YMCA Hall
78 Yarra Street, GEELONG VIC 3220 - Property No 219252
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Statement of Significance
C Listed - Local Significance
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE:
Significance Architecturally, the Hall of Honour is a near externally complete and successful design in the prevailing classical revival style as carried out by one of Geelongs most promising architects of the era Schefferle, who was a dual prize winner in the same building type.
It represents well the fund raising efforts of the Returned Soldiers Club and patriotic feelings of the general Geelong Community for the welfare of returned servicemen and women and has performed a public role in Geelong social life, particularly after World War Two. Its design also may reflect the prevailing concern among architects of the era for good manners in streetscape design by its stylistic respect for the adjoining former Union Bank, (since defaced).
REFERENCES:
Butler, City of Northcote Urban Conservation Study. 1982. vol.l
ibid.
GA 8/11/1932 note drawings reputed to give Sehefferle and Williams as the architects.
GWB DRP4205 Francis. Hall of Honour Geelong. Deakin Univ 1991.p.6
G.A. 261730. p.9
D1948-55
2 op.cit.,p.8
Francis. p.9 GWB DRP420S
This motif also resembles the Greek shell motif
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YMCA Hall - Physical Description 1
DESCRIPTION:
Almost symmetrical about its arched entry, the facade styling echoes the fashionable Greek and Georgian revivals, current in the late 1920s. Doric Order pilasters and entablature flank the entrance with original opal sphere bracket lamps centred in the upper part of each side bay. Stylized keystones centre on windows which originally served the cloak room left and supper room right but are now blocked. Garlands drape across the giant centre archway and victory wreaths line the main parapet wall. Attached as separately roofed pavilions are brick faced bays either side of the main elevation. These have a plain parapet entablature and limited pressed cement around windows.
Inside the entry arch is a fine barrel coved panelled ceiling and, in the tympanum of the entrance screen, the rays of a spectacular rising sun (or shell) are emulated in moulded plaster. Below, the original joinery, complete with pilasters, survives in the entrance screen refinished, but the doors and glazing have been changed. The windows are multi-pane.
The main hall is finished in face-brick, much in the manner of a drill-hall, but with soldier coursing and herringbone patterns in the tympanum of the low relief archways over exits and access doors to the former supper room. A truss line and painted brickwork suggests the original proscenium placement at the west end.
The facade design compares with the contemporary classical revival Masonic hall in Gheringhap Street, but is not quite as mannered or as large. The intended Georgian revival attic level of the original Yarra Street elevation was not carried out and, instead, the end gable of the hall is visible over the parapet.
External Integrity
Signs have been added, one replacing the Hall of Honour sign on the parapet. Two window openings have been covered with showcases and original, stained and lacquered entrance joinery painted over. The crown on the assumed Australian infantry forces badge, set over the door, has been covered.
Streetscape
Once presumably closely related to the adjoining Union Bank, the hall now reflects its presence in form only. It also resembles the Corio Hotel opposite, (69-71 Yarra Street).
Heritage Study and Grading
Greater Geelong - Geelong City Urban Conservation Study, Volumes 2-5
Author: Graeme Butler
Year: 1991
Grading:
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FORMER GEELONG WOOL EXCHANGEVictorian Heritage Register H0622
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FORMER SCOTTISH CHIEFS HOTELVictorian Heritage Register H0662
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CORIO VILLAVictorian Heritage Register H0193
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