Dovers Building facts for kids
The Dovers Building is a really old and special building in Melbourne, Australia. It was built way back in 1908. This building is famous because of how it was made using a new and clever way of building with concrete.
Contents
What Makes Dovers Building Special?
Built by a Clever Engineer
The Dovers Building was designed by a smart architect and engineer named Hugh Ralston Crawford. He built it at 7 Drewery Lane in Melbourne.
Crawford had a special permission to use a building method called the "Turner Mushroom flat slab system" in Australia. This system was invented by C.A.P. Turner in the U.S.A. in 1905. It was called "Mushroom" because of how the metal rods looked around the top of the columns, like a mushroom cap. This method also made buildings go up super fast!
Between 1906 and 1909, many other buildings were built using this same system in the U.S.A.
A Building with a History
The Dovers Building was first used as a warehouse and factory for a company called Sniders and Abrahams, who made tobacco products. It was built in 1908. This building was only the second one ever to use Turner's special concrete system. It even started being built in the same year as another famous building, the Lindeke Warner Building in Minnesota, U.S.A., which also used this system.
When it was first built, the Dovers Building had five floors. Later, in 1938, two more floors were added. These new floors were also designed by Hugh Ralston Crawford.
Its Unique Look
The Dovers Building was built during a time called the Edwardian period. Its style is called "Chicagoesque." This means it has a strong, simple look, like many buildings in Chicago.
You can see some decorations on the outside walls. There are fancy leaf designs and arches near the top floor of the original building. But most of the walls are kept plain and simple.
An Important First
This building was the very first in Australia to use the "flat slab" concrete system. After building Dovers, Crawford went on to design many more buildings using the same clever Turner system.
Because of its special history and unique construction, the Dovers Building is now listed on the Victorian Heritage Register. This means it is protected and recognized as an important part of history.
Images for kids
-
Dovers Building on the skyline, as seen March 2022
-
Dover Building from Ground Level Alleyway
