,

A SHORT HISTORY OF GORDON PLACE FROM 1884 ID THE PRESENT DAY.

of the new Scots Church in Collins Street, The architect commissioned to design the project In 1884 the first section of the building was ready . was William Pitt. Pitt was Australian born and for occupation. A memorial stone was laid and the trained, and though only twenty-eight years old, building officially opened by His Excellency the These two men, despite differences in age and was already renowned as one of the colony's most Governor on 22nd July. It was sad that Charles background . had much in common, and they successful architects. His prize winning designs Strong was absent from Melbourne for this shared a passionate concern for the welfare of their included several of the new, fashionaMe Coffee ceremony, but a moving tribute was paid to his part fellow men. One of their dreams was to provide Palaces, and the Falls Bridge over the YarraRiver. in the project by Coppin. cheap but comfortable housing for working class families in Melbourne, and shelter for indigent he origins of Gordon Place are to The original design of the building incorporated and transient members of the city's population. be found, 100 years ago, in a dream shared by two In 1883 the foundation stone of' Coppin 's Lodging two separate, but adjoining complexes. The name They believed that tenement dwellings for the remarkable Victorians - George Seith House' was laid, and the company - with the of the Company indicated the distinction: The poor need not be dark, dirty and sub-standard, but Coppin and the Reverend . impressive title of 'Our Improved Dwellings and 'Improved Dwellings' were self-contained family that, with planning, sound management and Lodging House Com_paf!y' -was formed. At first apartments or tenements, while the 'Lodging Coppin, then in his sixties, had been actor, theatre goodwill, ' improved" accommodation could be the shares were not taken up as readily as might House' provided dormitory accommodation for manager, speculator, entrepreneur and spacious, airy, bright and convenient. have been expel.led, and Coppin made himself single men. parliamentarian. As a child he had attended personally liable for large sums of money. In village schools in England, while travelling with Their plan was to raise money by forming a public addition, he found himself under atta.:k for the The Improved Dwellings, fronting Little Bourke his parents in a troupe of itinerant actors. At company, offering 3600 shares at £10 each. location of his model dwellings. True, Little Street, was a three-storey brick building faced sixteen he left home to seek his fortune, and in (Shareholders might hope for a material gain of Bourke Street - east of Swanston Street - was with cement. It contained thirty-nine 3 or 1843 he arrived in Australia, atthe age of twenty­ 10% per annum, plus a spiritual bonus in the the Chinese quarter of Melbourne, and though 4-roomed family apartments, built round a four. By the time he met Charles Strong around knowledge that they were helping the needy.) many of the premises were occupied by quadrangle. Galleries ran around each floor; and 1876, he had made -andlost-severalfortunes, Land was to be purchased in the city, an architect industrious and respectable Chinese merchants, it the building, staircases and approaches were been elected to both Houses of Parliament and commissioned, and the model dwellings built. was well known that gambling houses and opium fireproof. Water and gas were laid on to each personally instituted a number of social welfare dens lay behind the facades of others. At the rear tenement, and the sunken basement contained schemes in Victoria. The site sell!cted was a vacant pieceofland, about of the Lodging House, in Lonsdale Street, were additional facilities such as baths, wood-cellars, one acre io extent, at 175 Little Bourke Street a number of 'houses of ill-fame', and it was washing-troughs, coppers and drying lines. Strong, an earnest young man in his thirties, had East, just west of Spring Street. This property ran suggested by an honorable member of Parliament received his education at Scottish academies through to Lonsdale Street, and had already been that Coppin hoped to derive "some pecuniary Behind the tenements was the sixpenny Lodging before taking his degree in Divinity at the partly excavated below street level for the benefit" from their proximity. On the contrary, House - also of brick and similarly fireproof. It University of . He was making a name for foundations of what was to have been Covent Coppin, Rev. Strong and others were attempting consisted of a basement with large cooking room, himself as a preacher in Glasgow, when he was Garden market. Coppin purchased the whole area to clear up the area by providing cheap, dining room and smoking room, bathrooms, invited to come to Australia in 1875 to be minister for£8,000. respectable accommodation. dressing rooms and store rooms. In the yard were a

' In the Quadrangle. Photographs from 'The Australasian', June 2. 1906. laundry, drying room, wood house and fumigating The dream of Coppin and Strong had faded, but chamber. The ground floor contained the Gordon House remained. Over the years it superintendent's quarters, a large reading room survived changes of ownership, and continued to furnished with bookcase, writing tables and provide accommodation for needy men until stove. On the first and second floors were the 1976. When it was bought by Lawhill Securities dormitories, providing sleeping room for 375 Ltd. in 1969, the Building and Construction persons, with about 120 beds in each dormitory. Workers Federation banned work on it till a new shelter for homele s men was provided. It was leased to Hanover \\elfare Service • a non-profit organization, who continued to run it until the new Gordon House for homeless men was opened in South Melbourne in 1976. With that event, the old Coppin 's Lodging House was able to embark on a new stage in its career.

