Category Collins Street

Jun 2 2012

14-11-1899: The Auction of 283 Collins Street Melbourne.

The Argus, Melbourne, Tuesday 14th November 1899, page 2.

On Tuesday the 14th of November 1899, Ferguson & Urie’s flagship 281-283 Collins Street building went up for auction at “twelve o’clock noon” . There were no takers!

It wasn’t until February 1901 that the adjoining Citizens Life Assurance Company brought the building for an “undisclosed sum”. Other obscure reports from West Australian tabloids revealed a price of “between  £600 and £620 per foot frontage”.

The Ferguson & Urie building would eventually be demolished circa 1915 leaving no evidence of one of the first buildings in Melbourne to have the facade approved to have been built of “Hydraulic Freestone“.

The Ferguson & Urie Building at 10 Collins Street East.

The Ferguson & Urie Building at 10 (later 281-283) Collins Street East.

Related posts:

30-09-1873: For sale, 10 Collins Street.

20-03-1884: Ferguson & Urie building facade approved to be made of Hydraulic Freestone.

22-08-1884: Ferguson & Urie New Premises at 281-283 Collins Street

21-02-1901: The Citizens Life Life Assurance Company purchases the building.

Short link to this page: http://wp.me/p28nLD-ZI

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Apr 12 2012

21-02-1901: Citizens’ Life Assurance Company purchase the Ferguson & Urie building.

The Argus, Melbourne, Thursday 21st February 1901, page 4.

“We are informed by the Citizens’ Life Assurance Company Limited that they have purchased the property adjoining that which they occupy in Collins-street, known as Ferguson and Urie’s Buildings. The price paid is not stated.”

The West Australian, Perth, WA, Wednesday 27th February 1901, page 5.

“The price paid by the Citizens’ Life Assurance Company for Messrs. Ferguson and Urie’s buildings in Collins-street is understood to be something between £600 and £620 per foot frontage.”

The Ferguson & Urie building is shown in the centre of the photo below. The National Bank is on the left and the Citizens Life Assurance Company is seen on the right as the Planet Building Society[1] which was brought by the Citizens Life Assurance Company in 1901.

The photo below is considered to be circa 1885. The Ferguson & Urie and Planet building are believed to have been demolished circa 1915 to make way for the Bank of Queensland (also demolished 1970).

The Ferguson & Urie Building at 10 Collins Street East.

The Ferguson & Urie Building at 10 (later 281-283) Collins Street East, Melbourne

Related posts:

30-09-1873: For sale, 10 Collins Street.

20-03-1884: Ferguson & Urie building facade approved to be made of Hydraulic Freestone.

22-08-1884: Ferguson & Urie New Premises at 281-283 Collins Street

14-11-1899: The Auction of 283 Collins Street.

Footnotes:

[1]  The Advertiser, Adelaide, SA, Wednesday 8th March 1899, page 7.   The Citizens Life Assurance Company: “…During the year the directors purchased the freehold premises of the late Planet Building Society, Collins Street, Melbourne. The premises are centrally situated, and the business of our Melbourne branch is now being conducted therein...”

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Apr 1 2012

09-01-1886: Advertisement, 10 Collins Street.

The Argus, Melbourne, Saturday 9th Jan 1886, page 8.

An advertisement appeared in the Argus for about two weeks on January 1886:

“TO LET, for one or four years, from the 1st February next, MUNRO and BAILLIEU’S PREMISES, 10 Collins-street east. Part of Ferguson and Urie’s buildings, and next to the National Bank. Full particulars upon application.”

This particular family line of “Baillieu” has a long Victorian historical history and to the Victorian Parliamentary Premier, Ted Baillieu (as at 2011).

Mar 31 2012

20-03-1884: Ferguson & Urie building facade approved to be made of Hydraulic Freestone.

The facade of the Ferguson & Urie building in Collins street was approved to be made of the ‘Patent Hydraulic Freestone’. In March 1884, Thomas Crouch (of Crouch & Wilson fame), architect for Ferguson & Urie’s new building, successfully appealed against the bylaws, and the city Surveyor, whom objected against the use of the new building product named “Hydraulic Freestone” for use in external walls.

The Argus, Melbourne, Thursday 20th March 1884, page 5.

