Shops and Residences at 134-136 Nicholson Street
134-136 Nicholson Street, FOOTSCRAY VIC 3011 - Property No 2059010000
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Statement of Significance
Architecturally, still possessing valuable detailing and compositional devices, these have been nevertheless reduced to mere facades and hence, historically, they possess little expression of their former occupiers except perhaps in the upstairs interior of 134.
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Shops and Residences at 134-136 Nicholson Street - Physical Description 1
Although the facade brickwork bas been painted and the shop is without its original iron post veranda and shopfront, the pair, (now just facades) and a related row to the south (130-136) recently revealed by renovations, possess all of the distinctive ornament associated with the designer (Polain), including rare cast-iron finials.
Ornament reflects the emerging English Queen Anne revival in commercial and domestic architecture with a scrolled raised entablature pediment, swags, wreaths and distinctive elongated consoles, placed above a Palladian window group and extending to the cornice above. A coloured leadlight lunette is also used here, as a typical Polain device from this era. Two cement ladies bear a shield adorned with the letter 'S' (Smith).
Now that 136 has been temporarily reduced to just a street facade, the wrought iron beam over the shopfront opening is exposed, revealing its maker's name, the British firm, Dorman Long.Shops and Residences at 134-136 Nicholson Street - Integrity
External Integrity
Bricks have been painted, balls missing from parapet piers, shopfronts demolished or replaced (134 with a sympathetic recessed entry), but of intrusive materials, a cantilever canopy added to 134 and both original post verandahs removed. All but the facade of 136 has been regretfully demolished (Smith's own premises) as part of the current renovations.
Shops and Residences at 134-136 Nicholson Street - Physical Description 2
Streetscape
Part of a small 19th Century group contrasting with adjacent recent commercial architecture which has pursued a common parapeted and flush facade treatment, resulting in a wall-like uniformity. Nineteenth and early Twentieth Century architecture, opposite and in adjacent streets, is still numerous enough to balance the blandness of recent development and suggest a definite commercial character for the retail area.
Heritage Study and Grading
Maribyrnong - City of Footscray Urban Conservation Study
Author: Graeme Butler
Year: 1989
Grading:
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FORMER BARKLY THEATREVictorian Heritage Register H0878
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PRIMARY SCHOOL NO.253Victorian Heritage Register H1713
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FOOTSCRAY RAILWAY STATION COMPLEXVictorian Heritage Register H1563
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