his Lodging Hou e was com­ pleted first, and was an immediate success. On its opening night in 1884 there were 65 lodgers, and this number quickly increased to an average of300 per night. During the first year, 75,769 beds were 'let'. And no wonder - for 6d. a night you were provided with an iron bed tead, straw mattress, kapok pillow, sheets, three single blankets and a counterpane! The sheets and pillowslips were changed every night, having been laundered and fumigated. For 9d. one could have greater privacy inacompartmentwithonly two beds, and a luxury of a kapok mattress and superior quality blankets. Manager's omce and Key-Room. Unlike the Lodging House, the Improved Dwellings - which opened at the beginning of 1885 - were not a success. Jn pile of their '''' modem facilities and moderate rentals (from 9/­ to 12/6 a week depending on size and position) only nine of the thirty-nine apartments were let. Various reasons were proposed for the failure of the working man to appreciate the benefits being offered to him: his unwillingness to accept the very reasonable conditions of occupancy; his preference for the suburbs, even if in less comfortable accommodation; and his problems over the womenfolk, who, it was claimed, were quarrelsome and ~ ·couldn't make a go of it at all." The company directors reluctantly decided to conven the building to another purpose - furnished bedrooms for single men - and initially the empty apartments were altered, into separate bedrooms, and comfortably furnished. Another entrance, nearer to Spring Street, was provided for the men, and the rooms were quickly occupied at a charge of 1/- per night or 5/- per week. Such was the success of this venture that it was predicted that the entire block would soon be used for the same purpose. The single men in their furnished rooms were considered the aristocrats • of the place, not to be confused with those in the Lodging House in the rear. Their occupations indicated their higher statu :- clerks, artisans, A Single Bedroom. George Seith Coppin. shopmen, and even an artist and a civil servant.

In the family apartments, the records list the tenants as:- cook, labourer, restaurant keeper, widow with small means, brass-polisher, hafrdresser and compositot There was a total of twenty children between the families.

In 1886, the section of Little Bourke Street between Exhibition and Spring Streets was renamed Gordon Place, in honour of General Charles Gordon, whose heroic exploits in the Crimea and China, and tragic defense of Khartoum in 1885, had made him a national hero. The following year, the Coppin Lodgings were also renamed, as 'Gordon Chambers', but they were more familiarly known as 'Our Lodgings', an abbreviation of the cumbersome company title.

During the following years, both Coppin and Strong became less involved with the model housing project. The Rev. Strong had incurred the displeasure of the Presbyterian Assembly through his outspoken attacks on social evils, and his open sympathy for the under-privileged. Refusing to modify his behaviour, he had resigned from the ministry of Scots Church in 1883 and returned to Scotland. In 1885 he was invited to become the first minister of the new, liberal and non-sectarian Australian Church in Melbourne, and retained this position until his death, at the age of 98 , in 1942.

Coppin, with advancing age, retired from public life and business management. As shares in "Our Lodgings" changed hands, control passed from Coppin and Strong, and in I 904 the Company became 'Gordon House Ltd'. The building was now known as the 'Gordon Lodging House'. By this time, it had - as predicted - become a lodging house for men only. The family apartments had all been convened to single rooms, the quadrangle where children had played while their mothers hung out the washing was now a courtyard, green with trees and shrubs, where men sat to read their newspapers and enjoy the sun. Single rooms for men had been found to yield double the profit of family dwellings -and, after all , those families who could afford to pay ten or twelve shillings a week had preferred the suburbs. Cribbage. disple_asure of the Presbyterian assembly. Refusing to modify his behaviour, he resigned from Scots Church in 1883 and returned to Scotland. Thus he was absent from Melbourne for the opening of The Improved Dwellings and Lodgmg House on 24th July 1884. Coppin, however, paid a moving tribute on this occasion to Strong for his part in the promotion of the project. Strong returned to Melbourne late in 1884 and the following year he was invited to be the first minister of the newly formed, liberal Australian Church. He retained this position throughout the rest of his life, remaining active until his death at the age of98, in 1942. '

William Pitt.

