56 Victoria Street

Running down the southern edge of Chews Lane on the corner of Victoria Street, 56 Victoria is a fine example of the work of well-known colonial architects C.Tilleard Natusch & Sons.

Built in 1927 for the Colonial Carrying Company, the six-storey building incorporates many architectural features. A rare high-rise example of Free Gothic Style, its facade uses subtle decorative details such as brackets and shallow segmental arches to suggest the soaring vaults of Gothic Revival.

The high stud of the office floors is complemented by long aspects of operable steel windows. As part of the refurbishment, the original plastered ceilings and walls have been left exposed and refinished to give a light voluminous floor plate.

The ornate timber and marble panelled lobby, stair and lift have been restored using the original lift car and control gear.

A new shear frame, to upgrade seismic strengthening, has been inserted within the existing structural frame. Consistent with best conservation practice, this has been expressed simply and is easily distinguished from original elements.