Offices (27-29)

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

The office building at 27-29 Malop Street, Geelong, has significance as a reasonably externally intact example of a Victorian styled commercial building. Built in c.1860 for James Cowie, an influential political figure, the building was occupied by the leather merchant, Edward Hawarth for many years. However, it also has significance as the long-term location of White Just and Moore, solicitors, from 1904 until the present day (2002). The building appears to be in good condition.

The office building at 27-29 Malop Street is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level. It demonstrates original design qualities of a Victorian style. These qualities include the rudimentary crowning parapet with a projecting cornice, chamfered corner, curved end to the rudimentary side parapets and the gabled roof. Other intact or appropriate qualities include the two storey height, brick wall construction (but not the overpainting), galvanised corrugated steel roof cladding, masonry quoinwork, masonry window and door heads and sills.

The office building at 27-29 Malop Street is historically significant at a LOCAL level. It is associated with commercial developments in Geelong in the mid 19th century. In particular, this building has associations with James Cowie, influential political figure and original owner from c.1860, and with Edward Hawarth, well-known Geelong leather merchant from 1860 until the mid 1890s. The building also has long-term associations with the local legal firm of Whyte Just and Moore Solicitors from 1904 until the present day (2002).

Overall, the office building at 27-29 Malop Street is of LOCAL significance.

References

Reports and Drainage Plans, Barwon Water profis system, 1917, 1967, 1968.

Sands & McDougall's Directory of Geelong 1972, Geelong Historical Records Centre.

Sands & McDougall's "Invicta" Geelong Directory 1968, Geelong Historical Records Centre.

Geelong City Council Rate Books (Villamanta Ward), 1855-1960, Geelong Historical Records Centre.

Town Plan of Geelong 1858, Geelong Historical Records Centre.

Investigator, Journal of the Geelong Historical Society, March, 1988, Geelong Historical Records Centre.

Copy of original photo of Malop Street, looking east from Gheringhap Street (undated), Geelong Historical Records Centre.

Brown, P. L., The Heights, in "Historic Geelong Houses and Historic Buildings in the City Area", 1975, Geelong Historical Records Centre.

Group

Commercial

Category

Office building