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Williams Building

Location 91-95 Gray St HAMILTON, Southern Grampians Shire File Number HAMDS054 Level Stage 2 study complete

[1/1] 26553 Williams Building

Statement of Significance

SIGNIFICANCE: Designed by Seabrook and Fildes and built by Reg Williams, this is a keystone building in the streetscapes of both Gray and Thompson Streets. Originally built for Williams The Shoeman.
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE


Williams Building
91-95 Gray Street


This shop and office building has local significance for its architectural interest as the original Williams The Shoeman store and offices constructed in the late 1930s by the Hamilton builder, Reginald Williams, from the designs of the notable architects, Seabrooke and Fildes. ([i]) This architectural firm was associated with the designs for the former Uren's Pharmacy diagonally opposite in 1940, Scullions, 196 Gray Street in 1938, the remodelling, in 1937, of the former Miller's Department Store at 121 Gray Street and the remodelling of the Argyle Arms and George Hotels. ([ii]) The building is another of the firm's successful exercises in massing, taking full advantage of the corner site. Unlike the stylish Pharmacy it does not use a curved corner. It uses innovative materials such as steel windows, textured bricks, terrazzo, nickel plated shop windows and Vitrolite glass facings from America. It lacks but does not need the glass block tower found in their other work relying instead on the carved brick sculpture and the panel of brickwork above the office entrance. Fildes gave Williams the design and specification of a house, 355 Gray Street, for a wedding present.


The building is significantly intact and in excellent condition. It is a keystone building in the streetscape of both Gray and Thompson Street commanding, as it does, over their intersection.