 A decision of some interest has just been arrived at respecting the freestone made by the Patent Victoria Hydraulic Freestone Company Limited. On the city surveyor objecting to its use for external walls to buildings in the city, as not being either of the materials allowed in schedule C, part 2, of Bye-law 69, Mr. Crouch, the architect for Messrs. Ferguson and Urie’s new premises in Collins-street, appealed to the official referees, who gave the following award:- “Having carefully considered the matter, and having had the result of experiments specially instituted by us for the purpose of testing the tension of the stone reported to us, we do hereby, acting under the powers vested in us by Section 74 of the Building Act, certify and award that the material in question is a stone within the meaning of the above mentioned schedule C. part 2. Signed, JAMES BLACKBURN, CHARLES BARRET, Official Referees; E. G. FITZGIBBON, TOWN CLERK.”

The Mercury, Hobart, Tasmania, Thursday 28th August 1884, page 2.

“THE PATENT VICTORIA HYDRAULIC FREE-STONE. – The recognition this manufacture is obtaining among the building trade in Melbourne as a valuable and reliable material for house structure is shown in the following extract from the Argus of 23rd inst.: “amongst the new buildings approaching completion in Collins street is one conspicuous for its bright and cheerful facade, situated near the site of the old Clarence Hotel, and soon to be occupied by Messrs. Ferguson and Urie as a glass warehouse and offices. The attractive appearance of this building is mainly due to the novel material of which it is composed, viz., the hydraulic freestone manufactured at Port Melbourne, where the Patent Victoria Hydraulic Freestone Co., Limited, has erected extensive works on a five-acre block of purchased land, and obtained all the necessary machinery for a large output of stone. No chemicals are used in the manufacture of the stone, the component parts being 80 percent of clean sand, 10 percent of lime, and 10 percent of amorphous silicates. The only chemical action employed is the application of a moist heat, forming a cementing matrix of silicate of lime. When the manager of the company first proposed contracting for a building in the city, objections were raised on the ground that hydraulic freestone was not included under the heading of a building material. But on being subjected to a very severe test at Langlands’ Foundry by the city architect and building surveyor, with satisfactory results, all objections were removed, and the stone is now officially recognised as a material sanctioned by the Building Act. Messrs. Ferguson and Urie’s building is seven stories in height, including the basement. It has a front elevation of 80ft. to Collins-street, and the bright aspect of the manufactured freestone presents an agreeable contrast to the darker hues of the adjacent buildings. Continental Gothic is the style of architecture adopted. A good deal of elaborate carving has been introduced, the hydraulic freestone having been found to lend itself readily to this description of ornamental work. The process of moulding was partially adopted, but the tracery and stencilling were performed with the mason’s chisel. The last stone of the frontage was placed in position yesterday afternoon, and the building will be ready for occupation in about a month.” Mr. Holroyd, who holds the patent, has attempted, but as yet unsuccessfully, to introduce the base of this material by the building trade in Hobart. If positive proof of its utility is needed, the present instance should satisfy even the most sceptical.”

This photo below was found in a box of family history memorabilia in 2010. The State Library of Victoria also has another similar image (obviously taken at the same session by unknown photographer) in their records except the ‘ghosting’ of the people walking past the building shows them in different positions as they walk past it.

The Ferguson & Urie Building at 10 Collins Street East.

The Ferguson & Urie Building at 10 (later 283-285) Collins Street East.

Related posts:

30-09-1873: For sale, 10 Collins Street.

22-08-1884: The Ferguson & Urie Building, 281-283 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria

14-11-1899: The Auction of 283 Collins Street.

21-02-1901: The Citizens Life Life Assurance Company purchases the building.

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Mar 31 2012

22-08-1884: The Ferguson & Urie Building, 281-283 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria.

