GRAPHIC BUILDING ANALYSIS
Flinders Street Station
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Originally, a collection of weatherboard train sheds named the Melbourne Terminus, previously stood where Flinders Street Station stands now today. The Terminus was officially opened on the 12th of September, 1854 and was the first city railway in Australia. By the 1880s these buildings were considered inadequate and a competition was held for the redesign of the station. The competition was won by James Fawcett and HPC Ashworth of the Railways Department who excelled over 17 other competition entries with their French Renaissance-styled design. Demolition of the original station and other buildings on the site commenced in 1900 and Peter Rodger commenced construction …show more content…
The main station building’s architectural significance is highlighted by its strategic location on the southern boundary of the city grid, thereby acting as a gateway building, re-emphasized by the big entry arch under the famous copper-clad main dome that invites travellers into the station. Facing outwards at 45 degrees to neighbouring streets, the building dominates both the corner of Swanston and Flinders Streets and the view of the city from Southbank. Its unique design represents an extraordinary example of a building type. The design, with an extra floor added, also includes elements found in contemporary Melbourne architecture at the time, especially the use of red brick contrasted with coloured cement render, the use of banking (especially in the tower), and the grouping of windows vertically under tall arches, which broadly found its roots in the American Romanesque Revival. The main station building at the Flinders Street Railway Station Complex has many design elements that boast of architectural brilliance. The high standard of detailing in this structure uses many architectural decorative techniques available in the early twentieth century. This includes pressed metal work (ferrous and non-ferrous), cast and wrought iron, copper domes, lead-light and stained glass, glazed Majolica and 1950s wall tiles. The building has the most extensive use of Edwardian and 1950s wall tiles of any Station or building in the State adding to its uniqueness and stylistic significance. designed in 1949, Campbell Arcade, is of aesthetic significance as one of the
Flinders Street Station
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Originally, a collection of weatherboard train sheds named the Melbourne Terminus, previously stood where Flinders Street Station stands now today. The Terminus was officially opened on the 12th of September, 1854 and was the first city railway in Australia. By the 1880s these buildings were considered inadequate and a competition was held for the redesign of the station. The competition was won by James Fawcett and HPC Ashworth of the Railways Department who excelled over 17 other competition entries with their French Renaissance-styled design. Demolition of the original station and other buildings on the site commenced in 1900 and Peter Rodger commenced construction …show more content…
The main station building’s architectural significance is highlighted by its strategic location on the southern boundary of the city grid, thereby acting as a gateway building, re-emphasized by the big entry arch under the famous copper-clad main dome that invites travellers into the station. Facing outwards at 45 degrees to neighbouring streets, the building dominates both the corner of Swanston and Flinders Streets and the view of the city from Southbank. Its unique design represents an extraordinary example of a building type. The design, with an extra floor added, also includes elements found in contemporary Melbourne architecture at the time, especially the use of red brick contrasted with coloured cement render, the use of banking (especially in the tower), and the grouping of windows vertically under tall arches, which broadly found its roots in the American Romanesque Revival. The main station building at the Flinders Street Railway Station Complex has many design elements that boast of architectural brilliance. The high standard of detailing in this structure uses many architectural decorative techniques available in the early twentieth century. This includes pressed metal work (ferrous and non-ferrous), cast and wrought iron, copper domes, lead-light and stained glass, glazed Majolica and 1950s wall tiles. The building has the most extensive use of Edwardian and 1950s wall tiles of any Station or building in the State adding to its uniqueness and stylistic significance. designed in 1949, Campbell Arcade, is of aesthetic significance as one of the