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Former Wool Exchange Building

Other Name Winfield Building Location 487-495 Collins Street,, MELBOURNE VIC 3000 - Property No B3463 File Number B3463 Level State

[1/2] B3463 Winfield Building (on [2/2] B3463 Fmr Winfield Building

Statement of Significance

The former Wool Exchange Building was erected in 1891. The then owner of the land was J.R. Murphy. T.P Fallen and R. Speight Jnr, financed the project. The architects were Charles D'Ebro and Richard Speight Jnr. From 1892-94 the building was Melbourne's first Wool Exchange and incorporated an auction hall which amalgamated all wool sales. The four storeyed building has exposed brick facades with rendered mouldings.
The front section of offices to Collins Street is, however, all that remains of the original complex. This section is erected in the English Queen Anne style and reflects the architecture of R. Norman Shaw who epitomised the style in England. It is among the best examples of this style in Victoria. The special relationship with the adjoining Rialto building andtheir role in an exceptional block of boom period commercial buildings is of great significance.
An important commercial building from the closing phase of the Boom and of stylistic interest in that Franco - Flemish Renaissance elements are combined with pier and arch elements suggestive of the brick Romanesque style then emerging in Melbourne.
Adapted from AHC Citation

Group classification with: B0469 Olderfleet; B3057 Record Chambers; B3058 SA Insurance; B2894 Rialto; B3664 Adelaide Steamships.
Group Classified: 25/10/1973
Revised: 03/08/1998