Melbourne Lonsdale Street 352-362, Mitchell House, built 1936-General sheet 088 1980s 3
Twentieth Century Architecture survey of Victoria 1970s-1980s then 1983- for the RAIA (Vic): .
`In the 1880s, Thomas Mitchell's brush manufactory was close to this site, in Little Bourke Street near Elizabeth Street, later occupying nearby 355 - 357 Lonsdale Street. By early this century, Mitchell had part of the present site, extending the holding in 1902 and 1916 to comprise the total area of today's 354 - 362 Lonsdale Street. A permit application was lodged mid 1936, the old Commercial Hotel which had occupied the site was demolished and six levels of the Harry A Norris limit-height design were constructed by builders, Hansen and Yuncken. When complete the new building housed the showroom of Thomas Mitchell & Co Pty Ltd (2nd floor), then wholesale brush and broom makers, hardware and tank merchants and nail and barbed wire manufacturers, while the company's offices lay next door (360 - 362) in a renovated four level building. Early Mitchell House tenants included Mrs Etheridge's cake shop, film distributors United Artists and Atlas Films, Electrolux Pty Ltd and a selection of solicitors and debt collectors on the top floor. These tenants enjoyed erstwhile unparalleled natural lighting to all floors, individually controlled hydraulic radiant heating and automatic (gearless) electric lifts. 'Never before have so many natural advantages been grouped in one building in the heart of Melbourne' said the brochures..
Because of its "vertical features" (applied purely for visual effect to the south and east facades), the style was Streamlined Moderne. Nevertheless the building offered many Modern advantages, particularly the ample natural light afforded by the near continuous horizontal metal-framed glazing strips which encircled two main elevations. Achieved by cantilevering perimeter floor slabs, this aspect also greatly enhanced the buildings streamlined futuristic character. Yule House (1932), Little Collins Street, was the first horizontal column-free metal-framed glazing strips, in the Moderne manner, but over one structural bay and across what was a two-dimensional facade. Mitchell House was the first large commercial building to achieve this over two opposing elevations and, as a result, achieving the rounded off cube form also pursued in contemporary household products such as radios and today termed as "Art Deco"..
Statement of Significance.
An outstanding example of the Moderne style of Melbourne, Mitchell House was built in 1937 as offices for the brush manufacturers Thomas Mitchell & Co. It was designed by the architect, Harry Norris, as a two stage 10 storey building. The additional four floors of the second stage were never completed. The external render sections were originally finished in white cement which, together with its columnless corners and horizontal bands of glass, gave it a thoroughly modern streamlined look.'
Melbourne Lonsdale Street 352-362, Mitchell House, built 1936-General sheet 088 1980s 3
Twentieth Century Architecture survey of Victoria 1970s-1980s then 1983- for the RAIA (Vic): .
`In the 1880s, Thomas Mitchell's brush manufactory was close to this site, in Little Bourke Street near Elizabeth Street, later occupying nearby 355 - 357 Lonsdale Street. By early this century, Mitchell had part of the present site, extending the holding in 1902 and 1916 to comprise the total area of today's 354 - 362 Lonsdale Street. A permit application was lodged mid 1936, the old Commercial Hotel which had occupied the site was demolished and six levels of the Harry A Norris limit-height design were constructed by builders, Hansen and Yuncken. When complete the new building housed the showroom of Thomas Mitchell & Co Pty Ltd (2nd floor), then wholesale brush and broom makers, hardware and tank merchants and nail and barbed wire manufacturers, while the company's offices lay next door (360 - 362) in a renovated four level building. Early Mitchell House tenants included Mrs Etheridge's cake shop, film distributors United Artists and Atlas Films, Electrolux Pty Ltd and a selection of solicitors and debt collectors on the top floor. These tenants enjoyed erstwhile unparalleled natural lighting to all floors, individually controlled hydraulic radiant heating and automatic (gearless) electric lifts. 'Never before have so many natural advantages been grouped in one building in the heart of Melbourne' said the brochures..
Because of its "vertical features" (applied purely for visual effect to the south and east facades), the style was Streamlined Moderne. Nevertheless the building offered many Modern advantages, particularly the ample natural light afforded by the near continuous horizontal metal-framed glazing strips which encircled two main elevations. Achieved by cantilevering perimeter floor slabs, this aspect also greatly enhanced the buildings streamlined futuristic character. Yule House (1932), Little Collins Street, was the first horizontal column-free metal-framed glazing strips, in the Moderne manner, but over one structural bay and across what was a two-dimensional facade. Mitchell House was the first large commercial building to achieve this over two opposing elevations and, as a result, achieving the rounded off cube form also pursued in contemporary household products such as radios and today termed as "Art Deco"..
Statement of Significance.
An outstanding example of the Moderne style of Melbourne, Mitchell House was built in 1937 as offices for the brush manufacturers Thomas Mitchell & Co. It was designed by the architect, Harry Norris, as a two stage 10 storey building. The additional four floors of the second stage were never completed. The external render sections were originally finished in white cement which, together with its columnless corners and horizontal bands of glass, gave it a thoroughly modern streamlined look.'