THE HERALD & WEEKLY TIMES BUILDING

46-74 FLINDERS STREET AND 2-8 EXHIBITION STREET MELBOURNE, MELBOURNE CITY

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Victorian Heritage Register

THE HERALD & WEEKLY TIMES BUILDING SOHE 2008

Statement of Significance

• Additional Place Information

  • History

    THE HERALD & WEEKLY TIMES BUILDING - History

    History of Place:
    The construction of the Herald and Weekly Times Building commenced in 1921, the same year that a young Keith Murdoch was appointed editor of the flagging Herald. However, the plans for the 1920s expansion seem to have been masterminded by Theodore Fink, chairman since 1902.
    The Herlad newspaper was descended from the Port Phillip Herald, first published in 1840. From 1849 it became the Melbourne Morning Herald, and from 1855 was simnply known as the the Herald. In 1869, under the brief ownership of David Syme, the Herald was converted to an evening newspaper. Samuel Winter had bought the paper in 1871 and, along qith Theodore Fink, W Baillieu and others, acquired the Weekly Times in 1892.
    The new building in Flinders Street symbolised the ambitious plans of the Herald and Weekly Times to dominate the newspaper industry. Mr Wise, the General Manager, travelled overseas with the architect H W Tompkins to study the latest developments in newspaper buildings and equipment.
    The 1920s saw thew company launch many successful ventures in addition to the revival of the Herald. The Sporting Globe begain in 1922, the company purchased the Sun News Pictorial in 1925 and commenced the publication of papers and glossies such as the Listener In and Australian Home Beautiful.
    Murdoch's career as editor and later chairman of the Herald spanned the years 1921 to 1952. On Fink's death in 1942, Murdoch became chairman, retaining the position until his death in 1952. Through the Herald and other publications Murdoch exerted considerable influence over Australian political and cultural life. The Herald from the 1930s increasingly espoused conservative causes and was particularly antipathetic to the Scullin, Curtin and Chifley governments.
    The Herald and Weekly Times was acquired by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation in 1987 and in 1990 the Sun News Pictorial and the Herald were merged to become the Herald Sun. The last papers to roll off the presses in the Flinders Street building were in February 1993, at which time production was moved to Port Melbourne and Southgate.
    (from History notes prepared by HBC Registration Assessment team)
    Associated People: Theodore Fink
    Sir Keith Murdoch

    Permit Exemptions

    THE HERALD & WEEKLY TIMES BUILDING - Permit Exemptions

    General Exemptions:

    General exemptions apply to all places and objects included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). General exemptions have been designed to allow everyday activities, maintenance and changes to your property, which don’t harm its cultural heritage significance, to proceed without the need to obtain approvals under the Heritage Act 2017.

    Places of worship: In some circumstances, you can alter a place of worship to accommodate religious practices without a permit, but you must notify the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria before you start the works or activities at least 20 business days before the works or activities are to commence.

    Subdivision/consolidation: Permit exemptions exist for some subdivisions and consolidations. If the subdivision or consolidation is in accordance with a planning permit granted under Part 4 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the application for the planning permit was referred to the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria as a determining referral authority, a permit is not required.

    Specific exemptions may also apply to your registered place or object. If applicable, these are listed below. Specific exemptions are tailored to the conservation and management needs of an individual registered place or object and set out works and activities that are exempt from the requirements of a permit. Specific exemptions prevail if they conflict with general exemptions.

    Find out more about heritage permit exemptions here.

    Specific Exemptions:

    1. Permit Exempt Works Related To Heritage Infrastructure
    
    

    Body Corporate Rules were adopted on 16 March 2006 which require all future works to the Heritage Infrastructure at the site be undertaken in accordance with the Heritage Act 1995 and in particular with the Heritage Audit Management Plan required to be implemented by the Body Corporate Rules. 
     

    All works undertaken to the Heritage Infrastructure in accordance with the Heritage Audit Management Plan are permit exempt works pursuant to Section 66 of the Heritage Act 1995. The Management Plan defines the Heritage Infrastructure and the ongoing obligations required to manage and maintain the Heritage Infrastructure. 
    
    

    It is a requirement of the Body Corporate Rules that a copy of the Heritage Audit Management Plan be supplied to all Body Corporate Members at the site. An original copy of both the Body Corporate Rules and the Heritage Audit Management Plan are held by the Executive Director, Heritage Victoria. Electronic copies of both documents are recorded in the Heritage Victoria data base (HERMES).

    2 Permit Exempt Works Related to Non-Heritage Infrastructure
    
    

    Any works to any Non-Heritage Infrastructure at the Former Herald and Weekly Times Building that will not result in a negative visual impact or structural damage to the Heritage Infrastructure are permit exempt works, pursuant to Section 66 of the Heritage Act 1995. This includes an exemption for all non-structural internal works to any part of the Former Herald and Weekly Times Building built after the date the site was placed on the Victorian Heritage Register, on 23 May 1996.
    
    

    Examples of works to Non-Heritage Infrastructure at the site considered as having the potential to have a negative visual impact on the Heritage Infrastructure, and that would require a permit include:
     

    i. the proposed construction of additional storeys to any part of the site;
     

    ii. sub-surface works that may cause structural damage to Heritage Infrastructure, such as the perimeter walls.
     

    iii. the application of colours to structures (such as walls, gutters, roofs, window sills) that are unsympathetic to associated Heritage Infrastructure. 
     

    Where doubt exists whether proposed works may result in a negative visual impact or structural damage to the Heritage Infrastructure, clarification from the Executive Director as to whether a permit is required must be obtained prior to the works being commenced.

    3.Attach external signs for The Press Club Restaurant and Bar in the locations as shown on the annotated photos prepared by BURO Architecture and Interiors including Site Location, Flinders Street Entry Signage (x2), Exhibiton Street Signage and Plan A114 Rev A

    Permit Exemption Policy

    THE HERALD & WEEKLY TIMES BUILDING - Permit Exemption Policy

    Pursuant to Section 66(1) of the Heritage Act (1995) and in respect to the above-registered place / object, the Executive Director hereby DECLARES EXEMPT THE OWNERS NEED TO OBTAIN A PERMIT TO CARRY OUT ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CLASSES OF WORKS OR ACTIVITIES, SUBJECT TO ANY CONDITIONS PRESCRIBED HEREUNDER:
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    The Herald & Weekly Times Building