Offices and Shops, 150-154 Rundle Mall, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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CADS11
S 34° 55.359 E 138° 36.305
54H E 281232 N 6132915
The Offices and Shops, 150-154 Rundle Mall, Adelaide, constructed in 1887, is significant architecturally as an excellent example of Victorian commercial architecture derived from continental European rather than British tradition.
Waymark Code: WMXP1Q
Location: South Australia, Australia
Date Posted: 02/05/2018
Views: 4
Statement of Significance
The Offices and Shops, 150-154 Rundle Mall, Adelaide, constructed in 1887, is significant architecturally as an excellent example of Victorian commercial architecture derived from continental European rather than British tradition. The building illustrates the development of world wide architectural trends of the time and, in particular, represents the transition from the Revivalist styles to Edwardian freestyle in the early twentieth century. The building is unusual for South Australia, a state with few true examples of Edwardian/Queen Anne/Federation architectural styles as applied to commercial buildings. (Criteria A.4, B.2, D.2 and F.1) (Historic Theme: 8.10 Pursuing excellence in the arts and sciences - designing and building fine buildings)
The building with its size, scale, and extravagant architectural decoration is of considerable aesthetic value. It is a prominent feature in, and major contributor to, the streetscape of Rundle Mall. (Criterion E1)
The building is also of interest for its association with the development of retail trade in Rundle Mall. (Criterion A.4) (Historic Theme: 3.19 Marketing and retailing)
Official Values Not Available
Description
150-154 Rundle Mall is a red brick load bearing construction with a corrugated galvanized iron gabled roof. Its facade features extravagant stucco decorations, Classically derived although of European rather than British influence. The facade features ornate aedicules to windows, string courses marking the floor divisions, a cornice capping the building and pilasters with Classically ordered capitals. Remarkable features include the central semi-circular balcony on the third floor supported by a swelling, inverted ogee dome shape, niches to window tops with Baroque inspired shell decorative motifs and the European treatment of the gable ends. The design and integration of these features is extravagant and unique. The building is a prominent element in the Rundle Mall streetscape due to its size, scale, and the extravagantly decorated facade.
History
The shops and offices at 150-154 Rundle Mall, Adelaide, are located on Part Town Acre 39, which was originally granted to Samuel George Smith of London in 1837. When Smith died in 1863 the estate pased to his son Samuel George Smith, the second. Smith built the current building in 1886-87 to a design by the architects, Daniel Garlick and Son. When he died in 1900, the property passed to his brother F C Smith and then to Ruthven Frederick Smith. The building was perpetually leased to tenants including the architects, G Soward and his son for over thirty years, from 1872 to 1905. Ownership passed to Jane Cocks Moore, a widow from Toorak, Victoria. Following her death in 1944, the property was sold to the Adelaide Development Company Ltd in 1946.
When originally constructed the upper floors of the building were designed as residences. The facade of the upper two floors, divided from the ground by a modern cantilevered verandah, are an excellent example of an emerging nineteenth century trend involving the use of red brick combined with elaborate stucco decoration. In this sense, 150-154 Rundle Mall is a precursor to West's Coffee Palace in Hindley Street and the facades of the Adelaide Fruit and Produce Exchange and to the architectural movement termed Edwardian. Design of this type is extremely rare in South Australia and at the time of its construction was greeted with enthusiastic comment.
Condition and Integrity
The building appears to be in good condition, although evidence of water staining to the cornice indicates guttering problems. It has recently been painted in a scheme that compliments the building. The facade of the building's two upper floors is intact, while the ground floor has been stripped of its original fittings. (23 September 1999)
Location
150-154 Rundle Mall, Adelaide.
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