C.M.L. Building including Austin Clock
74 Malop Street, GEELONG VIC 3220 - Property No 298428
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Statement of Significance
B Listed - Regional Significance
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE - C.M.L. BUILDING
The C.M.L. office building was erected in 1925-27 to designs by Geelong Architect I.G. Anderson on leasehold land which originally formed part of the Market Square and serves as the regional headquarters of this large established Life Assurance Society. The exterior fabric of Barrabool sandstone ashlar is in an early 20th Century Renaissance Revival mode with a corner tower surmounted by octagonal drum and dome as the most distinctive element in the design. The Austin Clock, which stood in a cast iron tower in the Market Square located in the tower upon completion in 1928. The style of the building reflects the most conservative reaction to emerging modern architectural philosophy in Victoria.
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE - AUSTIN CLOCK
The Austin clock, now mounted in the tower of the C.N.L. Building is one of the last tangible links with early civic planning in Geelong and thee Market Square. Apart from historical links with pioneers James Austin and civic fathers of Geelong, the clock is an early time piece manufactured in London and pre dating orological operations in Victoria. The clock was an integral part of a cast iron tower (itself an important civic structure of great technological interest) manufactured in London in 1855 and erected after much procrastination in Market Square. The clock was removed to its present position on c1928.
REFERENCES
For a detailed description of the erection of a Town Clock in the Market Square see:
Brownhill, RW - A History of Geelong and Corio Bay - Wilke and Co, Melbourne, 1955. p.124-129.
Including details of James Austin's presentation, fabrication of the clock and cast iron tower in London and eventual construction in the Square.
Geelong Advertiser - 26 April, 12 May, 25 July, 22 August and 30 October 1856.
For details of tenders, installation of clock in tower and public subscription associated with the erection of the Clock Tower.
A description of the clock and tower as first appeared in the Illustrated London News 1855, is contained in Brownhill, p.127.
A report of the installations of the clock mechanism is contained in the Geelong Advertiser 30 October 1856.
Illustration: Geelong Historical Records Centre Collection No 166. lithograph be De Grucy and Leigh, n.d..
Also see two photographs in Brownhill, pp 124-125.
The cast iron clock tower is also discussed In the authorative History of early Nineteenth Century.
Architecture in Great Britain, Hitchcock, Henry-Russell.
Early Victorian Architecture in Britain - Da capo Press, 1972
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Heritage Study and Grading
Greater Geelong - Geelong Region Historic Buildings and Objects Study Volume 2
Author: Allan Willingham
Year: 1986
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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CORIO VILLAVictorian Heritage Register H0193
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