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Summary

Description

Watson Salmond and Gray, architects; 1913-1929, large severely Greek extension to the City Chambers Building linked to the latter by paired arches over John Street. French Renaissance detailing inspired by style of Francois Mansart.

CITY CHAMBERS EXTENSION: 4 storeys attic and basement, nearly symmetrical, long elevations to Cochrane Street and George Street, short facade to John Street. Polished ashlar and polished pink granite basement, channelled to ground and basement and full-height at end bays.

COCHRANE STREET ELEVATION: almost symmetrical, 1-1-6-1-1 bays. Penultimate bays advanced with boldly moulded entrances; that to left roll-moulded, shouldered and corniced, that to right with deep cavetto margins of black marble and heavy consoled cornice. Good cast-iron outer grilles, inner doors and fanlight metal-framed with margin glazing. Basement windows basket-arched, otherwise square-headed. To 1st and 2nd floors central 6-bays grouped within fluted giant Ionic colonnade supporting entablature. To right, end bays flanked by Ionic

columns, above door these are paired, window flanked by sidelights. To left, windows recessed in pilastered reveals with characteristic 1920's "swag" detail. Heavy mutule cornice over 2nd, 3rd floor windows recessed with consoled cornices. All windows metal-framed casements

with elaborate moulded frames, mostly 3-light with small-pane glazing. Metal panels between 1st and 2nd windows, stone to left. 3rd floor set back to give attic effect, channelled masonry with bands of vermiculated rustication. Blocking course, deep block pediments over advanced bays.

JOHN STREET ELEVATION: similarly detailed, central tripartite bay advanced. Steps to wide central doorway, above giant Ionic columns and pillars flank 1st and 2nd floor windows.

GEORGE STREET ELEVATION: similarly detailed.

PAIRED SCREEN ARCHWAYS TO JOHN STREET: pair of triumphal archways linking City Chambers with Cochrane Street extension over John Street.

Polished ashlar, on base courses of polished pink granite, stone cleaned. Tall central arch flanked by paired fluted Ionic columns

(unfluted Doric pilasters to inner faces) and lower arches. All arched with moulded archivolt, cartouche over central arch with coats of arms. Mutuled cornice, segmental pediment over centre flanked by die pedestals with urns. Above, deep plain panelled parapet raised over centre.

Statement of Special Interest

A group with 62 George Street, City Chambers.

References

Bibliography

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