Shops (Brays Store), 113-115 Napier Street, ST ARNAUD

The former Bray's Department stores are architecturally significant at a LOCAL level. Altered from the overall original design, the shop complex demonstrates some original design qualities of a Victorian Free Classical style, as well as Free Classical details of the interwar period. These qualities include the single storey composition, rendered brick wall construction and two distinctive parapet roof forms. The right parapet represents the Victorian construction, with its central stylised pediment and incised title "A.D. 1875", flanking incised rectangular and circular motifs, double bracketed stringcourse, and urns surmounting substantial, fluted consoles. Other intact qualities of the upper reaches of this shop including the black painted sign with a white painted background that reads: "Bray's Mens Wear and Drapery"

The right parapet reflects the interwar construction and is significant for the following qualities: rendered basket weave parapet form and stylised urns on plain piers, projecting stringcourse, and pilasters with stylised capitals. Other intact qualities below the parapet include the two incised rectangular panels between the pilasters and the black signage which reads: "Maurie and Pat Wood Toys and Everything in Sport, Sports Wood's Store" respectively.

Other intact architectural qualities of the shop complex include: the form of the projecting bullnosed verandah; metal framed shopfronts with ingoes; timber framed glazed doors; dark green glazed tiles; and highlights; as well as the lantern light behind the parapets. The neighbouring laneway to the north of the complex also contributes to the significance of the place.

The former Bray's Department stores are historically significant at a LOCAL level. It is associated with William Bray, a local and well-known businessman who had emigrated from Cornwall and had this shop complex built in 1875. The shops are also associated with W.R. Bliss who managed a draper's shop in the early 1890s, and later as W.R. Bliss and Wood's Store, while other shops are associated with William Bray's sons, Robert, John, Tom and Stan who operated the auction menswear and bootery businesses in the early 20th century. Other associations include the auctioneers A.J. Simpson and Co., and H. Taylor, bootmaker, as well as later generations of the Bray family, notably Frank and Aubrey Bray.

The former Bray's Department stores are socially significant at a LOCAL level. It is recognised by the St. Arnaud community as one of the early commercial buildings in the town originally owned by the well-known Bray family.

Overall, the former Bray's Department stores are of LOCAL significance.

Group

Retail and Wholesale

Category

Shop