A game of Draughts in the·R eading-Room. life. IJ? England, Coppin engaged the famous tragedian G . V. Brooke for an Australian tour; he also arranged fora P.re-fabricated iron theatre to be built in Manchester and despatched to Melbourne. In 1855, Brooke arrived in Melbourne and enthralled audiences acclaimed his Othello. In the same year, Coppin 's theatre - officially called the illiam Pitt was born in Olympic, but known affectionately as the "Iron Melbourne in 1855, just twenty years after John . s a lad. of sixteen, George Pot" - arrived and was erected on the site of the Batman explored the land around the Coppm left home to make his fortune. During a present Comedy Theatre. Rounding off a and decided it could be the spot for a village. ' long, eventful and colourful life he made - and m.emorable year, Coppin married Brooke's lost - not one but several fortun ~ and h left hi. wtdQw.ed..sister.Jn-law ,J{arrietHilsden. Pitt was educated at the Hofwyl School. St. Kilda mark on many facets ofMelbourne life. an~ at Mr. Neighbour's College, Carlton, at'ier The following year, 1856, Coppin and Brooke which he served his articles as an architect. In Born and reared in a world of itinerant actors, became partners in business, jointly owning the 1879 he commenced practice, and very soon Coppin retained his deep Jove for the theatre all his disting~ished himself by winning first prize for life , but his boundless energy and enthusiasm Olympic, the Theatre Royal, Cremorne Gardens Amusement Park, Astley 's Amphitheatre and four the design of the Melbourne Coffee Palace, in overflowed into many other arenas. He hotels. Unfortunately, Brooke was a poor Bourke Street. This building became a prominent succes fully combined the roles of comic actor, feature in Melbourne because of its height, and theatre manager, enQ'epreneur, legislator, manager and. the partnership did not prosper, though Coppm staged spectaculars such as the Pitt was acclaimed for introducing 'lofty philanthropist and family man. first balloon ascent in Australia and a simulated structures' to this city. (The fatherof'high-rise' in eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Melbourne!) Coppin was born at Steyning, in Sussex, England on 8th April 1819, though his father came from a The Rev. Charles Strong. ln I 858 Coppin decided to enter politics which he Pi~t followed up this success with many other well-known Norfolk family. Hisgrand-fatherwa did via the Richmond Municipal Cou~cil. Later pn.zes and commissions, including the Falls a clergyman, and his father was to have been a that year he was elected to the Legislative Bndge over the Yarra (Queen's Bridge), offices doctor but.was di~owned ~y the family when he Council. His public duties and financial problems for the Premier Permanent Building Society, St. gave up his medical studies to join a troupe of led to a break-up with Brooke, and the death of his Kilda Town Hall, Melbourne Stock Exchange, strolling players, one of whom he married. wife Harriet, after the birth of their third child Bacchus Marsh Racing Club course and brought 1ragedy into Coppin's life once more'. buildings, and - wonder of wonders - the new Young George first appeared on stage as an infant, (fwo y~s later, h.e married Harriet's daughter Princess Theatre in Spring S1reet. This marvel - and at an early age he displayed a flair for comic by a prCV1ous mamage, Lucy, and she bore him a first in the world - featured an auditorium with a acting. He wa educated at village schools, learnt seven children.) slidi~g roof and sliding ceiling, giving the to play the violin and gained a working knowledge . harles Strong arrived in Mel- practical effect of coolness on warm evenings and of the theatre. At 16, he et off on his own Coppin was to go bankrupt once more, in 1863, the visual illusion of an open air theatre. (The travelling around England, Scotland and Ireland when he resigned from Parliament, but the bourne m August 1875, to be minister of the new Scots Church on the corner of Russell and Collins mechanism failed in lateryears, butwasoneofthe for seven year , earning his living as actor, stage following year his fortunes were restored, and glories of 'Marvellous Melbourne'.) manager or violinist. He then decided to seek his Street~ . He was a young man of thirty-one, born in once again he gave a banquet for hi creditors and Ayrshire, Scotland in 1844, educated at Ayr and fo.rtuneover eas, and in I ~43 he arrived in Sydney repaid them in full. From 1866 Coppin's life Glasgow academies and a graduate in Arts and ''Pitt was one of the first architects here to add a , w!th an actre s ~ompamon, Maria Burroughs, ~ecame one of increasing prosperity, and his with whom he lived happily until her death in Divinity of the University of Glasgow. to~ch of the Renaissance to his plans and the involvement with social welfare and civic Pnncess Theatre today is one of the few 1848. respon ibility was intensified. Among his At first he seemed an ideal choice as pastor and fla~boyant buildings in our restrained city." achievements in these fields were:- Coppin's first years in Australia were spent in preacher for the Presbyterian church - well (Mrue Casey: Early Melbourne Architecture) various enterprises, (including hotel and theatre educated, eloquent, concerned - and he soon management, horse racing and breeding) and •the establishment of Post Office Savings became known as one of the leading preachers in In 1884 Pitt was chosen as architect for 'Coppin 's various locations (including Sydney, , Banks Melbourne. However, his passionate involvement Improved Lodging Houses and Dwellings' (later Launceston, Melbourne and ). From •formation of the Old Colonists Association with many movements for social reform, and his known as Gordon House), a housing development l 846 to I 85 I he lived in Adelaide and was •building Old Colonists Homes in North rational approach to scientific theories which between Lonsdale Street and Little Bourke Street involved in a number of successful ventures there. Fitzroy were in conflict with established religion, brought near Spring Street. ' •organizing the Dramatic and Musical sharp criticism from conservative members of the However, he lost all hi money in I 85 l when his Though William Pitt was one of the colony's most disastrous speculation in copper mining coincided Society Church. ' • e tab Ii hing the Victorian Humane Society successful architects during the 1880's - with the discovery ofgold in Victoria. In addition, Melbourne's boom period - he lived on the edge • promotin~ and establishing Improved Dwellings Strong was deeply concerned for his fellow men, Coppin 's stage hands and theatre taff abandoned of bankruptcy after the crash of 1891. With the him to join the ru~h to the goldfields. Deserted and and Lodging Houses for working class families and throughout his long life he worked, wrote arid and single men (later Gordon House). preached for better conditions for the under­ collapse of the building boom, architecture destitute, Coppin was declared insolvent . He set became one of the most depressed professions, off for the diggings himself, but two days were pr!vileged in every field - working men, pnsoners, conscripts, aborigines, women and and and it is said that Pitt brought up his family on enough to convince him his fortune lay elsewhere. died at the age of 85, in March bread and dripping. He finally managed to pay his Diggers "on the spree" were in search of 1906. He provided Melbourne with a rich variety children. Among his practical enterprises were the founding of the first creche in Australia (in creditors 20/· in the£ 1 - a rare achievement in entertainment, and Coppin was prepared to of entertainment, over many years, from musical those times. (Cannon: The Land Boomers) provide it . Taking over an old weatherboard hall acts and low comedy to opera and Shakes­ Collingwood), and the establishment, with theatre in , he enlarged and improved it, pearian ITagedy. He was responsible for bringing George Coppin, of model lodging houses in the and within a yearhadmadesomuch money that he to Australia more than two hundred stars of the city for working-class families and ingle men. (Later known as Gordon House.) "'.as ab!~ to return to Adelaide to give a banquet for stage. his creditors, to whom he repaid 20/- in the£! . And when you see white swans or Engli h Through his outspoken condemnation of social After a trip to England, Coppin returned to thrushes, think of George Coppin, for he brought evils and his sympathetic approach to non­ Melbourne¥ where he was to spend most of his them out here too . Christian religions, Strong incurred the GORDON PLACE TODAY.

