“The Victor” a logo encircled by a wreath. That’s what adorned the original Mitchell House. Right here on the corner of Lonsdale and Elizabeth Streets this iconic building stands.
Mitchell House a six-storey marvel of Streamline Moderne architecture. It’s a testament to the era’s sleek design. The building boasts bands of steel-framed windows. Speed lines wrap around its curved corner. This architectural masterpiece was completed in 1937. It was built for the Mitchell Brush Company.
Initially designed to reach ten storeys. It was only six levels when it opened. Hansen & Yuncken constructed it in just five months. Imagine the pace of the construction. The cost was a hefty £150,000.
Thomas Mitchell & Co. a brushware manufacturer. They occupied a site nearby since the 1890s. In 1916 they acquired the Commonwealth Hotel. It was one of Melbourne’s oldest hotels. Their showroom occupied the second floor. Other floors were rented out to tenants.
The Mitchell Brush Company. They vacated the building in 1940. The Australian Survey Corps’ cartographic section moved in. The company never returned to Mitchell House. The building was sold in 1970. The Mitchell company itself dissolved in 1986.
The building’s legacy endures. It was classified by the National Trust in 1987. In 2010 it was added to the Victorian Heritage Register. Notice the gilded letters spelling out “Mitchell House”. They’re atop a pair of fluted piers on the Elizabeth Street side. The original “Victor” logo remains on a panel at the second floor.
Even the entrance foyer retains its original charm. Look closely at the green faience tiles. Marvel at the terrazzo floor. Appreciate the beautiful barrel-vaulted ceiling. The building’s history is rich and layered. It’s a Melbourne landmark a testament to its past. Its future remains as vibrant as its Art Deco past.