Shops (Brays Store), 113-115 Napier Street, ST ARNAUD
113-115 Napier Street ST ARNAUD, NORTHERN GRAMPIANS SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
The former Bray's Department stores, 113-115 Napier Street, St. Arnaud, makes a significant contribution to the predominantly Victorian and Federation streetscape. This shop complex was built in 1875 for William Bray, a local and well-known businessman who had emigrated from Cornwall. These shops originally sold menswear, footwear and drapery, with an auction market at the rear. At least two of the shops remained under Bray family ownership until at least the 1950s. In 1923, alterations and additions were carried out.
The former Bray's Department stores are architecturally significant at a LOCAL level. Altered from the overall original design, the shop complex demonstrates some original design qualities of a Victorian Free Classical style, as well as Free Classical details of the interwar period. These qualities include the single storey composition, rendered brick wall construction and two distinctive parapet roof forms. The right parapet represents the Victorian construction, with its central stylised pediment and incised title "A.D. 1875", flanking incised rectangular and circular motifs, double bracketed stringcourse, and urns surmounting substantial, fluted consoles. Other intact qualities of the upper reaches of this shop including the black painted sign with a white painted background that reads: "Bray's Mens Wear and Drapery"
The right parapet reflects the interwar construction and is significant for the following qualities: rendered basket weave parapet form and stylised urns on plain piers, projecting stringcourse, and pilasters with stylised capitals. Other intact qualities below the parapet include the two incised rectangular panels between the pilasters and the black signage which reads: "Maurie and Pat Wood Toys and Everything in Sport, Sports Wood's Store" respectively.
Other intact architectural qualities of the shop complex include: the form of the projecting bullnosed verandah; metal framed shopfronts with ingoes; timber framed glazed doors; dark green glazed tiles; and highlights; as well as the lantern light behind the parapets. The neighbouring laneway to the north of the complex also contributes to the significance of the place.
The former Bray's Department stores are historically significant at a LOCAL level. It is associated with William Bray, a local and well-known businessman who had emigrated from Cornwall and had this shop complex built in 1875. The shops are also associated with W.R. Bliss who managed a draper's shop in the early 1890s, and later as W.R. Bliss and Wood's Store, while other shops are associated with William Bray's sons, Robert, John, Tom and Stan who operated the auction menswear and bootery businesses in the early 20th century. Other associations include the auctioneers A.J. Simpson and Co., and H. Taylor, bootmaker, as well as later generations of the Bray family, notably Frank and Aubrey Bray.
The former Bray's Department stores are socially significant at a LOCAL level. It is recognised by the St. Arnaud community as one of the early commercial buildings in the town originally owned by the well-known Bray family.
Overall, the former Bray's Department stores are of LOCAL significance.
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Shops (Brays Store), 113-115 Napier Street, ST ARNAUD - Physical Description 1
The former Bray's Department Stores, 113-115 Napier Street, St. Arnaud, make an important architectural and visual contribution to the predominantly Victorian and Federation streetscape.
The single storey, rendered brick and painted rudimentary Victorian Free Classical styled building complex is characterised by two distinctive and divergent parapet roof forms. The extant original parapet above the far right shop has a central stylised pediment with the incised title "A.D. 1875", reflecting the date of construction. Flanking the pediment, the parapet has incised rectangular and circular motifs this and the stylised pediment are supported by a double bracketed stringcourse. The parapet is also distinguished by the urns surmounting substantial, fluted consoles each side of the shop. Below the parapet is an early black painted sign with a white painted background which reads: "Bray's Mens Wear and Drapery".
The parapet of the remainder of the building complex appears to reflect the 1923 alterations, with its rendered basket weave parapet and stylised urns on plain piers. The parapet is supported by a projecting stringcourse and pilasters with stylised capitals. Between the pilasters are two incised rectangular panels, and together with their surrounds, these panels are painted white with black signage which reads: "Maurie and Pat Wood Toys and Everything in Sport, Sports Wood's Store" respectively.
This building is also characterised by an altered, projecting bullnosed verandah, supported by introduced, rudimentary timber columns. Under the verandah are three early (c.1923) metal framed shopfronts with ingoes, timber framed glazed doors, dark green glazed tiles and highlights. The neighbouring laneway to the north of the complex, like the adjacent former Bray's Furniture Store at 119 Napier Street, forms part of the overall design scheme.
Heritage Study and Grading
Northern Grampians - Shire of Northern Grampians - Stage 2 Heritage Study
Author: Wendy Jacobs, Vicki Johnson, David Rowe, Phil Taylor
Year: 2004
Grading: Local
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CROWN LAND OFFICEVictorian Heritage Register H1530
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ST ARNAUD RAILWAY STATIONVictorian Heritage Register H1594
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LORD NELSON TAILINGS DUMPVictorian Heritage Inventory
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