Annear's Furniture Warehouse (64-66)

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

The former Annear's Furniture Warehouse building, 64-66 Ryrie Street, Geelong, has significance as an unusual example of ashlar timber wall construction for an intact late 19th early 20th century building in Geelong. The building also has significance as an example of a Late Victorian commercial style. Built in 1899 for Alexander Miller, prominent Geelong businessman and well-known philanthropist, and leased to Frederick Annear, cabinet maker, the building appears to be in good condition when viewed from the street.

The former Annear's Furniture Warehouse building, 64-66 Ryrie Street, is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level. It demonstrates original design qualities of a Late Victorian commercial style. These qualities include the capped parapet surmounted by the large curved signage parapet, flanking first floor pilasters with projecting consoles at parapet and first floor height, first floor timber wall cladding simulating ashlar masonry blockwork, and the three-bayed first floor composition with timber framed double hung windows. Other intact or appropriate qualities include the overall symmetrical composition, two storey height, projecting concave verandah, two shopfront openings on the ground floor with timber framed construction, ground floor door openings and timber framed transoms, flanking ground floor pilasters with moulded capitals, and the masonry base walls below the shop-fronts.

The former Annear's Furniture Warehouse building, 64-66 Ryrie Street, is historically significant at a LOCAL level. It is associated with commercial developments in Geelong in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In particular, this building has associations with Alexander Miller, original owner, prominent businessman and well-known philanthropist, who instigated construction in 1899. The building also has associations with the original lessee, Frederick Annear, cabinet maker, who established a furniture warehouse at this location between 1900 and 1918.

The former Annear's Furniture Warehouse building, 6466 Ryrie Street, is scientifically significant at a LOCAL level. The first floor timber wall cladding simulating ashlar masonry blockwork illustrates an unusual form of 19th century wall construction longer practised today. Overall, the former Annear's Furniture Warehouse building, 6466 Ryrie Street, is of LOCAL significance.

Group

Commercial

Category

Warehouse/storage area