Place:      Myer Lonsdale Street store / city streetscapes / Lonsdale House 
Threat:   Demolition or loss of heritage values through facadism

Significance:

The Lonsdale Street section of Myer represents half of this huge retail complex, forming a monument to the scale and importance of Australia’s retail giant. It incorporates a number of heritage buildings built between the 1880s and the 1930s, and the laneways between them, representing a fully preserved section of the pre-WWII city.

The Myer Lonsdale Street façade is one of the greatest examples of 1920s Stripped Classical in Melbourne. Myer was by far the most important retailer in Victoria from the 1920s, and later dominated retailing across Australia. Myer came to represent Melbourne, with generations having experienced ‘the city store’ at some time in their lives

Statement of Risk:

Published images show the demolition of Lonsdale House and the Little Bourke Street facades of the Myer Lonsdale Street buildings, with only the external street skin of the grand main Lonsdale Street building and the two adjacent Victorian era buildings remaining. No permit has been applied for and Minister has final say.

Degree of Risk:       Immediate risk – no solution agreed

Threats/Risks:         Destruction                  

Fate/outcome:         Nothing certain

Desired Outcome / Vision:

Lonsdale House and the Little Bourke Street facades should not be demolished, and no buildings should be reduced to an external skin only, with at least one structural bay retained, and any important interiors.