Ferguson & Urie began in 1853 as plumbers, slaters, and glaziers, in Curzon Street North Melbourne. In 1854 they had realised an emerging potential in stained glass in the colony and had successful experimented and exhibited stained glass in the exhibition of 1854. By 1861 they had completely transformed the plumbing business to become extremely successful as (arguably) the colonies first commercial stained glass craftsmen. With the gold rush flooding the colony with wealth, and the extraordinary rate that churches and mansions were being erected, the company was expanding so much that by 1884 they had decided to erect a magnificent headquarters building as a testament to their wealth and success. The Ferguson & Urie building was erected in Collins street in late 1884, but less than six years later the land boom had collapsed, the stock market had crashed, and the wealth of the colony was flattened.  The company attempted to sell the building in 1889 without success and it eventually fell into the hands of the mortgagees. It was eventually advertised for auction ten years later, in November 1899, but did not sell and was eventually sold to the adjoining Citizens’ Life  Assurance Company (shown as the Planet Building  Society on the right of photo) in February 1901 for an “undisclosed sum”.

The Ferguson & Urie building was eventually to succumb to the wreckers ball and was demolished by Melbourne’s infamous “Whelan the Wrecker” circa 1915.

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The Argus, Melbourne, Friday 22 August 1884, page 7.
The Mercury, Hobart, Tasmania, Thursday 28th August 1884, page 2.

“MESSRS. FERGUSON AND URIE’S NEW PREMISES”

“Amongst the new buildings approaching completion in Collins-street is one conspicuous for its bright and cheerful façade, situated near the site of the old Clarence Hotel, and soon to be occupied by Messrs. Ferguson and Urie as a glass warehouse and offices. The attractive appearance of the building is mainly due to the novel materiel of which it is composed, viz, the hydraulic freestone manufactured at Port Melbourne, where the Patent Victoria Hydraulic Freestone Company Limited has erected extensive works on a five-acre block of purchased land, and obtained all the necessary machinery for a large output of stone. No chemicals are used in the manufacture of the stone, the component parts being 80 per cent of clean sand, 10 percent of lime, and 10 of amorphous silicates. The only chemical action employed is the application of a moist heat, forming a cementing matrix of silicate of lime. When the manager of the company first proposed contracting for a building in the city, objections were raised on the ground that hydraulic freestone was not included under the heading of building material. But on being subjected to a very severe test at Langland’s’ Foundry by the city architect and building surveyor, with satisfactory results, all objections were removed, and the stone is now officially recognised as a material sanctioned by the building act. Messrs. Ferguson and Urie’s building is seven stories in height, including the basement. It has a front elevation of 80ft to Collins-street, and the bright aspect of the manufactured freestone presents and agreeable contrast to the darker hues of the adjacent buildings. Continental Gothic is the style of architecture adopted. A good deal of elaborate carving has been introduced, the hydraulic freestone having been found to lend itself readily to this description of ornamental work. The process of moulding was partially adopted, but the tracery and stencilling were performed with the mason’s chisel. The last stone of the frontage was placed in position yesterday afternoon, and the building will be ready for occupation in about a month. Messrs. Ferguson and Urie will utilise the ground floor for their glass warehouse and the upper stories will be let as offices. Mr. T. J. Crouch was the architect of the building and Mr. W. Ireland the contractor.”

The Argus, Melbourne, Monday 24th November 1884, page 3

“T. J. CROUCH, architect and licensed surveyor, invites TENDERS for EXCAVATION and other works in extending cellar accommodation, for Messrs. Ferguson and Urie. Drawings and specifications may be seen at his offices, 46 Elizabeth-street.”

Related posts:

30-09-1873: For sale, 10 Collins Street.

20-03-1884: Ferguson & Urie building facade approved to be made of Hydraulic Freestone.

14-11-1899: The Auction of 283 Collins Street.

21-02-1901: The Citizens Life Life Assurance Company purchases the building.

Short link to this page: http://wp.me/p28nLD-Ai

© Copyright

Mar 16 2012

26-07-1878: Reward for Lost Deeds and Plan.

The Argus, Melbourne, Friday 26th July 1878, page 1.

“TEN SHILLINGS REWARD – LOST, DEEDS and Plan, Elizabeth and Victoria streets. Apply Ferguson and Urie, 10 Collins-street east”.

I have no idea what relevance this is or whether it was actually anything to do with Ferguson & Urie or an employee who may have lost the “deeds”. The address “10 Collins-street east” is six years before the Ferguson & Urie seven storey building was erected on the site in 1884.

Related posts:

22-08-1884: The Ferguson & Urie New Premises at 281-283 Collins Street.