| Back to search results » | Back to search page » |
|
J. KENNON & SONS WOOL STORE (FORMER)
Location153part Palmer Street, RICHMOND VIC 3121 - Property No 168560 LevelIncl in HO area indiv sig |
|
Statement of Significance
The following wording is from the Allom and Lovell Building Citation, 1998 for the property. Please note that this is a "Building Citation", not a "Statement of Significance". For further information refer to the Building Citation held by the City of Yarra. History: The J Kennon & Sons Wool Store was designed by Albion H Walkley and William Pitt & Sons in 1922. Walkley had designed the firms' offices in June 1915, which he altered in 1922 and 1926. J Kennon & Sons was established as a tannery in Bridge Road, Richmond in 1863 when it employed four to five people and turned out 10-20 hides a week. By 1888, the firm employed 26 people and produced only kangaroo hides, tanning approximately 1,200 per week. The firm also manufactured thongs and laces and was, at that time, one of the largest lace factories in the colonies.
Description: The former J Kennon & Sons Wool Stores, on the Corner of River and Murphy Streets, Richmond, is a three-storey red brick building with a dominant unpainted rendered parapet. The walls of the building are red face brick, with the overall composition being a series of bays defined by brick piers, with alternate ones being embellished with a shallow brick pilaster. Between these piers are large multi-paned steel-framed windows, separated by rendered spandrel panels. There is a small entrance with a bracketed canopy at the second-northernmost bay in River Street. The third floor on the north elevation has blind openings in place of glazing. The parapet is of unpainted render, and, on the east facade, is divided horizontally by a wide cornice. A central raised section bears the words J KENNON & SONS PTY LTD; beneath the cornice is written WOOL STORES. Significance: The former J Kennon & Sons Wool Stores, on the corner of River and Murphy Streets, Richmond, is of local historical and architectural significance. J Kennon & Sons were a prominent early established firm in Richmond. The building is a typical example of a large early inter-War commercial building, an elegant composition of classically-derived architectural elements. The significance of the building is increased by its extensive areas of face red brick and unpainted render; its bulk gives it landmark qualities.
Group
Commercial
Category
Woolstore