Myer
Melbourne
Bourke
Street and Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Victoria
Spring
2006 - Preservation News
Following the recommendation of the Myer buildings for inclusion on the Victorian Heritage Register, negotiations took place between Myer
managemnent and Heritage Victoria over the extent of the registration. A number of components of the site (cmall shops, a lane and a bridge over
Little Bourke St) have been exempted. ADS is delighted that this truly iconic set of buildings is now protected by Victoria's Heritage legislation.
Winter
2006 - Preservation News
As reported in the last edition, the Myer complex has been recommended for inclusion on the Victorian Heritage Register. However, as expected,
the new owners of Myer have lodged an objection to the listing. A hearing will be conducted in September, when the details of their objection will be revealed.
April
2006 - Preservation News
After an extended review by Heritage Victoria, the Myer’s city emporium complex is to be recommended for inclusion
on the Victorian Register of Historic Buildings. In 2005, ADS nominated the Bourke St. and Lonsdale St. facades and
the Myer Mural Hall on level 6 in Bourke St. However, Heritage Victoria’s listing goes further than our nomination
had sought and covers the entire Myer complex, made up of 10 buildings acquired or built by the businessman and philanthropist
Sidney Myer between 1911 and 1931.
Summer
2006 - Preservation News
In 2005 ADS nominated parts of the iconic Myer department store for inclusion
on the Victorian Heritage Register. The nomination covers two street facades
(Bourke St. and Lonsdale St.), together with the Myer Mural Hall on the
6th Floor. Whilst the application is being assessed, the Coles Myer Group
invited expressions of interest from prospective purchasers of the building,
with an estimated value of $400m. A series of redevelopment options were
presented to prospective purchasers, but it is not known if Coles Myer
provided information about the potential heritage listing. However, Reuters
business reports noted the existence of the nomination. This situation
raises the issue of the effect of a possible heritage listing on the structure
of a bid.
Autumn
2005 - Preservation News
ADS recently submitted a nomination to Heritage Victoria for the listing
of the facades of the Myer buildings (Bourke St. and Lonsdale St.) and
the Myer Mural Hall, 6th Floor, Bourke St. The submission was supported
by the National Trust. Both buildings were designed by prominent architects,
H.B. and F.W. Tompkins, and the Mural Hall (6th Floor, Bourke St) features
a series of murals by noted Melbourne painter Napier Waller. It is one
of the few remaining halls from the 1930s in department stores in the
world. A major thrust of the ADS submission is the social and historical
importance to Melbourne of the Myer stores, and ADS has been delighted
with the positive feedback about the importance of listing and preserving
these spaces. The word "icon" is overworked today, but in the
case of the Myer store, it is an accurate description. This is a major
preservation initiative by the Society and we are now awaiting the assessment
of our submission by Heritage Victoria.
Summer
2005 - Preservation News
ADS
has submitted a nomination to Heritage Victoria for the listing of the
facades of the Myer buildings (Bourke St. and Lonsdale St.) and the Myer
Mural Hall, 6th Floor, Bourke St. The submission is supported by the National
Trust.
