NIELSON'S BUILDINGS
57-59 FLETCHER STREET, ESSENDON, MOONEE VALLEY CITY
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Statement of Significance
What is significant?
Neilsen's Buildings, at 57-59 Fletcher Street, Essendon, are significant. They were built c1889-90 for Ellen Neilsen, who rang a confectioner's and later a boot shop from one of the tenancies.
They are a pair of two-storey shop-residences in a parapeted terrace form. The first floors are constructed in bichrome brick set behind a cement-rendered arcade, with cast-cement ornament. The timber shopfront and door has been retained at No. 57 with a splayed entry to the party wall.
The rear extension and recessed shopfront to No. 59 are not significant.
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 late Victorian commercial building which is distinguished by the use of arcading to the first-floor. The arcades are embellished with restrained classical cast-cement ornament including panelled pilasters framing each tenancy, vermiculated keystones, run arch mouldings, slender engaged barley-twist colonnettes, and balusters. No. 57 is rare in Essendon and Moonee Valley for the survival of its timber shopfront and door. (Criteria E & 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)
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NIELSON'S BUILDINGS - Physical Description 1
Neilsen's Buildings at 57-59 Fletcher Street are a pair of two-storey shop-residences constructed with a party wall and built to the front and side boundaries of the lot. They are located mid-block on the south side of Fletcher Street between Mt Alexander Road and Nicholson Street.
The first floor is constructed in bichrome brick set behind a cement-rendered arcade, with 2 arches to the narrower No. 57 and 3 arches to the wider No. 59. The arcaded arches have vermiculated keystones, run arch mouldings, slender engaged barley-twist colonnettes on the supporting piers, and cast-cement balusters. Each facade is framed by panelled pilasters, and the parapets each have a centred rectangular panel (holding the words 'Nielsen's' to No. 57 and 'Buildings' to No. 59) between piers with acroteria at the top and scrolled brackets to the sides. Bases for cast urns or balloons survive above the end walls. The hipped roof is concealed from view with rendered chimneys with moulded cornices.
The timber shopfront and door has been retained at No. 57 with a splayed entry to the party wall. The shopfront at No. 59 has been removed and a new glazed front (unsympathetic) has been recessed into the opening.
A rear extension has been added to the rear No. 59, which is visible across the adjoining carpark.
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:
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