Melbourne Flinders Lane 308, Connibere Grieve & Connibere's warehouse CAD 1985 - Sheet 29-2 160
Melbourne Central Activities District (CAD) Conservation Study 1985 survey images: approx 1200 Kodak colour negatives- B&W versions
GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDY
Statement of Significance
History
Warehouses, 302-306, 308 Flinders Lane
Built: 1886, 1909
Thomas J Crouch designed three three-storey warehouses on this site (302- 306) in 1886 for L Benjamin of Beehive Chambers (qv). His builder was Page McCulloch of Carlton. One Clarke owned another three-storey warehouse to the west of the group (1885). Connibere Grieve and Connibere (E W R Connibere, J Grieve and C W Connibere) occupied 304 from the mid 1890s, after a variety of tenants, acquiring it and the others (306- 308) by 1908. Nahum Barnet designed a steel-framed warehouse for Connibere at 301-311 Flinders Lane (1914) so it is likely that he was the architect for the added floor to 302- 306 and the reconstruction of 308 to five levels, in 1909.
With Connibere's departure, the remaining occupiers were united under the name Ferrando's Building, named after G Ferrando and Co., a soft goos merchant. Although Ferrando and Co. were still in occupation, now as olive oil importers, the building's name had become Leicester House by World War Two. The few major tenants included Harrington's photographic suppliers but the balance were smaller firms than had been before.
Description
Appearing to be from the late Victorian period and designed in a Medieval revival mode, the extension of the buildings has been matched to the 1886 levels of 302-306. Given the previous separate ownership and earlier date of 308, it is probable that it was a total reconstruction (rather than an addition) to match both facade and floor levels of 302-306 and, truly unite the buildings for one occupation.
Gothic detail is applied at the fourth level and Romanesque inspired foliated colonette and column capitals prevail elsewhere. Beyond these details the facades are ordered in the classical manner and the cornice and string moulds, bracketting and balustrading follow the Renaissance revival. The cemented details are as impressive as they are contradictory, complementing the intricate fenestration pattern of both facades. A previous study noted marble and panelling at the entry at 308 (1976).
Integrity
Generally externally original (302-306) the ground level is altered and the upper storey appears gutted (308).
Streetscape
The two buildings relate closely and contribute to the warehouse streetscape precinct adjoining.
Significance
An ornate, proficient and almost complete design with details derived from Italian medieval sources to provide an unusual elevation, distinct from the Italian Gothic of the Rialto and Olderfleet.
Melbourne Flinders Lane 308, Connibere Grieve & Connibere's warehouse CAD 1985 - Sheet 29-2 160
Melbourne Central Activities District (CAD) Conservation Study 1985 survey images: approx 1200 Kodak colour negatives- B&W versions
GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDY
Statement of Significance
History
Warehouses, 302-306, 308 Flinders Lane
Built: 1886, 1909
Thomas J Crouch designed three three-storey warehouses on this site (302- 306) in 1886 for L Benjamin of Beehive Chambers (qv). His builder was Page McCulloch of Carlton. One Clarke owned another three-storey warehouse to the west of the group (1885). Connibere Grieve and Connibere (E W R Connibere, J Grieve and C W Connibere) occupied 304 from the mid 1890s, after a variety of tenants, acquiring it and the others (306- 308) by 1908. Nahum Barnet designed a steel-framed warehouse for Connibere at 301-311 Flinders Lane (1914) so it is likely that he was the architect for the added floor to 302- 306 and the reconstruction of 308 to five levels, in 1909.
With Connibere's departure, the remaining occupiers were united under the name Ferrando's Building, named after G Ferrando and Co., a soft goos merchant. Although Ferrando and Co. were still in occupation, now as olive oil importers, the building's name had become Leicester House by World War Two. The few major tenants included Harrington's photographic suppliers but the balance were smaller firms than had been before.
Description
Appearing to be from the late Victorian period and designed in a Medieval revival mode, the extension of the buildings has been matched to the 1886 levels of 302-306. Given the previous separate ownership and earlier date of 308, it is probable that it was a total reconstruction (rather than an addition) to match both facade and floor levels of 302-306 and, truly unite the buildings for one occupation.
Gothic detail is applied at the fourth level and Romanesque inspired foliated colonette and column capitals prevail elsewhere. Beyond these details the facades are ordered in the classical manner and the cornice and string moulds, bracketting and balustrading follow the Renaissance revival. The cemented details are as impressive as they are contradictory, complementing the intricate fenestration pattern of both facades. A previous study noted marble and panelling at the entry at 308 (1976).
Integrity
Generally externally original (302-306) the ground level is altered and the upper storey appears gutted (308).
Streetscape
The two buildings relate closely and contribute to the warehouse streetscape precinct adjoining.
Significance
An ornate, proficient and almost complete design with details derived from Italian medieval sources to provide an unusual elevation, distinct from the Italian Gothic of the Rialto and Olderfleet.