The Majorca Building
- Feb 19
- 2 min read
In 2015 rba was engaged to prepare a Conservation Management Plan (CMP) for the Harry Norris designed Majorca Building in Flinders Lane (1927-31). This was in response to the poor condition of the original faience clad facades along with concerns about the condition of the later 1980s works.
To ensure informed decisions were made on its future protection and management, in addition to assessing the condition of the building fabric, we undertook detailed historic research tracing its inception to the flourishing soft goods ‘rag’ trade era of Flinders Lane.
During the interwar period, Flinders Lane had become the heart of Melbourne’s fashion industry, home to importers, manufacturers, showrooms, and retailers dealing in fabrics and clothing.[1] Retailers typically occupied the ground, basement, and first floors of multi-storey buildings, with large display windows designed to attract passing pedestrians. [2]
It is within this context that Harry Norris brilliantly captured this in-vogue and moderne culture with his design, while the incorporation of display windows facilitated the ongoing economic activity of Flinders Lane.
Norris was inspired by local and international styles such as Commercial Pallazzo, Moderne, Spanish Colonial Revival and Art Deco, and was among the first to introduce and merge this architectural language with his design of the Majorca Building. It’s tall, exotic and architecturally expressive style was made possible by the recent advances in structural steel and reinforced concrete framing.[3]
With its bright blue faience façade being its most distinguished feature, described, as ‘essentially modern in form, colour and decoration’, [4] the Majorca Building is an interesting contrast to Norris’s nearby plain grey faience clad Nicholas Building.
In 2015, our team comprised of Roger Beeston, Anthony Hemingway, Erin Williams, and Alistair Ravenscroft began by surveying each space, documenting its existing condition, and developing floorplans which mapped varying levels of significance across each building element. These investigations revealed a damaged stormwater system, evidence of water ingress, spalling concrete, and cracking and deterioration to the faience cladding.
[1] Lesley Rosenthal, Schmattes: Stories of Fabulous Frock, Funky Fashion and Flinders Lane, p10–13
[2] Melbourne Planning Scheme: Clause 22.04 Heritage Places Within the Capital City Zone
[3] Miles Lewis, Melbourne: The City’s History and Development, p95
[4] 'Colour Schemes', Examiner, 5 Jul 1929, p6
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