FORMER MARKET STREET STRUCTURES, BOX HILL

MARKET STREET BOX HILL, WHITEHORSE CITY

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Victorian Heritage Inventory

Statement of Significance

• Additional Place Information

  • History

    FORMER MARKET STREET STRUCTURES, BOX HILL - History

    Crown land auctions south of Whitehorse Road took place in 1853-1854. Market Street is within Section 29A purchased by William Hill in 1853 (Figure 1). The primary use of the land was agricultural comprising market gardens and orchards (AJM JV, 2021). Through the 1850s and 1860s services began to be established in Box Hill including the White Horse Inn/hotel, the Post Office, and other small shops. The railway line in Box Hill was constructed in 1882 which led to increased commercial and residential development, concentrated around the station and White Horse Road (AJM JV, 2021).
    
    

    In 1895 the Box Hill Market was opened north of the Box Hill Railway Station, initially just as a cattle market, by TRB Morton (Lemon 1978). The 1905 plan depicts structures for fruit & vegetables, pigs and poultry within the Market Street area, with P. Bird’s timber yard to the west (Figure 2).

    P. Bird purchased the Timber Yard, originally located on Station St in 1898, he then relocated the business to Whitehorse Road (Box Hill Reporter 1928, page 7). The 1905 plan demonstrates the location of P. Bird’s timber yard on Whitehorse Road (Figure 2). In 1907 the front of the mills at Bird’s Timber Yard and a storeroom were completely destroyed in a fire, however the back portion of the property was saved (The Age 1907, page 8). The timber yards were rebuilt with additions (Box Hill Reporter 1928, page 7).
    
    

    In 1928 Bird’s Timber Yards had built a large new timber mill and store on Main Street and were employing up to 60 people (Lemon 1978:161). The 1928 MMBW plan depicts three large timber buildings and one small brick building within the timber mill property (Figure 3). The small brick building in the north eastern corner of the property and the large timber building in the south east corner of the property are within the site identified for this site card. In addition, three narrow timber buildings associated with the Box Hill Market intersect with the current Market Street area in the 1928 MMBW. The potential disturbances to and archaeological potential of the remainder of the timber yard were not assessed, as they are not within the project land of the Suburban Rail Loop East predictive archaeological assessment in which this potential site was identified.

     

    In 1929 a timber strike badly affected P. Bird’s business. The Box Hill Market downsized around the same time and the Market Street thorough fare was created from the former market and timber mill sites. The newly created Market Street is evident in the 1931 aerial image (Figure 4). The Whitehorse Road frontage of the market was refurbished as a produce market (Lemon 1978:161,247).
    
    Market Street was turned into a pedestrian mall in 1975 (Lemon 1978:224). The pedestrian mall has been maintained to the present day.

    Interpretation of Site

    FORMER MARKET STREET STRUCTURES, BOX HILL - Interpretation of Site

    19th Century: Activities in the site were likely agricultural, with market gardens and orchards being predominant in the broader area. The Box Hill Market was established at the end of the 19th Century. Early 20th Century: P. Bird’s Timber Yard was established partially within the site, the remainder of the site was occupied by the Box Hill Market. Activities within the property were predominantly commercial, industry and manufacturing. The timber yard experienced several phases of construction throughout the early 20th C due to repairs from fire as well as upgrades. The timber mill was providing resources for the construction of homes and businesses throughout the Box Hill area. Mid 20th Century: In 1929 the Timber Yard and parts of the Box Hill Market were demolished and Market St was created through the property. At this time the site was associated with civil infrastructure. Late 20th Century: In 1975 Market St was converted to a pedestrian mall lined with commercial buildings either side. To the present day the site features benches and trees and serves as a public recreational space.

    Heritage Inventory Description

    FORMER MARKET STREET STRUCTURES, BOX HILL - Heritage Inventory Description

    The Market Street Structures site comprises the road reserve on Market Street in Box Hill, with the northern boundary of Whitehorse Road, and southern boundary of Main Street. Eastern and western boundaries are the commercial or privately owned property parcels/standing structures. The entirety of Market Street is paved with asphalt or stone pavers – as it is pedestrian access only there is no actual road, footpath, or kerb & channel. There are six rectangular shaped nature strips with 2-4 adult native trees surrounded by concrete/stone walls. Fixtures on Market Street include but are not limited to: Light and speaker poles, bike racks, refuse/recycling bins, bench seating. The location of structures associated with P Bird’s former timber mill are partially under this asphalted/paved area, with a possibility there are also structures relating to the former market.
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