Gray St Gallery
54 Gray St HAMILTON, Southern Grampians Shire
Gray St Commercial Precinct Hamilton
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Statement of Significance
SIGNIFICANCE: This building is of interest for its rare cantilevered balcony and the contribution that it makes to the streetscape. It was also the office of the architect, Frank hammond, one of Hamilton's most important citizens.
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
Shops
54 Gray Street
This shop has local significance for its architectural interest which lies in its late Victorian Classical style and its rare surviving overhanging balcony. It also has historical associations with a number of well known Hamilton townsmen, including solicitors, a local architect and auctioneer. In the 1890s the buildings were associated with Louis Horwitz (1858-1919), who. after a brilliant beginning as Hamilton's youngest Mayor (at age 24), in the 1890s became the centre of a local financial scandal. ([i]) A wine shop on the site was owned at first by Horwitz and at the turn of the century by Myer Silberberg of Melbourne. ([ii]) By about 1907 the property was owned by another wealthy Hamilton solicitor, John B Westacott (1868-1944), who also became Mayor of Hamilton. ([iii]) Westacott extended the buildings c1908, letting offices to George Holgate (auctioneer), Horace Destree (accountant), and Frank Hammond (architect), who designed many of Hamilton's most prestigious buildings about the turn of the century. ([iv])
The ground floor shop window and door have been altered unsympathetically but otherwise the building survives well and is in good condition. It makes an inmortant contribution to the streetscape.
[i] Garden, Don, Hamilton, pp 122, 173, and 185.
[ii] Hamilton Rate Book 1894, No. 249 (Thomas Tucker, owner/occupier); 1900, No. 248 (Horwitz owner, wine shop, NAV 45 pounds); 1905, No. 275 (M Silberberg, owner, wine shop, NAV 56 pounds).
[iii] Ibid., 1907, No. 284 (J B Westacott, owner, shop and dwelling, NAV 55 pounds); Garden, Don, Hamilton, p 173.
[iv] Hamilton Rate Book 1908, No. 292-295 (J B Westacott, offices, NAV 75 pounds).
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Gray St Gallery - Physical Description 1
MATERIALS:
Roof: corrugated iron
Walls: face brick (partly painted)
Dressings: cement render
Plinth: tiled brick
Windows: timber dhs
Paving: encaustic tiles in doorway
Other: timber and cast iron
balcony
NOTABLE FEATURES:Overhanging balcony (rare anywhere and this is the only one surviving in Hamilton)Gray St Gallery - Historical Australian Themes
ASSOCIATED HISTORICAL THEMES
Evolution of the Town: 1890s. 1900s
Professions: solicitors
Government institutions: municipalGray St Gallery - Integrity
Integrity: F
Gray St Gallery - Physical Conditions
Conditions: G
Heritage Study and Grading
Southern Grampians - City of Hamilton Conservation Study
Author: Timothy Hubbard with Carlotta Kellaway & Michael Looker (plus Francis Punch)
Year: 1991
Grading: C
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MECHANICS INSTITUTEVictorian Heritage Register H2171
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HAMILTON BOTANIC GARDENSVictorian Heritage Register H2185
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HAMILTON GAS HOLDERVictorian Heritage Register H1086
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"1890"Yarra City
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"AMF Officers" ShedMoorabool Shire
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"AQUA PROFONDA" SIGN, FITZROY POOLVictorian Heritage Register H1687
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"1890"Yarra City
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'BRAESIDE'Boroondara City
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'ELAINE'Boroondara City
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