Former McKellar Building, 174-178 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 McKellar's building at 174-178 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. Built in 1876 for Duncan McKellar, storekeeper and mine owner, the building was designed by Stawell architect, George Inskip. It appears to be in good-fair condition when viewed from the street. 

The former McKellar's building at 174-178 Main Street is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level. It demonstrates original design qualities of a Victorian style. These qualities include the decorative parapet having a central semi-circular and flat title panel with a Coat of Arms relief and the date "A.D. 1878" within. Other intact or appropriate qualities include the symmetrical composition, three storey height, rendered brick wall construction, projecting moulded and dentillated stringcourse supported at its ends by projecting vermiculation-patterned blocks and paired consoles, six-bayed first and second floor compositions of timber framed double hung windows with flat-arched heads accentuated by smooth rusticated voussoirs, central keystones above the windows (distinguished by a darker tone on the first floor), smooth wall rustication on the first and second floors, and the three-bayed composition of the ground floor shopfront openings. The rear hipped roof forms and skillion clad in galvanised corrugated iron, face brick wall construction, elongated brick chimneys, shallow-arched window and door openings (the windows being timber framed and double hung) and the red brick voussoirs also contribute to the significance of the place. 

The former McKellar's building at 174-178 Main Street is historically significant at a LOCAL level. It is associated with commercial developments in Stawell after the 1874 fire. In particular, this building has associations with Duncan McKellar, original owner, storekeeper, mining owner and prominent philanthropist who instigated construction in 1876. The building also has associations with the Stawell architect, George Inskip. 

Overall, the former McKellar's building at 174-178 Main Street is of LOCAL significance.