Victorian Shops

A row of three two -storey shops 817-821 Glenferrie Road Hawthorn built in 1891 for Rev Fitchett (1841-1928) and designed by architect Thomas Tyler, is significant.

How is it significant?

817-821 Glenferrie Road Hawthorn is of local historic, architectural and aesthetic significance to the City of Boroondara.

Why is it significant?

The row of three shops at 817-821 Glenferrie Road Hawthorn is historically significant as part of the development of the Glenferrie Dale Estate subdivided in 1882. The shops are significant as being developed by Rev. Fitchett, founding Principal of nearby Methodist Ladies College who commissioned architect Thomas Tyler in 1890. Historically the buildings supported a range of tenants including James Joseph Pine who later developed his own shops in 1910 at 556-558 Glenferrie Road (also assessed as part of this Study). (Criterion A)

The three shops at 817-821 Glenferrie Road demonstrate the work of a little known but skilled architect, Thomas Tyler who was also the designer of the Italianate villa Roslyn, at 58 Lisson Grove Hawthorn (HO890), and several branches of the Friendly Societies Dispensary, as well as many commercial buildings in the inner suburbs of Carlton, Fitzroy and North Melbourne. (Criterion D)

The shops demonstrate the use of quite sophisticated architectural design techniques that make the upper floor facade appear as a single composition around a central decorative feature rather than a set of repeating elements. The building is important in its demonstration of Victorian shopfront windows which quite rarely remain. Aesthetically 817-821 Glenferrrie Road is significant for its three-dimensional form and decorative Victorian facade including intact shopfront windows. Of interest are the splayed and recessed entries, decorative panelled stallboards and top-lights with coloured glass. The building is significant for its fine stucco facade with central pediment and elaborate pilasters of unusual design, the arrangement of central casement sash window flanked either side by a pair of double hung sash windows, window mouldings and engaged pilasters extending through the parapet and culminating in small orbs. (Criterion E)

The row of three shops at 817-821 Glenferrie Road is historically significant for their association with clergyman, writer and educator Rev Fitchett (1841-1928) who was founding president in 1882 of Methodist Ladies' College (MLC); and Principal of the school for forty-seven years. Rev Fitchett was a notable Methodist preacher as well as a writer and journalist, publishing an account of his years at MLC in 1921. (Criterion H)

Group

Commercial

Category

Shop