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Former Gollin & Co. Building

Other Names Real Estate Institute of Victoria ,  Abraham's Building Location 561 - 563 Bourke Street,, MELBOURNE VIC 3000 - Property No B4054 File Number B4054 Level State

[1/1] B4054 Fmr Gollin & Co Building

Statement of Significance

The former Gollin & Co. Headquarters building was built during the period of economic revival which followed the recession of the 1890s. Built in 1902, and designed by architect, Charles D'Ebro, the building reflects the austere medieval revival which had been active in Britain since the 1850s, under Norman Shaw, Sir Astin Webb and others. In Victoria however, this style had been hitherto apparent only in public buildings such as post offices, court houses and schools, and not used in commercial buildings.
The important elements of this style which may be seen in Gollin and Co's building include the large area of face, red brick work; the sparingly applied freestone dressings and cement friezes, depicting formalised floral patterns. The grouped, flat-arched windows; the gabled bays which terminate the main facade and create a picturesque skyline; and the corner, round tower or tourelle, which is topped by a cupola.
The building is both a fine composition of asymmetrically arranged massing, which is aided and enhanced by the corner position and the narrow Bourke Street frontage and a skilful juxtaposition of natural and synthetic materials.
Gollin & Co. were highly successful general merchants and importers who were sole Victorian agents for the Shell Co. in distribution of kerosene and were responsible for the first shipment to Britain by the Mildura Fruitgrowers' Association. This was their first headquarters building.
The main windows to Bourke Street at ground level have been reglazed but otherwise little alteration has occurred to the building exterior.
Notable parts of the interior include the ground floor and first level offices.Also passages and the main staircase to the second level above ground.
Classified: 27/03/1980
Revised: