Two storey building (former T. Brown Furniture Warehouse), 113-115 Main Street, STAWELL

This property has been reviewed as part of the Stawell Main Street Precinct in 2024, and its heritage category is now Contributory.

The property is Contributory to the precinct.

Text from the 2004 heritage study: 

The building at 113-117 Main Street, Stawell, makes a significant contribution to the architectural and visual amenity of the predominantly 19th and early 20th century commercial streetscape. The form and rear section of the building also contribute to the architectural amenity of the area. Built in 1873 to a design by the Melbourne and Stawell architect, George Inskip, for Thomas Brown, ironmonger, timber merchant and mine owner, the building was described at the time as being the largest commercial premises in Stawell. 

The building at 113-117 Main Street is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level. Although altered, it still demonstrates original design qualities of a Victorian style. These qualities include the balustraded parapet with central solid title panel (now blank) and flanking parapet piers, broadly projecting parapet stringcourse, and the three-bayed first floor composition featuring round-arched timber framed double hung windows. Other intact or appropriate qualities include the symmetrical composition, two storey height, rendered and face brick wall construction, first floor window architraves punctuated by keystones, projecting first floor stringcourse, first floor square pilasters on the building corners with incised rectangular panels, moulded stringcourse below the first floor windows and the remnants of pilasters that provide evidence of the original ground floor composition. The gable roof form clad in galvanised corrugated iron, rear parapeted and corbelled brick wall and side walls, rear timber framed double hung windows and the oculus ventilator in the gable end also contribute to the significance of the place.

The building at 113-117Main Street is historically significant at a LOCAL level. It is associated with commercial developments in Stawell in the second half of the 19th century. In particular, this building has associations with Thomas Brown, mine owner, ironmonger, timber merchant and original owner who instigated construction in 1873. The building also has associations with the Melbourne and Stawell architect, George Inskip, and with Wright, Pawsey and Mitchell, ironmongers, timber merchants and owners from c.1879 until the early 20th century.

Overall, the building at 113-117 Main Street is of LOCAL significance.