Shops & Offices
121 Ryrie Street, GEELONG VIC 3220 - Property No 217611
Geelong Commercial Heritage Area
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Statement of Significance
C Listed - Local Significance
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
The shop and office, 121 Ryrie Street, Geelong, has significance as part of a larger building that represents a reasonably intact example of a Victorian Free commercial style. Built in 1888 for John Wadelton, chemist, to a design by the Geelong architect Joseph Watts, the building is a legacy of the commercial developments in Geelong in the second half of the 19th century. The site had a long history as the location for chemists, having been Robert McDonalds New Drug Hall from 1854 and the later building serving as Dicksons Pharmacy from 1918 until the 1970s. The building appears to be in fair condition when viewed from the street, with some evidence of deterioration about the windows and parapet.
The shop and office, 121 Ryrie Street is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level. Although altered, it still demonstrates original design qualities of an intact Victorian Free commercial style. These qualities include the two bayed composition defined by three Corinthian pilasters on the first floor, projecting rectangular parapet supported by decorative paired consoles above the pilasters and projecting rectangular brackets, crowning balustraded parapet with terminal piers surmounted by orbs, and the projecting moulded stringcourse that defines the first floor level and which is punctuated by square brackets. Other intact or appropriate qualities include the two storey height, rendered brick wall construction, two timber framed double hung first floor windows with rendered sills and moulded rendered architraves, signage that reads "Dicksons Pharmacy and Photo Store", rear unpainted brick wall construction and the rear window openings. The architectural significance of this shop and office also relies on the retention and conservation of the neighbouring shop and office at 119 Ryrie Street.
The shop and office, 121 Ryrie Street, is historically significant at a LOCAL level. It is associated with commercial developments in Geelong in the second half of the 19th century. In particular, this building has associations with John Wadelton, chemist and original owner from 1888, who commissioned the Geelong architect Joseph Watts to design a new building to replace Robert McDonalds New Drug Store that had been constructed in 1854. Watts also designed the neighbouring building at 119 Ryrie Street, which was built simultaneously to this building. The new building had a long history as a chemist, being known for many years as Dicksons Pharmacy from 1918 and serving several chemists until 1970.
Overall, the shop and office at 121 Ryrie Street is of LOCAL significance.
References
References Reports and Drainage Plans, Barwon Water profis system, 1918, 1939, 1946, 1948, 1956, 1980.
Voters Roll, Kardinia Ward, 1992, Geelong Historical Records Centre.
Sands & McDougalls Directory of Geelong, 1972, Geelong Historical Records Centre.
Sands & McDougalls "Invicta" Geelong Directory, 1968, Geelong Historical Records Centre.
Geelong City Council Rate Books (Villamanta Ward), 1854-1960, Geelong Historical Records Centre.
Town Plan of Geelong 1858, Geelong Historical Records Centre.
Titles Search Application APP22076, Land Titles Office, Marland House, Bourke Street, Melbourne.
Investigator, Journal of the Geelong Historical Society, March, 1980, Geelong Historical Records Centre.
Morrow, W.J., Index to the Geelong Advertiser, 1888, Geelong Historical Records Centre.
Huddle, L., Ryrie Street, Geelong, Various photographs and Street Survey Map, Authentic Heritage Services.
Rowe, D., Architecture of Geelong 1860-1900, B. Arch. Thesis, Deakin University, 1991.
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Shops & Offices - Physical Description 1
The shop and office, 121 Ryrie Street, Geelong, forms half of a larger building situated in amongst other commercial buildings in the street.
The two storey, rendered brick, Victorian Free commercial styled building is characterised by a two bayed composition defined by three early Corinthian pilasters on the first floor. The building also has an early projecting rectangular parapet that is supported by early decorative paired consoles above the pilasters, and projecting rectangular brackets above the consoles. There is also an early projecting moulded stringcourse that defines the first floor level that is punctuated by square brackets. The first floor also has two early timber framed double hung windows with early rendered sills and moulded rendered architraves, an early "Dicksons Pharmacy" sign above the windows and a crowning balustraded parapet with terminal piers surmounted by early orbs. There is also another sign that forms part of the other sign that reads "AND" and "Photo Store" between and under the windows respectively.
The shop and office at 121 Ryrie Street has an introduced cantilevering verandah over the shopfront. This shopfront has been altered, although the form of the existing shopfront with flanking metal framed and glazed windows and a central double ingo with timber and glazed doors is possibly early.
Behind the parapet is a hipped roof form clad in recent galvanised corrugated steel. It is separated from the neighbouring hipped roof by an early projecting unpainted brick party wall. The rear is also constructed of unpainted brick, with early window openings and a series of one and two storey hipped and gabled additions clad in galvanised corrugated steel.
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:
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FORMER GEELONG WOOL EXCHANGEVictorian Heritage Register H0622
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FORMER SCOTTISH CHIEFS HOTELVictorian Heritage Register H0662
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GEELONG TOWN HALLVictorian Heritage Register H0184
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