Upton's Shop & Residence

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

The building at 80 McKillop Street, Geelong, has significance as a reasonably intact example of the Victorian Regency style for a commercial building. Although altered, the building was originally constructed in 1854-55 as an extension to William Upton's candle factory. In the early 20th century, the building served as the location of monumental mason business of David O'Connor.

The building at 80 McKillop Street, is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level. Although partially altered, the building demonstrates original design qualities of a Victorian Regency style. These qualities include the gabled hipped roof form of the main building, and its chamfered corner. Other intact or appropriate qualities of the main building include the two storey height, rendered brick wall construction, regularly arranged timber framed 12 paned first floor windows with rendered sills, narrow eaves, galvanised corrugated steel roof cladding, brick chimneys with rendered tops, and the corner ground floor door location. The rear single storey stepped wings with rendered brick wall construction, gabled roof forms clad in galvanised corrugated steel, narrow eaves and the single doorway also contribute to the significance of the place.

The building at 80 McKillop Street is historically significant at a LOCAL level. It is associated with William Upton's candle factory business from 1854-55, as it was at this time when he carried out extensions to his neighbouring two storey weatherboard and iron building. The building also has associations with John Daniel, prominent ironmonger (1888-c.1900) and later with David O'Connor, monumental mason (1915-c.1920).

Overall, the building at 80 McKillop Street is of LOCAL significance.

References

Drainage Plans and Reports, Barwon Water profis system, 1921, 1950, 1975, 1976, 1985.

Voters' Roll, Barwon Ward, 1992, Geelong Historical Records Centre.

Sands & McDougall Geelong Directory 1972, Geelong Historical Records Centre.

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

Geelong City Council Rate Books (Barwon Ward) 1854-1960, Geelong Historical Records Centre.

Geelong Town Plan 1858, Geelong Historical Records Centre.

Conveyance Memorials 937/487, 10/352, and App. 68119, Land Titles Office, Marland House, Melbourne.

Group

Retail and Wholesale

Category

Shopping/retail complex