SHOP
51 FLETCHER STREET, ESSENDON, MOONEE VALLEY CITY
-
Add to tour
You must log in to do that.
-
Share
-
Shortlist place
You must log in to do that.
- Download report
Statement of Significance
What is significant?
The shop-residence at 51 Fletcher Street, Essendon, is significant. It was built c1887-89 when owned by Essendon "pioneer" Robert G Cook. Cook spent some time working as a speculator and builder, so may have constructed the building himself. He and his wife resided in Essendon from the mid-1850s until their deaths in the 1930s.
The shop-residence is a two-storey building, constructed in a terrace form with front and side walls built to the boundaries and the roof concealed behind a balustrade parapet. The first-floor facade is constructed of Flemish bond brick walls with unpainted cement-render dressings and two round-arched windows. The building retains an original timber shopfront with deep splayed entrance and extensive glazing below highlight windows.
How is it significant?
The shop is of local architectural and historical significance to the City of Moonee Valley.
Why is it significant?
It is architecturally significant as a representative and intact example of a late Victorian commercial building in the typical parapeted terrace form, retaining unpainted render dressings. It is rare in Essendon and Moonee Valley for the survival of its timber shopfront, which is particularly fine in its surviving detailing and generous proportions. (Criteria D & B)
It is historically significant as a tangible illustration of the early commercial development of the Fletcher and Napier streets area of Essendon, which was Essendon's main commercial centre until challenged by Rose Street in the 1910s. (Criterion A)
It is also of historic interest for its association with Essendon "pioneer" Robert G Cook, who was responsible for its construction.
-
-
SHOP - Physical Description 1
The building at 51 Fletcher Street is a two-storey brick shop-residence constructed mid-block on the south side of Fletcher Street between Mt Alexander Road and Nicholson Street. The shop-residence is freestanding but constructed in a terrace form, with walls to the side and front boundaries.
The building retains the original timber shopfront with deep splayed entrance and extensive glazing below highlight windows and a timber entablature (where the verandah once sprang from). The front double doors have glazed upper panels and a dog-tooth moulding above. The ceiling of the in-go is finished with timber panelling.
The first-floor facade is constructed of Flemish bond brick walls with unpainted cement-render dressings and two round-arched windows with stringcourses at sill and springing height. The balustraded parapet has cast urns at either end, a central raised triangular parapet with acroteria at the apex and corners, and similar relief ornament in the tympanum. Four corbelled brick chimneys are visible from the street.
Heritage Study and Grading
Moonee Valley - Moonee Valley Heritage Study
Author: Context Pty Ltd, 2015
Year: 2015
Grading: LocalMoonee Valley - City of Moonee Valley Stage 1 Heritage Gap Study
Author: Context PL
Year: 2013
Grading:
-
-
-
-
-
ESSENDON RAILWAY STATION COMPLEXVictorian Heritage Register H1562
-
LOWTHER HALL ANGLICAN GRAMMAR SCHOOLVictorian Heritage Register H0146
-
FORMER CURATOR'S COTTAGEVictorian Heritage Register H1078
-
"1890"Yarra City
-
"AMF Officers" ShedMoorabool Shire
-
"AQUA PROFONDA" SIGN, FITZROY POOLVictorian Heritage Register H1687
-
'Lawn House' (Former)Hobsons Bay City
-
1 Fairchild StreetYarra City
-
10 Richardson StreetYarra City
-
-