Former W.R. Nash & Son Showroom and Service Station
1417 Burke Road KEW EAST, BOROONDARA CITY
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Statement of Significance
What is Significant?
The former W. R. Nash Showroom designed by Julius Elischer (1952), and Service Station addition designed by Harry A and Frank L Norris (1958) at 1417 High Street, Kew East is significant. The later awning (1968) designed and constructed by the Shell Company is of no significance.
How is it significant?
The former W. R. Nash Showroom and Service Station at 1417 High Street, Kew East is of local historical, architectural, aesthetic and associative significance to the City of Boroondara.
Why is it significant?
The former W. R. Nash Showroom and Service Station is historically significant as evidence of the importance of the car in the post-war development of Boroondara. The site is an example of the prominent locations occupied by service stations and their importance in developing post-war suburban areas, like part of Kew East, that were built around cars. (Criterion A)
The former W. R. Nash Showroom and Service Station is significant as rare example of a largely intact independent post-war service station. It was constructed at a time when oil companies were beginning to establish brand standards for service station designs and opening their own outlets. There are few surviving independent outlets from this time, and many of those have been substantially altered to meet changing standards. (Criterion B)
The former W. R. Nash Showroom and Service Station is aesthetically significant as a largely intact, innovative example of the 'oblong box' approach to service station design applying Modernist principles. The transition from the transparent, curtain-walled box of the showroom to the enclosed service area allows unusual detailing to unify the diverse functions of the site. This can be seen in the structural expression of the metal truss roof, which is visible throughout the building, and in the external expression of the internal stair and floor arrangement in the front elevation as the solid element of the facade gradually increases to conceal more private functions. (Criterion E)
The Former W.R. Nash & Son Showroom and Service Station is significant for its association with the work of architect Julius Elischer. It is a rare example of his work in Victoria, prior to his relocation to Western Australia where he became one of the foremost advocates for Modernist design. (Criterion H)
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Former W.R. Nash & Son Showroom and Service Station - Physical Description 1
The subject property is located at the corner of High Street and Burke Road. A laneway borders the property to the west, separating it from neighbouring commercial properties on High Street. To the south, the property abuts 1409 High Street.
The subject property is a largely intact post-war showroom and service centre. On the eastern side of the building the showroom is a simple rectangular box with modular glazed curtain walls and a skillion roof over the double-height showroom. Steel roof trusses project beyond the walls of the building to support eaves. Full height glazing encloses three sides of the showroom, resting on a concrete plinth. An internal stair is expressed on the north elevation, reflecting the raised floor level of internal offices. Beneath this raised floor, expressed as a concrete band in the facade, the north elevation features a grid of circular penetrations concealing service areas and amenities. To the west, the service area is constructed in brick with a pair of large openings - one double, one single - allowing access to the service bays. Steel trusses can be seen supporting the roof in the larger of the two bays. Glazing from the office wraps around the corner to provide views into the service bays.
The concrete forecourt in front of the building, now partially covered by a later awning, is accessed by four crossovers (two on each frontage), with a fifth allowing access to the rear of the building from Burke Road. The forecourt formerly accommodated petrol bowsers and kiosks; these have since been removed, but the forecourt has been retained as car parking.
The building itself has undergone alteration. The original sky sign has been removed, replaced with solid signage above the eaves. Large areas of the glazed walls have been painted over with corporate colours, meaning that the showroom is no longer transparent. As previously noted, the bowsers and kiosks have been removed and an awning has been constructed over the forecourt to a standard Shell Company design. The largest changes, however, can be seen in the service bays and to the rear of the property.
A large extension has been constructed to the west and south of the original building, to a design by architects Harry A. and Frank L. Norris. This is a simple brick structure with a parapet wall and wraps around the service area to create the third bay. Brick walls have been constructed across both bays, providing unity in the appearance of the original and later works. Roller shutter doors with infill panels above have also been added.
Many of these alterations appear to have left the original material intact behind new fabric. For instance, the original steel roof trusses can still be seen in the double bay of the service area; the glazing bars of the original window wall can still be seen in the showroom. The simple forms of the additions are sympathetic to the original structure and do not detract from its significance.
Heritage Study and Grading
Boroondara - Municipal-Wide Heritage Gap Study Volume 4: Kew
Author: Context
Year: 2018
Grading: Significant
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