Office

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

The building at 24 Ryrie Street, Geelong, has significance as a reasonably intact example of both an 1874 Victorian building and a late 1890s Federation Free style building. It has further historical significance as the location of the undertaker, James Monro, from 1874. He occupied the building until his death in c.1905 when the building continued to be occupied by the Monro family until 1966.

The building at 24 Ryrie Street is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level. Although altered, it still demonstrates original or early design qualities of its 1874 construction and late 1890s alterations, forming an eclectic Victorian and Federation Free style. These qualities include the ground floor timber framed shopfront windows with panelled stall boards below, ingo with timber framed doorway and transom window above, and the side timber framed doorway with four panelled timber door and transom window above. Other intact or appropriate qualities of the 1874 era include the gable roof form, unpainted dichromatic brick chimney with a multi-corbelled top eastern side, and the location of the first floor windows. The Morewood and Rogers galvanised iron pantiles may be recycled from the original 1850s building on this site. Intact or appropriate qualities of the late 1890s alterations include the dominant three-bayed front parapet which has a central rendered brick curved bay with a capped top and flanking narrower bays having projecting painted brick piers with moulded cappings and circular motifs between. Other intact or appropriate qualities include the painted and rendered brick wall construction, unpainted red brick chimney with a multi-corbelled top western side, side brick parapets, configuration of the rear spaces and the front verandah that is supported by square timber columns and is adorned with simple timber fretwork valances and balustrades, with the balcony valance accentuated by the solid curved timbering having trefoil cutouts.

The building at 24 Ryrie Street is historically significant at a LOCAL level. It is associated with James Monros undertaking business from 1874, the year of his marriage. He occupied the building until his death in c.1905, when the business and property was taken over by his son, Alexander. The building continued to be occupied by the Monro family until 1966. The building at 24 Ryrie Street is scientifically significant at a LOCAL level. The Morewood and Rogers roof pantiles represent a rare form of construction popular in Victoria in the 1850s.

Overall, the building at 24 Ryrie Street is of LOCAL significance.

References

Drainage Plans and Reports, Barwon Water profis system, 1916, 1917, 1930, 1935, 1949.

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

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

Geelong City Council Rate Books (Kardinia Ward) 1870 -1960, Geelong Historical Records Centre.

Geelong Town Plan 1881, Geelong Historical Records Centre.

Morrow, W., Geelong Advertiser Index, 1874, Geelong Historical Records Centre.

Hawthorne, Ian, Geelong and District, Geelong Historical Records Centre.

Removed from City Fringe Heritage Area

Group

Commercial

Category

Office building