eorge Seith Coppin's original Hotel-o - partments was designed and built by William Pitt, one of the colony's most famous architects, in 1884.

Coppin's original concept has been retained; Gordon Place is a luxury Apartment-Hotel. Pitt's elegant, century-old buildings surround­ ing two huge garden courtyards, have been sen­ sitively restored. Tuday, Gordon Place offers a class of serviced apartments seldom found any­ where in the world. The garden courtyards are a verdant backdrop for the fifty-nine apartments. There are studio apartments and apartments with one and two bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms. Spaciou.11 living areas with thoroughly modem kitchens, laundries and air-conditioning that can be individually controlled.

The original palm provides an ideal setting for the fully licensed Roses Restaurant and Bar open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Roses is situated on street level under a vast glass roof which opens or closes to the whims of the weather. What was in 1884 the 'outdoor recreation quadrangle' is today a unique venue for that special function, reception or conference. And if you have something special to celebrate, the Coppins or Strong Room is ju t right for the occasion.

There' a heated sixty-foot pool, spa, sauna, gym and gourmet delicates en for your pleasure.

Gordon Place is at the entertainment hub of the City. The Princess Theatre is just across the street. Her Majesty's and The Comedy are near neighbours. Cinemas abound, restaurants sur­ round and Chinatown's fascination is at our doorstep. You're mere minutes from Parliament House and its beautiful 'Iicasury Gai'dens. The Central Business District is close by. Part of the big city bustle, Gordon Place is an oasis of quiet to come home to.

View of the 60 foot heated pool from a courtyard apartment.

24 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne, Vic. Australia 3 Tel: (03) 663 2888 Fax: (03) 639 1537 Toll Free: (008) 818236

OAKFORD AUSTRALIA PTY LTD A.C.N. 056 487 793 CANBERRA•MELBOURNE•SYDNEY Tel : (03) 820 8544 Fax: (03) 820 8517 Toll Free: (008) 818224