Grahame's Corner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grahame's Corner |
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Grahame's Corner, 142-144 Pitt Street, Sydney.
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| Location | 142-144 Pitt Street, Sydney central business district, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1877–1882 |
| Architect | G. A. Morell |
| Architectural style(s) | Victorian Free Classical |
| Official name: Grahame's Corner; Grahams Corner; AMFIS Building | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 736 |
| Type | Insurance company/building |
| Category | Commercial |
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Grahame's Corner is a historic building in Sydney, Australia. It's located at 142-144 Pitt Street in the city's main business area. This building was designed by G. A. Morell and built between 1877 and 1882. It's also known as Grahams Corner or the AMFIS Building. The building is important because of its history and design. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999.
Contents
History of Grahame's Corner
Early Days as an Insurance Office
The building was first home to the Australian Mutual Fire Insurance Society. This company started in 1871. By 1877, it was successful enough to buy land at the corner of Pitt and King Streets. They built their main office here, right in the heart of Sydney.
The architect, G. A. Morell, designed an impressive building. It had five levels and was made of brick and stone. The outside was highly decorated with fancy details. It featured triangular shapes (pediments) and tall, thin columns (pilasters). An octagonal tower with a dome (cupola) once stood on the corner. It was twice as tall as the rest of the building! There were even classical statues on the roof. Later, the tower, statues, and some ground floor columns were removed.
Fire Insurance in Old Sydney
In the late 1800s, many insurance companies grew in Sydney. This happened after a law was passed in 1841. These companies started as "mutual societies." This meant members helped each other avoid financial loss from fires. Over time, they became big businesses.
The Pitt Street area was a busy spot for these fire insurance offices. In 1901, a directory showed six fire insurance companies on Pitt Street. The Australian Mutual Fire Insurance Society was one of them. Their building also had offices for lawyers and architects. Nearby shops included a tailor and a hat shop.
Changing Uses Over Time
After World War I, the building's purpose began to change. It started to be rented out as shops and offices. Big changes were made to the building to fit these new uses. Shops like American Bag Stores and Thompson Silk Stores moved in.
In the 1970s, the building became home to the Grahame Book Company. This was a very famous bookshop in Sydney. They were also book publishers. The building was recognized as important for its heritage. It was listed on a national heritage register in 1983. Later, in 2003, the retail company Country Road made plans for renovations.
What Grahame's Corner Looks Like
Building Style and Design
Grahame's Corner is a grand and well-made building. It has a classical style, like old temples. It was built to stand out in Sydney's business district. Its design showed off the original owners' wealth. It also aimed to make customers feel confident in the company.
The building sits right on the corner of two main streets. It's a four-storey building made of sandstone. It also has a mezzanine level, which is a floor between the ground and first floors. The style is called Victorian Free Classical. This means it uses detailed stone decorations around the windows.
You can see classical details everywhere. There are fancy triangular shapes (pediments) and decorative ledges (cornices). There are also tall, flat columns (pilasters) and special windows. These details are the same on both the King Street and Pitt Street sides. The corner of the building is also decorated. The date 1878 is carved on the corner.
How the Building Changed
There is an awning (a roof-like cover) that goes around both sides of the building above the ground floor. The ground floor has changed a lot from its original design. Its first classical decorations were removed.
Inside, the ground floor and mezzanine are now modern retail spaces. There's a lobby on the King Street side that leads to the upper floors. These floors are used as offices.
In 2006, the shopfronts were renovated. They now have a design that matches the older parts of the building. The shop windows have golden sandstone-colored columns with black bases. A nice awning completes the classical look.
Building Materials
The building is made of sandstone blocks. The windows on the first and second floors have timber frames. The ground floor has large glass shopfront windows. Strong brick walls and steel beams support the building.
Inside, the walls are plastered brick or timber. The floors on the mezzanine, first, and second levels are timber. The ground floor has a concrete floor. The stairs leading to the offices are concrete with marble steps. The ceilings are made of plasterboard or acoustic tiles. Some decorative door frames (architraves) and skirtings are still on the first and second floors.
Current Condition
As of 2002, the sandstone outside was in good shape. However, some parts of the roof edge (parapet) and pediments showed wear. You could also see older repairs on the stone. These repairs were from where signs used to be attached.
The first and second floors still have most of their original outside details. They also have some original timber work inside. But the original ground floor and mezzanine outside walls were removed. The original dome (cupola), statues, and tower are also gone. Much of the original inside details on the ground, mezzanine, and first floors were lost due to a fire.
Major Changes Over the Years
- 1919: The corner tower, dome, and roof statues were removed. An extra floor was added behind the roof. The sandstone on the ground and mezzanine floors was taken down. New shopfronts were added. A new awning, lift, fire stairs, and toilets were put in for the office conversion.
- 1935: A new awning replaced the one from 1919. The new shopfronts didn't match the classical style above. Inside, changes were made after a fire in 1934. Retail space on the ground floor was made larger. Offices on the first and second floors were divided into smaller rooms.
- After 1950: Many more changes were made inside the building.
- 2003: A new awning was installed. There were also internal renovations and new signs.
Why Grahame's Corner is Important
As of 2006, Grahame's Corner is considered a great example of a Victorian office building. It has a beautiful, detailed stone front above the awning. It adds to the look of other old buildings near Pitt and King Streets. This area is an important part of Sydney. The special corner design makes the building stand out. It marks the entrance to the Pitt Street Mall. The group of buildings here shows how Sydney's businesses grew in the 1800s. They also show how shopping changed after World War I. This area is important to the state. It shows the wealth and grandeur of 19th-century commercial buildings. Many of these were headquarters for companies across the state.
Grahame's Corner was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999 for several reasons:
It shows the history of New South Wales. The building's history shows how Sydney's businesses grew. It also shows how buildings changed from offices to shops. The famous Victorian architect G. A. Morell designed it. He also designed The Swifts, Darling Point. The building shows how important new companies, like insurance companies, became in Sydney's growth.
It has great design and creative achievement. The building is beautiful with its richly detailed stone front. It has triangular shapes (pedimented gables) supported by columns. The design of the corner is very well done. It adds to the look of other Victorian and Federation-era shops. These buildings are near the important intersection of Pitt and King Streets.
It is important to the community. The building is socially important. It helps give Sydney's central business district its unique feel. Both locals and visitors value it.
It is a rare example of its kind. It's a rare and highly decorated late Victorian sandstone building. It's part of a group of historic buildings in central Sydney. This group includes Sugar House and the Commonwealth Bank building.
It shows the main features of important places in New South Wales. The former AMFIS Building is a great example of a Victorian office building with classical influences. It has been a city landmark for over 100 years. It shows a key time in Sydney's growth. It also shows how the city changed after World War I. There was a greater need for shops in prominent locations.
Together with other buildings in the Pitt and King Street Group, it creates a striking street scene. It contrasts with newer buildings. It also helps keep a human scale for people walking by.
