Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Spencers Building

Spencers BuildingThere are times when I wander around the city that I come across places and wonder what there history could be. Like in any city in the world, you can come across derelict buildings. This one, at 45-47 Edwards Street, is in obvious need of repair. Although the facade is still intact, inside is a complete mess. There is rubbish and signs of squatters on the main entrance floor, and although the main structure is intact, the building is basically untenantable. There is also graffiti over the building as well.

Spencers BuildingHowever, there was a time when this building, and its associated building next door, formed part of the warehouse district near the bustling original Port of Brisbane. Known as Spencers Building, the building was completed in 1890 to a design by colonial architect FDG Stanley. Unfortunately it was flooded in the 1890 floods not long after completion, however over the intervening years it was used as a coach building premises, tent manufacturer, leather manufacturer, and as is noted on the facade, a typewriter dealer. Unfortunately it has since fallen into disrepute.

Spencers BuildingI can only hope that at some point in the near future, the building will be redeveloped, and the classical Victorian detailing will be maintained. There is still hope for this, as the adjacent building still maintains an example of what the facade could be like if the entire structure was refurbished. There is ample space inside and whatever its future holds, it does offer its owner a great opportunity to maintain the aesthetic qualities of this type of architecture.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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2 comments:

Pollyanna said...

Yeah, that's sad. It is such a pretty building. It does make one wonder how such a thing could happen to something that somebody put so much energy and money into building.

Anonymous said...

I have thought that so many times as well, i walk past this building most days of the week during my walk from home to uni. I Noticed the floor boards from the stories above had become a falling apart roof and wondered who owned this and how could such a building in such a prime position turn into this.