1139-41 Burke Road

The pair of Edwardian shops with residences above, at 1139-41 Burke Road Kew, built in 1916-17 on the Hillside subdivision by bootmaker Arthur John Stevens is significant. One shop was originally occupied by Stevens and the other by fruiterer William Brown, with other local businesses developing in adjacent shops.

How is it significant?

The pair of shops with residences above at 1139-41 Burke Road Kew is of local historical, aesthetic and architectural significance to the City of Boroondara.

Why is it significant?

Historically the small commercial centre on the Hillside subdivision on Burke Road between Barkers Road and Mount Street demonstrates a local neighbourhood shopping centre. The building at 1139-1141 represents the Edwardian period when this shopping centre was established. The business occupants of 1139-1141 Burke Road demonstrate the requirements of the local neighbourhood at that time. The building, constructed in 1916-17 by bootmaker A.J. Stevens and with one shop occupied by him, is historically significant as a suburban boot making establishment before the development of large scale manufacture and supply in the footwear industry. The occupations of the tenants of other shops including William Brown, fruiterer who occupied the other shop at the time of Stevens' occupation illustrates another aspect of local neighbourhood shopping at that time. (Criterion A)

The pair of Edwardian shops with residences above, at 1139-1141 Burke Road demonstrates an innovative design for the period, using the standard materials of face brick and render in a highly stylised and graphic manner. The shops are enhanced by an original cantilevered verandah and pair of shopfronts with tiled stallboards and most of the original shopfront window framing intact. (Criterion D)

Aesthetically the shops are significant for their graphic facade featuring brick and render panels surrounding paired sash windows, each featuring the same keystone treatment. The pair of shops are significant for the highly unusual central arched motif in banded brick and render surmounted by an oversized keystone. This contrasts with the simplicity of the facade panels that are framed with plain rendered pilasters and a small cornice at the pediment. The pair of shops are aesthetically significant for their cantilevered verandah featuring a pressed metal soffit, shopfronts featuring original metal framed glazing, recessed entries with terrazzo flooring and original blue green tiling to the stall boards. (Criterion E)

Group

Retail and Wholesale

Category

Shop