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The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848-1954) (about)
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Cite: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1686507
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THE WEST END.
EARLY MELBOURNE MEMORIES.
By EDWARD C. O. HOWARD.
As I found it impossible to cover all the ground in one article on early Melbourne without encroaching too much on valuable space, I am now continuing my narrative, which, I hope may prove interesting.
Between Collins street and Flinders lane on the east side of Queen street, stood the first four-storied dwelling ever built in Mel- bourne. In the early fifties it was occu- pied by Dr. A. Omullane before he removed to Bourke street west. In October 1858, the National Bank commenced business in this building, and at a later period the Ori- ental Bank conducted business there. At other periods the Oriental occupied pre- mises at the corner of Flinders lane and Queen street (west side), also in Collins street, near Queen street. It is on record that the Derwent Bank of Hobart Town opened an agency at the corner of Collins and Queen streets in February, 1838, and that on October 8 of the same year the Union Bank opened a branch in a two- roomed cottage and skillion at the corner of Queen and Little Flinders streets, tak- ing over the business of the Derwent Bank. Subsequently a two-storied brick building, in the form of a banking house, was erected
on the same corner.
At a later period, within my recollection, the Union Bank went to a spacious struc- ture of two stories at the corner of Collins and Queen streets, the spot being now occu- pied by Prell's Building. This lot, No. 18, was originally purchased by Mr. B. Willis for £42. Lot No. 16, upon which the Union Bank now stands in Collins street was originally purchased by Mr. M. Pender for £19. The old Royal Hotel which was rebuilt and then called the Cri- terion, stood on this spot in the early days. Lot No. 1, at the north-east corner of Col-
lins and Queen streets, was purchased at the first land sale by E. W. Umphelby for £61. It corresponded in size with lot No. 18, on the south-east corner. History tells us that this allotment upon which the premises of Dr. Cotter, the William Tell Inn, and Messrs. Lazarus and Benjamin stood, as sold with the buildings thereon, by Mr. Mortimer in September, 1840 for £5,142/10/. During my recollection, in the fifties, the corner was known as Annands Chambers, the following business people oc- cupying them, viz., John Galvin, hatter;
F. T. Gell, solicitor; George Millar, estate agent; Tohn Trenchard, solicitor; and the People's Provident Life Assurance Com- pany. In the sixties Messrs. Smith and Adamson, seedsmen and florists, carried on business there, and in the eighties, the cor- ner was purchased by the English and Scot- tish Bank, who adorned the site with one of the finest buildings in Collins street.
In the 'fifties Mr. George Crisp, jeweller and watchmaker, carried on his business on
the east side of Queen street, not far from Collins street. On the opposite side of the street stood the Provident Institute of Vic- toria, which afterwards went into liquida- tion. The spot is now occupied by the Equity Trustees, Executors, and Agency Company Limited. Close to this Mr. I. Graham conducted a large butchering busi- ness in 1859, and at the corner of Queen and Little Collins streets, still stands the Temple Court Hotel, after a life of many summers. On the opposite corner stood a structure in which the Melbourne Bank- ing Corporation carried on their business in 1867, a building society occupying it in 1887. Another story was added to it afterwards and the corner is now in the occupation of the National Trustees, Executors, and Agency Company of Australia Limited. The site at the south-east corner of Queen and Bourke streets was used for the sale of horses. It was known in the 'fifties as Bear's Horse Bazaar, being enclosed with an ordinary six-rail bush fence. Salisbury Building now stands on the spot.
In Bourke street not far from William street on the south side still stands a bluestone structure used in 1859 by Mr. David Moore, M.L.A., merchant. Next to Menzies', in the same street, and at the same period, were the offices of Messrs. Ross and Clarke, solicitors. Mr. Clarke was in command of the Victorian Yeo- manry Cavalry formed in 1855, my late brother, F. W. Howard, of the Stock Ex- change, being a member of the corps. With plumed helmets, their uniforms were very handsome, and attracted much attention.
In 1860 I was also a volunteer, being a member of the St. Kilda Field Battery of Artillery, under Captain Snee. Firing prac- tice was carried out from a spot near the Albert Park railway station, the target being fxed near the beach. Our drill- ground was close to the St. Kilda Cricket- ground, where I played with the first eleven of the club in the 'fifties and 'sixties. The whole of Albert Park was a sand waste at that time. St. James's School buildings stood on the two-acre block on the north side of Little Collins street, facing William street. As mentioned in my first article, Mr. Stawell, then Attorney-General, had the first class in the Sunday school, the boys in this class, besides myself, being T. A'Beckett, later Sir Thomas, judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria; W. A'Beckett, later Dr. A'Beckett; T. Croft, later of the Telegraph department; Charles Green, later the Rev. C. Green, vicar of Clapham, Lon- don; and John Thomas-Thorold Smith, later barrister and Crown prosecutor. Mr. Par- nell superintended the boys' division of the day school, while Mrs. Pike controlled the girls' division.
In order to make room for the cathedral in Swanston street, St. Paul's school build- ings were removed many years ago to the north-east corner of this block. On the south-east corner stood a wooden dwelling in which Dean Macartney resided in 1853, pending the completion of a large two- stoned brick structure facing Little Col-
lins street.
At the corner of Church and Little Colins streets stood St. James's first par- sonage, a two-storied brick building with a balcony. It was occupied in 1841 by the Rev. Adam Compton Thomson, who suc- ceeded the Rev. I. C. Grylls, as incumbent of St. James's on the departure of Mr. Grylls for England. The structure was sold many years ago to a Melbourne con- tractor, the site being now covered by a
blue-stone store.
The very last vicarage built stood on the three-acre block on the south side of little Collins street opposite Church street. All these buildings have long since been replaced by stores and offices of a
mercantile character.
In my first article I alluded to the old telegraph building in William street at the corner of Little Bourke street. The busi-
ness was carried on in this structure till about 1866, after which the building was known is the Electric Time-table Ball tower and Department of Stores. After that period the telegraph business was carried on in a building at the corner of William and Little Flinders streets, known as the "Exchange." This office was finally discontinued on Saturday, July 13, 1872,
and the wires were connected with the Elizabeth street office, adjoining the Gene- ral Post-office business being commenced
there for the first time on Monday, July 15 of the same year. The Exchange build- ing was used by the Harbour Trust for some time, and is now in the occupation of the Marine Board, and others.
I also alluded in the article to the Royal Mint at the corner of William and La- trobe streets, and said that the founda- tions were well advanced in February, 1870. By June 1872, the buildings and surround- ing walls and high, iron fence were completed and on the 7th of that month the Mint was inspected by His Excellency the Govnernor and Viscountress Canterbury. The machinery was found to be in good working order, and everything in readi-
ness for full operations. A number of coins were struck off. On June 13, 1872, the Victorian branch of the Royal Mint was formally opened and three large parcels of gold were received from the Union Bank, and Oriental Bank, the total quan- tity of bullion being 23,671oz., valued at
£95,000.