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Sanitarium Health Food Co. & Signs Publishing Co.

Location

3485 Warburton Highway Warburton, YARRA RANGES SHIRE

File Number

681

Level

Included in Heritage Overlay

[1/2]
Sanitarium Health Foods and
[2/2]
Sanitarium Heath Foods and

Statement of Significance

Winner of RVIA Street Architecture Medal 1940 Designed by ArchitectEdward Billson and built by T R & L Cookram between 1936 and 1939,the Sanitarium Health Food company Factory and "Signs of theTimes" Printing Works complex is a skilful assembly of contrastinggeometric, brick-clad forms and an early example of the small group ofnon-residential buildings which successfully emulate European Modernarchitecture (particularly Dudok) and hence create a precedent forAustralian post-war commercial and industrial architecture. By itsunusually remote location and use, it expresses the Adventist Church;this rural location being a distinguishing aspect among the otherbuildings which had previously received the RVIA's Architecture Medal.Classification includes additions and alterations made up until c. 1985by the architect. (NT, 4918)
The Warburton buildings are important early examples of modernarchitecture in Victoria influenced by the contemporary European models.in particular they draw heavily on the personal style of Dutch architectW.M. Dudok which had in turn developed through the influence of the destijl movement and the work of Walter gropius. There are obviouslyparallels between the three storey east end of the Sanitarium healthfood company building and the fagus works designed by gropius in 1911.The Sanitarium health food co. building was distinguished in 1940 whenit won the 1940 royal victorian institute of architects streetarchitecture award, the first awarded to a building outside themetropolitan area. The buildings and their rural setting reflects thehealth and fitness philosophy of the seventh day adventist churchproviding an insight into the historical importance of the church'smissionary work and its role in the development of the Australian healthfood industry. (VHR, 619)

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