Footscray Commercial Heritage Area

The Footscray Commercial Precinct is significant historically and aesthetically within the City because:
- the identified commercial buildings (particularly the upper level facades) within the precinct are the City's best expression of its two major commercial growth eras, the precinct being largely built up by World War One with a consistent visual character made up of:
- attached one and two storey cemented and face brick Edwardian and Victorian era shops and residences over,
- some individually significant inter-war examples and landmark buildings,
- all built to the street frontage,
- typically a trabeated facade evocative of Italianate design influences,
- near universal parapeted form,
- a repeating module determined by the Victorian-era shopfronts of 5 -6m, and
- no provision for on site motor vehicle parking as an indication of the pre-motor era. (Criterion A4)
- of the significant architectural contribution of individual developments such as the Barkly Hotel, Royal Hotel, Griffith's jeweller's shop and Carroll & Douglas (number 234-6 Barkly Street) which provide major focal points within the streetscape (Criterion F1);
- of the visual continuity and architectural ornament of the upper facades in Nicholson Street east and Paisley Street south, highlighted by individually notable examples such as number 155-7 Nicholson Street (Criterion E1) ;
- of the precinct's historical expression of the physical effect of a shift in major traffic routes and outlets, specifically the railway (Criterion A4) and
- it was the commercial centre of the former City of Footscray and the region over a long period (Criterion G1).

Australian Heritage Commission (AHC) criteria

The Australian Heritage Commission criteria consist of a set of eight criteria which cover social, aesthetic, scientific, and historic values. Each criterion has sub-criteria written specifically for cultural or natural values. The relevant criteria are:

A.4 demonstrates well the course and pattern of history, important historic events

E.1 aesthetic importance to the community or cultural group

F.1 design or technological achievement .

G.1 social importance to the community

Group

Commercial

Category

Commercial Precinct