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Newburn
30 Queens Road,, MELBOURNE VIC 3000 - Property No B5271
Newburn
30 Queens Road,, MELBOURNE VIC 3000 - Property No B5271
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Statement of Significance
Newburn was the first block of flats in Victoria to adopt thoroughly the characteristics of advanced European architecture of the time, with an offset plan reminiscent of Gropius's Berlin housing estate, design elements related to the Expressionism of Erich Mendelsohn, and interior detailing of consistent character.
Swiss-trained architect Frederick Romberg, in partnership with two other former Stephenson and Turner employees, Mary Turner Shaw and Richard Hocking designed during 1939-40 the four storey block of flats which was completed in 1941. Newburn Pty Ltd financed the construction and Jack Aird was the builder of this off-form concrete structure, which was subsequently painted white and named Newburn, alluding to the house, Newburgh, which formerly occupied the site. Steel forms on the 600 by 600 module provided the wall forms, while corrugated iron was bent to form the balconies of what was perhaps Australia's first off-form concrete block of flats.
As in Grupius's Berlin housing estate (1930), Romburg offset each flat unit in plan to give privacy to the balconies, views and a north orientation, whilst adopting the Expressionist formal repeating curved elements and bold horizontals of Erich Mendelsohn to give a sculptured exterior to the Functionalist plan.
The block was unlike other flat units such as Kia-ora, St. Kilda Road, which employed the voguish curved elements also, but on a symmetrical courtyard plan, and had traditional hipped roof forms and stuccoed brickwork to provide the streamlined exterior.
Subsequent alterations include the replacement of the rooftop pergola with a penthouse in the 1950's and the painting over of Gert Sellheim's graphic designs and sundial.
Classified: 16/09/1982
Swiss-trained architect Frederick Romberg, in partnership with two other former Stephenson and Turner employees, Mary Turner Shaw and Richard Hocking designed during 1939-40 the four storey block of flats which was completed in 1941. Newburn Pty Ltd financed the construction and Jack Aird was the builder of this off-form concrete structure, which was subsequently painted white and named Newburn, alluding to the house, Newburgh, which formerly occupied the site. Steel forms on the 600 by 600 module provided the wall forms, while corrugated iron was bent to form the balconies of what was perhaps Australia's first off-form concrete block of flats.
As in Grupius's Berlin housing estate (1930), Romburg offset each flat unit in plan to give privacy to the balconies, views and a north orientation, whilst adopting the Expressionist formal repeating curved elements and bold horizontals of Erich Mendelsohn to give a sculptured exterior to the Functionalist plan.
The block was unlike other flat units such as Kia-ora, St. Kilda Road, which employed the voguish curved elements also, but on a symmetrical courtyard plan, and had traditional hipped roof forms and stuccoed brickwork to provide the streamlined exterior.
Subsequent alterations include the replacement of the rooftop pergola with a penthouse in the 1950's and the painting over of Gert Sellheim's graphic designs and sundial.
Classified: 16/09/1982
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FORMER KELLOW FALKINER SHOWROOMSVictorian Heritage Register H0668
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MAJELLAVictorian Heritage Register H0783
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NEWBURN FLATSVictorian Heritage Register H0578
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