Tag Archives: 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 27 2012

31-08-1976: Stained glass windows stolen in city raid.

Number 9 Collins Street Melbourne is the Grosvenor Chambers building built in 1887-1888 by architect Oakden, Addison & Kemp for the Scottish decorative artist Charles Stewart Paterson. At some point in its history it also hosted the prestigious Melbourne Club and was Australia’s first custom designed studio complex, used by prominent Australian artists.

In 1976 a brazen thief stole some original stained glass windows from the Collins Street face of the building. It was claimed that these historic windows were the work of the Colonial Victorian firm of Ferguson & Urie!

The Age, Melbourne, Tuesday 31st August 1976, page 3.

“Stained glass windows stolen in city raid”

“Thieves yesterday hacked out two stained glass windows worth more than $5,000 from a Collins Street building. The building, No.9 Collins St., has been classified by the national Trust. Since it was built in 1887 it has housed such famous Australian artists as Tom Roberts, Sir John Longstaff and Albert tucker. The building is the centre of a controversy between the Trust and the owners, Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society, who want to demolish it. A tenant of the building, photographer Mr. Eric Baylis, said he last saw the window late on Sunday night. “When I got here yesterday morning it was gone. Part of the window had been cut out of the frame, while other parts had been hacked out”, Mr. Baylis said. An authority of stained glass windows, Mr. Allan Sumner, said the windows were made by Ferguson and Urie of Melbourne in the late 1880’s. “It is a classic example of that type of work. Now it has been stolen it is irreplaceable”. He said the windows would be hard to sell. “People who know anything about glass will know that that type of work is hard to come by. What people should look for is that the margins on a couple of frames will be damaged because they have been hacked out by a knife or screwdriver”.

“ABOVE: Photographer Eric Bayliss with one of the gaps left by the stolen windows. BELOW: One of the windows before it disappeared”.

(photos from article shown together below)

The Age, Melbourne, Tuesday 31st August 1976, page 3.

The Age, Melbourne, Vic, Friday 3rd September 1976.

“Old glass windows recovered”.

“Two stained glass windows stolen from a Collins St. building last Sunday were found abandoned behind a Westmeadows church on Wednesday. The windows, made by Ferguson and Urie, of Melbourne, in the 1880’s, were lying in a paddock wrapped in blankets. Thieves removed them from their frames at the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance building last Sunday. CMLA senior property officer. Mr. A. Gray, said yesterday the windows would not be put back. ‘They are being crated for safe storage. We do not propose to put them back for the same thing to happen again”, Mr. Gray said. He said the windows did not appear to be damaged. An authority on stained glass windows, Mr. Allan Sumner, said the windows would be worth about $5,000. The CMLA building, built in 1887, has a National Trust classification”.

As Dr. Bronwyn Hughes has pointed out on her comment to this article in June 2012, it’s extremely likely that Sumner is incorrect in his observation as to who made the window. “The stairwell window for Grosvenor Chambers was designed by John Hughes and made by Brooks, Robinson & Co. The article doesn’t make clear whether it was the stairwell, but it seems unlikely that another firm would be brought in for other windows.”

This is further corroborated by an article published in April 1888 which chronicled the opening of the Grosvenor Buildings and included a significant amount of detail about the stained glass windows by the “Mr. Hughes” from the stained glass firm of Brooks, Robinson & Co.

Resources links:

Wikipedia: Grosvenor Chambers

Walking Melbourne: Grosvenor Chambers

Walking Melbourne blog: Grosvenor Chambers, 9 Collins Street

NLA: The Age, Melbourne, Vic, Friday 3rd September 1976.
(mentioned in Biog of his brother John Ford Paterson)
Article Short Link: http://wp.me/p28nLD-Sq
Apr 5 2012

19-08-1889: Sale of the Ferguson & Urie building in Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria.

The Argus, Melbourne, Monday 19th August 1889, page 8.

“CENTRAL CITY PROPERTY. To Banking and Insurance Companies and Others. That CENTRAL PROPERTY. No. 10 Collins-street East, For Sale. Principals only. Apply Ferguson and Urie, 10 Collins-street East”.

Financial market turmoil has begun and it’s likely the sale of the flagship Collins street building is the first casualty to fall in the company. The stock market crashed in 1890 and many businesses fell under pressure from the market woes. This was the first attempt by the company to sell the building but it was not sold until until 1901.

The building at 10 Collins Street (later 281-283) was built in 1884 and demolished circa 1915.

The Ferguson & Urie Building at 10 Collins Street East.

The Ferguson & Urie Building at 10 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’s new premises.

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

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

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

© Copyright

Apr 1 2012

13-02-1885: Ferguson & Urie Tennants at 281-283 Collins Street Building.

The Argus, Melbourne, Friday 13th February 1885, page 7.

An article appeared in the Argus indicating that Messrs. J. H. Cole and Co occupied offices in the Ferguson & Urie building at 281-283 (formerly 10) Collins street east.

The photo of the Ferguson & Urie building in 1885 shows that Cole & Co occupied the first floor of the building as the business name appears in the quatrefoil shaped tracery between the first floor windows and the company Dunn & Co Architects occupied the second floor according to advertising seen on the second floor windows.

Related posts:

22-08-1884: Ferguson & Urie’s new premises.

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.

© Copyright

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 7 2012

30-09-1873: Ferguson & Urie advertise 10 Collins street for sale.

The Argus, Melbourne, Tuesday 30th September1873, page 8.

“FOR SALE, or To Let, No. 10 Collins-street east. Ferguson and Urie, Curzon-street, Hotham”.

This is one of the earliest indications that the Ferguson & Urie company had premises in Collins street. The Company didn’t end up selling the premises at address 10 Collins street and ten years later, in 1884, they decided to erect  a seven story building which would become their main business headquarters.

Related posts:

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

22-08-1884 : Ferguson & Urie’s new premises.

19-08-1889: Sale of the Ferguson & Urie building in Collins Street

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

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

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

© Copyright