Shop and Residence

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

The shop and residence, 15 Mercer Street, has significance as a legacy of the mid-19th century commercial developments in this part of Mercer Street. Built in c.1864 possibly for William Stephens Howell, the building is in fair condition when viewed from the street, and although the first floor at the front appears reasonably intact, the ground floor shopfronts have been substantially altered.

The shop and residence at 15 Mercer Street are architecturally significant at a LOCAL level. They demonstrate original design qualities of a rudimentary Victorian commercial style. These qualities include the front simple rendered parapet, projecting front parapet cornice, and the symmetrical, three-bayed composition. Other intact or appropriate qualities include the rendered bluestone wall construction, hipped roof form and galvanised corrugated steel roof cladding, simple rendered window architraves and openings, timber framed double hung windows, rendered window sills, rendered label

moulds, ground floor doorway, simple side parapets, rear unpainted bluestone wall construction, and the rear unpainted bluestone window sills and lintels.

The shop and residence at 15 Mercer Street are historically significant at a LOCAL level. They are associated with commercial developments in this section of Mercer Street in the mid 19th century. In particular, this shop and residence has associations with William Stephens Howell, who possibly had it built in c.1864. He had been owner of a stone shop on this site from 1854-55.

Overall, the shop and residence at 15 Mercer Street are of LOCAL significance.

REFERENCES

Reports and Drainage Plans, Barwon Water profis system, 1918, 1921, 1951, 1989, 1990.

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), 1890-1960, Geelong Historical Records Centre.

Geelong City Council Valuations Books (Villamanta Ward), 1854-1890, Geelong Historical Records Centre.

Town Plan of Geelong 1858, Geelong Historical Records Centre.

Land Title Search 66218, Land Titles Office, Bourke Street, Melbourne.

Removed from City Fringe Heritage Area (HO1639)

Group

Retail and Wholesale

Category

Shopping/retail complex