Shop and Residence
15 Mercer Street, GEELONG VIC 3220 - Property No 216198
City East Heritage Area
-
Add to tour
You must log in to do that.
-
Share
-
Shortlist place
You must log in to do that.
- Download report
Statement of Significance
C listed - Local Significance
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
The shop and residence, 15 Mercer Street, has significance as a legacy of the mid-19th century commercial developments in this part of Mercer Street. Built in c.1864 possibly for William Stephens Howell, the building is in fair condition when viewed from the street, and although the first floor at the front appears reasonably intact, the ground floor shopfronts have been substantially altered.
The shop and residence at 15 Mercer Street are architecturally significant at a LOCAL level. They demonstrate original design qualities of a rudimentary Victorian commercial style. These qualities include the front simple rendered parapet, projecting front parapet cornice, and the symmetrical, three-bayed composition. Other intact or appropriate qualities include the rendered bluestone wall construction, hipped roof form and galvanised corrugated steel roof cladding, simple rendered window architraves and openings, timber framed double hung windows, rendered window sills, rendered label
moulds, ground floor doorway, simple side parapets, rear unpainted bluestone wall construction, and the rear unpainted bluestone window sills and lintels.
The shop and residence at 15 Mercer Street are historically significant at a LOCAL level. They are associated with commercial developments in this section of Mercer Street in the mid 19th century. In particular, this shop and residence has associations with William Stephens Howell, who possibly had it built in c.1864. He had been owner of a stone shop on this site from 1854-55.
Overall, the shop and residence at 15 Mercer Street are of LOCAL significance.
REFERENCES
Reports and Drainage Plans, Barwon Water profis system, 1918, 1921, 1951, 1989, 1990.
Sands & McDougall's Directory of Geelong, 1972, Geelong Historical Records Centre.
Sands & McDougall's "Invicta" Geelong Directory, 1968, Geelong Historical Records Centre.
Geelong City Council Rate Books (Villamanta Ward), 1890-1960, Geelong Historical Records Centre.
Geelong City Council Valuations Books (Villamanta Ward), 1854-1890, Geelong Historical Records Centre.
Town Plan of Geelong 1858, Geelong Historical Records Centre.
Land Title Search 66218, Land Titles Office, Bourke Street, Melbourne.
Removed from City Fringe Heritage Area (HO1639)
-
-
Shop and Residence - Physical Description 1
The shop and residence at 15 Mercer Street, Geelong, is set on the mid 19th century commercial centre of Mercer Street. The building is also situated on an average-sized allotment.
The symmetrical, two storey, rendered bluestone, rudimentary Victorian commercial styled building is characterised by a simple rendered parapet that has a dropped projecting cornice below. The building has a three-bayed composition, defined by the early window openings with early timber framed double hung windows. Above the windows are simple projecting label moulds of similar design to the parapet cornice, while there are also rendered brick window sills in fair-poor condition.
Beyond the parapet is a simple hipped roof form clad in galvanised corrugated steel.
The ground floor shopfront has been substantially altered, and is now defined by a three bayed composition of metal framed windows and timber and glazed recessed door with timber framed transom above. This doorway appears to be in the original location. The projecting cantilevering verandah has also been introduced.
The side walls are also constructed of rendered bluestone, with an exposed timber member projecting from the parapet which is simple in design.
The rear of the building comprises an unpainted rough-faced bluestone wall with bluestone window sills and lintels, and timber framed double hung windows. It is also punctuated by service pipes and there is an introduced skillion addition.
Heritage Study and Grading
Greater Geelong - Geelong City Urban Conservation Study, Volumes 2-5
Author: Graeme Butler
Year: 1991
Grading: CGreater Geelong - Geelong City Urban Conservation Study Volume 1
Author: Graeme Butler
Year: 1993
Grading: CGreater Geelong - Geelong City 'C' Citations Study
Author: Dr David Rowe
Year: 2002
Grading:Geelong City Fringe Heritage Area Review
Author: RBA Architects + Conservation Consultants
Year: 2018
Grading:
-
-
-
-
-
FORMER GEELONG WOOL EXCHANGEVictorian Heritage Register H0622
-
GEELONG TOWN HALLVictorian Heritage Register H0184
-
IRON STOREVictorian Heritage Register H0742
-
-