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Former Office Building

Other Name Savage Club Location 12 Bank Place,, MELBOURNE VIC 3000 - Property No B0436 File Number B0436 Level State

[1/1] B0436 Savage Club

Statement of Significance

The Melbourne Savage Club, with interiors designed by Meagher & Meldrum and noted interwar architect Kingsley Henderson from 1923-27, is of architectural, social and historical significance at the State level.
Architecturally, the building is notable as a rare surviving 19th century townhouse in the city, and particularly for its atmospheric interior. Though constructed as offices, the exterior, with its small portico topped by ball finials and fenced basement lightcourt, is reminiscent of a London terrace, a rare form in Melbourne.
The interior is an excellent example of 'masculine' effects, as expected for a men's club, featuring dark timber detailing, furniture and fittings, and comfortable upholstered leather furniture. The main social room (designed by Henderson in 1925) is the most notable, featuring a general medieval effect, with a beamed ceiling, over-scaled fireplaces at each end, some original Tudor-styled furniture, paintings by club members, and an extraordinary ethnographic collection (probably from the pacific area) of spears, shields and masks incorporated into the decoration. Other rooms, such as the foyer, stairs and billiard room carry on this character, while the simpler dining room features Punkahs, used to ventilate the room, which are of particular interest.
Historically and socially, the building is notable as having been the home of the Savage Club since 1923. The Club is important as one of the major private clubs in Melbourne, which are considered a distinctive feature of this city, and it is the only 'Bohemian' club to survive. As a place where many of Melbourne's most notable musical and artistic figures gathered, it has played a significant role in the social and cultural life of the city. Many famous Australians have been members, including the artists Tom Roberts, Frederic McCubbin, Arthur Streeton, and the politicians Sir Robert Menzies and Joseph Lyons.
Classified: 07/02/2000