Brown Bros. (former) Iron Store

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

The former Brown Brothers British and Foreign Warehouse was manufactured as a prefabricated iron structure by an unknown foundry and imported and erected in 1854 for G & WH Brown, importers and cutfitters. Situated on the corner of Ginn and Mercer Streets, Geelong, this two storey iron structure clad with 5" pitch corrugated iron contained Brown's shop and residence above. The facade originally consisting of cast iron and timber components has been altered. The upper segmental facade survived intact. This iron building is principally of importance as a rare surviving example of a once common industrial building type of the mid nineteenth century. It is of great architectural significance.

RECOMMENDATIONS: PROTECTIVE MEASURES

Geelong Regional Commission Registry

Australian Heritage Commission Register of the National Estate

Historic Buildings Council Register

REFERENCES:

Brownhill, W.R. - A History of Geelong and Corio Bay - Wilke & Co., Melbourne 1955. pp. 331, 557 including illustration p. 331.

National Trust of Australia (Victoria) File No 1068. 'Research into Iron Store Corner Mercer and Ginn Streets, Geelong. September 1976.

Historic Buildings Preservation Council File G/2/17.

Geelong Historical Society

'Information relating to the Prefabricated Iron Store' P. F. Alsop. 6 September 1976 - Summary of research notes.

Geelong Historical Records Centre - with illustration of building as letterhead. 'Brown Brothers Importers and cutfitters 104-106 Mercer Street.

Illustration reproduced in Brownhill p.331.

Herbert, Gilbert, - Pioneers of Prefabrication: The British Contribution in the Nineteenth Century. John Hopkins University Press Baltimore 1978. for a general history of prefabricated iron buildings and particularly the work of Charles D Young and Co. pp. 159-161, 164-165

Removed from City Fringe Heritage Area (HO1639)

Group

Commercial

Category

Warehouse/storage area