Original post 21 March 2020

You might not recognise this but it’s still there ! #HolymanHouse, an unassuming but rare survivor from the 1850s on #FlindersStreet cnr Market Street, originally facing the first river port, hence the adjacent Customs House. Built 1858 for the huge wool exporters #GoldsboroughMort, designed by John Gill, who had been a noted architect since the 1840s. It’s #bluestone, which you can just tell behind the paint. It’s been called Holyman house since at least the 50s, when it was probably converted to offices; the photo is from 1963. Very much derived from English #RenaissanceRevival precedents eg Charles Barry’s 1841 London #ReformClub, which had become a standard form similar to this in Melb by the 1850s for all sorts of buildings but esp warehouses.

Holyman started as a shipping company in the mid 19thC, which grew and grew, adding airlines in 1934, becoming part of ANA (later Ansett) in 36, while the shipping, freight, travel, car sales and other divisions stayed as Holyman’s.

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