Melbourne Flinders Lane 267-275, Stevenson & Sons Ltd. warehouse or The Lane Building- CAD sheet 29 11
Reduced Melbourne Central Activities District (CAD) Conservation Study 1985 survey images: approx 1200 Kodak colour negatives.
See
librarysearch.melbourne.vic.gov.au/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ...
GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDY
Statement of Significance
History
Linked with the construction of 257-265 Flinders Lane (q.v.), this was one of two warehouses commissioned by L. Stevenson & Sons (merchants and warehousemen) from builders, Christopherson & Brown. Both were designed by architects, Reed Smart & Tappin, in 1898.
By the early 1900s, the City Property Co. Ltd. was the owner with Stevenson's first tenants, warehousemen and
millinery specialists Brooks McGlashan, and McHarg (and others) staying on. D. & W. Murray Ltd. (warehousemen) were the next owners c1912 and, like Stevensons, they also owned the two adjoining warehouses on the east. Their architects, Bates Peebles and Smart, designed extra floors for these and possibly 267-75 Flinders Lane, boosting the former five levels to seven in ratebook descriptions (six floors and basement today). Tenants sharing the Lane (271-275) include Kemsley & Co., importers and indenters, many manufacturers' agents, Law & Tipton, straw hat makers and Charles Bayer & Co., manufacturers.
Later alterations were carried out for Brooks McGlashan & McHarg, in 1936, to the design of H.W. & F.B. Tompkins. These converted the ground level to retail shopfronts, after 40 years of wholesaling. A shallow cantilever verandah was also added.
Brooks, McGlashan & McHarg started their fancy goods importing business in 1884, close to this site, under John Brooks. McGlashan joined him from a long stint with William Watson & Sons and McHarg came from Patterson, Laing & Bruce. Each had specialized in a particular branch of the trade and in the late 1880s they claimed to be the only colonial firm to send a buyer to Britain and the Continent twice a year. Their business brought ribbons, laces, silks, embroideries, feathers, flowers and millinery to their Melbourne warehouse, attracting as co-tenants other like agents or hat manufacturers, settled close to their supply of materials.
Description
An austere Italian Renaissance design in unpainted cement rendered brick work with dividing string and cornice moulds and a gabled pediment at the parapet. Windows are timber-framed in six-lights and subtle Tuscan order capitals have been applied to the dividing pilasters.
External Integrity
Generally original (shopfronts and canopy accounted for) except for added air units and painted brick at the rear.
Streetscape
Contributing to an important late 19th early 20th Century warehouse streetscape.
Significance
Externally near original in a successful if austere and conservative design and typical of the adjacent notable warehouse streetscape.
Melbourne Flinders Lane 267-275, Stevenson & Sons Ltd. warehouse or The Lane Building- CAD sheet 29 11
Reduced Melbourne Central Activities District (CAD) Conservation Study 1985 survey images: approx 1200 Kodak colour negatives.
See
librarysearch.melbourne.vic.gov.au/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ...
GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDY
Statement of Significance
History
Linked with the construction of 257-265 Flinders Lane (q.v.), this was one of two warehouses commissioned by L. Stevenson & Sons (merchants and warehousemen) from builders, Christopherson & Brown. Both were designed by architects, Reed Smart & Tappin, in 1898.
By the early 1900s, the City Property Co. Ltd. was the owner with Stevenson's first tenants, warehousemen and
millinery specialists Brooks McGlashan, and McHarg (and others) staying on. D. & W. Murray Ltd. (warehousemen) were the next owners c1912 and, like Stevensons, they also owned the two adjoining warehouses on the east. Their architects, Bates Peebles and Smart, designed extra floors for these and possibly 267-75 Flinders Lane, boosting the former five levels to seven in ratebook descriptions (six floors and basement today). Tenants sharing the Lane (271-275) include Kemsley & Co., importers and indenters, many manufacturers' agents, Law & Tipton, straw hat makers and Charles Bayer & Co., manufacturers.
Later alterations were carried out for Brooks McGlashan & McHarg, in 1936, to the design of H.W. & F.B. Tompkins. These converted the ground level to retail shopfronts, after 40 years of wholesaling. A shallow cantilever verandah was also added.
Brooks, McGlashan & McHarg started their fancy goods importing business in 1884, close to this site, under John Brooks. McGlashan joined him from a long stint with William Watson & Sons and McHarg came from Patterson, Laing & Bruce. Each had specialized in a particular branch of the trade and in the late 1880s they claimed to be the only colonial firm to send a buyer to Britain and the Continent twice a year. Their business brought ribbons, laces, silks, embroideries, feathers, flowers and millinery to their Melbourne warehouse, attracting as co-tenants other like agents or hat manufacturers, settled close to their supply of materials.
Description
An austere Italian Renaissance design in unpainted cement rendered brick work with dividing string and cornice moulds and a gabled pediment at the parapet. Windows are timber-framed in six-lights and subtle Tuscan order capitals have been applied to the dividing pilasters.
External Integrity
Generally original (shopfronts and canopy accounted for) except for added air units and painted brick at the rear.
Streetscape
Contributing to an important late 19th early 20th Century warehouse streetscape.
Significance
Externally near original in a successful if austere and conservative design and typical of the adjacent notable warehouse streetscape.