Town Hall, Corner Glen Eira and Hawthorn Roads
Corner Glen Eira and Hawthorn Roads CAULFIELD, Glen Eira City
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Statement of Significance
The former City of Caulfield (now City of Glen Eira) Municipal Offices, located at the south-west corner of Hawthorn and Glen Eira Roads, Caulfield South, were commenced for the Borough of Caulfield in 1884 when they also included a Post and Telegraph Office and Court of Petty Sessions. They were designed by the Borough surveyor, Sydney Smith. The hall was completed in 1890 to the design of Alexander Rankin and the present hall, foyer and portico completed to the design of Goldsmith and Jenkin, architects, in 1931. The complex is historically, aesthetically and socially significant.
It is historically significant {Criterion A) as the centre of Local Government services in the area since 1885 and as a centre of post and telegraph and legal services for a period.
Its association with architect and Borough surveyor, Sydney W. Smith is important in that the east elevation and facade (ground floor level only)as far west as the tower (lower two stages) survive as evidence ofhis work, the practice which his son continued after his death in 1886, becoming highly successful. The work of Goldsmith and Jenkin is historically important in that it indirectly demonstrates the growth of the City sustained during the Inter-war period, the work proceeding in spite of the Depression. It compares with other similar work of that time including the refurbishment of the Malvern Municipal Offices and Hall in 1927 (Hudson and Wardrop), the Melbourne Corporation Offices and Hall in 1925-28 (Stephenson and Meldrum, A. and K.
Henderson) and the Camberwell Offices and Council Chamber in 1924 (Leighton Irwin and Roy Stevenson), other comparable municipal projects being undertaken during the 1930s. Finally, the Goldsmith and Jenkin works are important as a project of the Depression years organised specifically to alleviate unemployment problems in the Municipality.
The complex is aesthetically important (Criterion E) as a prominent and imposing Classically derived complex of its type with individually noteworthy interior spaces being the entry hall and staircase, main Hall, Foyer and Council Chamber. The Adamesque plasterwork, timber panelling and furniture, Art Nouveaux enrichment and Classically derived treatment with sparing use of Australian decorative motifs are contributory elements. Exterior .elements of note include the remains of the original design prepared by Sydney Smith and the clock tower and portico which have come to symbolise important Municipal complexes erected prior to the Second World War.
The complex is socially important (Criterion G) for the value placed on it by the community which has made use of it for activities including that of Local government for well over a century.
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Town Hall, Corner Glen Eira and Hawthorn Roads - Physical Description 1
An imposing and prominently situated Municipal complex, built over a period with the important eastern portion in the Classical Revival mode. There is a three staged clock tower with surmounting flagpole, stylistic elements including Corinthian Order pilasters at ground level, rusticated corners and round arched openings to the second stage and a pilastrated upper stage with pediment motif to the clocks, and surmounting pyramidal roof. There are louvres to the upper stage belfry whilst the pilaster capitals have acanthus leaf enrichment consistent with the Inter-War period.
The principal two storeyed block facing Hawthorn Road is trabeated, the lower Corinthian Order pilasters being half round and rectangular with Adamesque motifs and separated from the upper level Tuscan derived pilasters by a plain entablature. The single storeyed south-east wing is similar but separated from the main block by a later and somewhat simplified pilastrated section having a shallow pedimented parapet.
The Glen Eira Road elevation is dominated by a Neo-Grecian portico with Corinthian Order columns, plain pediment and coffered ceiling. The main doors are bronze with lead lit upper lights from the Inter-War period and there are ornamental lights and balustrades to the portico.
Inside, the main hall leading to the Council Chamber and Function Rooms has hardwood wainscoting with a patterned -hardwood floor and Adamesque enrichment to the plaster ceiling. There is a richly decorated staircase with ornamental wrought iron balustrade terminated at the lower-end by ornamental timber lamp standards.
The main Hall has been decorated in the Classical Revival mode, the proscenium arch having a continuous fasces architrave with Council coat of arms. The walls are trabeated with a dentillated entablature surmounted by a deeply coved ceiling which has a coffered central section, fully lead lit and decorated with guilloche patterns and a richly ornamented margin in cast plaster. The Hall Lobby has marble wainscoting with the cast bronze honour roll to those who served in the Great War occupying all walls to door head height. There is a sympathetic but recent staircase which dominates this space and a coffered, lead lit ceiling.
The Council Chamber retains its Inter-War period fit out including the Councillors' table, dais accommodating the mayoral chair and senior officers' desks and a public gallery. There is polished timber wainscoting with panelled doors and an ornamental plaster ceiling with raised central section having sloping sides, the decoration employing a gum leaf motif There are lead lit casement windows with Art Nouveaux influenced patterns.
Town Hall, Corner Glen Eira and Hawthorn Roads - Physical Description 2
Integrity: Medium, substantial alterations and additions to the west and southern areas ofthe building, principal windows in early sections defaced.
Town Hall, Corner Glen Eira and Hawthorn Roads - Physical Description 3
Condition: sound
Town Hall, Corner Glen Eira and Hawthorn Roads - Historical Australian Themes
Public Services: Local Government, Post and Telegraph, Law and Caufield as a pre-eminent Inter-War suburb.
Heritage Study and Grading
Glen Eira - City of Glen Eira Heritage Management Plan
Author: Andrew Ward, Architectural Historian
Year: 1996
Grading:
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HALSTEADVictorian Heritage Register H0450
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ROSECRADDOCKVictorian Heritage Register H0589
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PRIMARY SCHOOL NO.773Victorian Heritage Register H1708
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