Shop, 70 Main Street, STAWELL

This property has been reviewed as part of the Stawell Main Street Precinct in 2024, and its heritage category is now Contributory.

The property is Contributory to the precinct.

Text from the 2004 heritage study:
The former Men's Store and General Emporium, 70 Main Street, Stawell, makes a significant contribution to the architectural and visual amenity of the predominantly 19th and early 20th century commercial streetscape. The form and rear sections of the building also contribute to the architectural amenity of the area. The building appears to have been initially built in the 1870s with a crowning decorative pediment and two storey balcony and verandah. Although these features are no longer present and the ground floor shopfront has been extensively altered, the building has significance of as a legacy of the 19th century commercial building developments in Stawell.

The former Men's Store and General Emporium at 70 Main Street is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level. Although altered, it still demonstrates original design qualities of a Victorian Free Classical style. These qualities include the projecting and dentillated parapet flanked by rectangular stylised consoles, three-bayed first floor composition of arched window and door openings having projecting surrounds with punctuating keystones in the arches and crowning label moulds, and the timber framed double hung windows and timber and glazed French doors. Other intact or appropriate qualities include the symmetrical composition, two storey height, rendered brick wall construction and the rendered masonry quoinwork. The rear of the building also contributes to the significance of the place including the hipped roof form, rendered parapet walls and the early face brick chimneys. 

The former Men's Store and General Emporium at 70 Main Street is historically significant at a LOCAL level. It is associated with commercial developments in Stawell possibly as early as the 1870s. This building has particular associations with Albert William Whiteside, who operated a Men's Store and General Emporium for many years. The building continued as a Men's store until 1960.

Overall, the former Men's Store and General Emporium at 70 Main Street is of LOCAL significance.