay Quarries; Sydney, the ground floor being in the lighter form of the Doric order, with three-quarter engaged columns and pilasters at the angles. The first floor is in the Corinthian order, the lower parts of the columns being enriched with carving in low relief. On this floor a handsome stone balcony is projected from the centre, over the main entrance. The second floor has the projections .carried up in piers, panelled and carved in low relief. A bold enriched cornice surmounting this returns round the several projections. Above the cornice is a balustrated parapet with large dormer in enriched pediment as a central feature. A French roof rises over this with a large square dome in the centre, covered with lead cut to fish-scale pattern, and surmounted by handsome cast-iron cresting and finials surrounding a look-out.” [Register 21 Mar 1884]
“The handsome buildings of the National Mutual Life Association, which have been in course of erection in Victoria-square during the past year, was opened by a banquet on Friday evening last. The total cost of the building is £13,500.” [Christian Colonist 30 May 1884]
“one of the most popular of the Victorian banks is about to open a branch in this city, and pending the acquisition of a suitable freehold site for building purposes has rented the front suite of offices in the costly building recently erected by the National Mutual Life Assurance Association in Victoria-square. The situation is a little off the beaten track of general traders,” [Express & Telegraph 31 May 1884]
“inadequate accommodation afforded to the Commonwealth electoral officials in the discharge of their duties. For several weeks an augmented staff have been obliged to work at high pressure in an overcrowded, ill lighted office at the Supreme Court buildings. When the new main rolls were compiled, some time ago, it was found necessary to rent an office in the National Mutual Buildings in Victoria-square.” [Advertiser 22 Mar 1910]
“a meeting of the Adelaide Esperanto Group at National Mutual Building, Victoria-square.” [Advertiser 4 May 1910]
“Mr. Oscar Taeuber, teacher of breathing, calisthenics, voice production, and singing, has removed to National Mutual Buildings, Victoria square.” [The Mail 24 Jan 1914]
“A fine edifice with a frontage to Victoria square bas been secured for Government purposes. This is the National Mutual life Building, which was erected 20 years ago on the western side of the square. The frontage extends over 50 ft and the depth is 90 ft. It has three floors and a basement, connected by a marble staircase. There are approximately 25 rooms and caretaker's apartments. The sum of £17,000 is to be paid for the building, which will be used to house the Harbors Board.” [Daily Herald 7 May 1914]
“the Harbors Board, who are to be quartered in this building, will require only a portion of the premises, and that other departments, at present cramped for room, will be transferred to it.. . . The large hall on the ground floor is now occupied by Mr. J. Timms, the well-known railway and tramway contractor, and his lease does not expire until May, 1915.” [Advertiser 4 Jun 1914]
“A tablet containing the names of 96 volunteers from the Harbors Department, was unveiled on Tuesday morning in the vestibule of the board's offices, Victoria square, by the Chief Secretary (Hon. J. G. Bice). . . the employes who went out to fight for liberty came from every branch of the service, and. represented many trades. . . The special distinctions won by the men were three commissions, one Military Cross, and two Military Medals. The tablet was entirely the work of the officers of the board, and was proof of their abilities in a peaceful direction. The carving was done by Mr. T. A. Shearing, a returned soldier.” [Express & Telegraph 25 May 1920]
“The last of the four remaining Moreton Bay fig trees in Victoria square was removed yesterday. The contractor (Mr. B. J. Wakefield) had his workmen on the job at 7 a.m. and the tree opposite the Post Office, known as the ‘Tree of Knowledge’ by the old timers who sat under it, was felled at about 8.45 a.m. When the clearing up has been completed the only tree left standing in the square will be the flame tree opposite the SA Harbors Board building.” [Advertiser 18 Jun 1946]
“Work has begun on the erection of temporary office premises for the Harbors Board on a Victoria square block formerly occupied by a monumental masonry firm. The Minister of Works (Mr. Mclntosh) said yesterday that accommodation in the Harbors Board building, which adjoined the block, had been inadequate for some time and the new premises would provide extra offices until a permanent building could be erected on the site.” [Advertiser 23 Jun 1949]
“The Harbors Board plans to erect a one-story building alongside its present building in Victoria square. The new building, which will be capable of extension at some later date, will be on the adjacent site now occupied by George Morgan, monumental mason works. Harbors Board general manager (Mr. Meyer) said today the land, which was owned by the Government, had been transferred to the board, which badly needed more office space.” [News 16 May 1949]